Why have I been referred?
The Fetal Medicine Unit is part of maternity services in Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ. We see patients when there is a complication which might affect their baby.
There are lots of different reasons for referral to the Fetal Medicine Unit including:
- A problem identified on a routine screening scan
- A high chance screening test for the most common genetic syndromes
- A history of problems affecting existing children or previous pregnancies
- Certain problems in the parents of the baby
What to expect at your appointment
When you arrive the doctor will talk to you and then carry out a detailed ultrasound scan of your baby. The amount of time needed for the scan will depend on a number of things including the stage of your pregnancy, the position of the baby, the number of babies and the suspected problem.
Your scan may be carried out by a fetal medicine trainee under the supervision of a consultant and, occasionally there may be other members of staff present in the room, e.g. medical students, midwives or junior doctors, for training purposes. Please do let us know if you would prefer not to have anyone present during your scan.
After the scan the doctor will share what they have found and explain what this means. You may be offered further investigations or tests if you need them, and any future appointments will usually be made before you leave the department.
You will be given our contact details following your appointment.
How long will the appointment take?
Most appointments will last 30 to 60 minutes although occasionally more time is required. Sometimes appointments can be delayed if the person before you has complicated problems and we are grateful for your patience if this affects you.
Please try to arrive on time as if you are late for your appointment this causes delays for the rest of the clinic. You should allow plenty of time for travel and should be aware that car parking at Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ General Infirmary is very limited. You could consider other forms of transport as the train station is nearby and the hospital is served by a number of bus services.
Please do let us know if you are unable to attend your appointment or if you are running late.
Who can come with me?
We advise that your partner comes with you to your appointment. If they are not able to come then a close friend or relative should come instead.
Please do not bring more than one person as there is not enough space for lots of people either in our waiting room or in the scan rooms.
Please do not bring children as the appointments can be long and the discussion afterwards can sometimes be distressing.
Preparing for your appointment
You can eat and drink as normal but please try to come with a full bladder, particularly for scans before 24 weeks gestation. Please do not go to the toilet before your scan. There is a water fountain in the waiting area if you need a drink after you arrive.
Please bring any maternity records with you as they may be required.
Contact the Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ Fetal Medicine Unit
How to contact us
We are open from 08:30-17:30 Monday to Friday but are closed at weekends and on bank holidays. During busy periods we may not be able to answer the telephone so please email us if you are unable to speak to someone.
