Several conditions place a pregnancy at higher risk for complications and may benefit from antenatal fetal surveillance prior to delivery. Testing is usually initiated at some time after 28 weeks.Services provided include:
- Non-stress tests that monitor the baby's heart rate using a harmless device that emits sound waves.
- Ultrasound assessment of the amniotic fluid volume.
- Ultrasound biophysical profile assessments to evaluate the baby's movement, tone and breathing exercises while still in utero.
- Contraction stress tests that assess if the placenta is functioning adequately to provide the baby with good oxygen supply.
- Doppler flow studies to assess the blood flow in the baby's blood vessels as well as in the maternal uterine arteries when clinically indicated.
- Amniocentesis procedure to assess fetal lung maturity prior to elective delivery when indicated.
Reasons for testing include but are not limited to:
- Decreased fetal movement
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Intrauterine growth restriction ("IUGR") [baby not growing as well as it should]
- Low amniotic fluid volume
- Two or more babies in the same uterus (e.g., twins, triplets, etc.)