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6. What is Maternal-Fetal Medicine? Maternal-fetal Medicine (MFM) is a medical specialty that deals with maternal complications of pregnancy and conditions affecting the fetus. Diabetes, hypertension, systemic lupus and blood clotting disorders are some examples of maternal complications of pregnancy. Some examples of fetal complications include heart defects, spine defects, growth problems, Down syndrome, gastroschisis and twin-twin transfusion syndrome (ttts). Examples of conditions unique to pregnancy affecting both mother and fetus include recurrent preterm labor, cervical insufficiency and preeclampsia. There are many other conditions and complications that are diagnosed and treated by MFM specialists.

7. What is Neonatology and the Center for Newborn and Infant Critical Care? Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics. Neonatologists are physicians who treat sick newborn babies in an intensive care unit -- at CHLA this is the Center for Newborn and Infant Critical Care (CNICC, pronounced "see-nick"). The CNICC is where many of the IMFH babies are transported after delivery, since all the surgical subspecialties and all other pediatric subspecialties are available at CHLA.

8. What is Fetal Therapy? Fetal Surgery? Fetal therapy refers to all interventions directed at treatment of the fetus in utero. Some fetal conditions, including fetal heart rhythm abnormalities, require treatment with medicines. Other conditions require transfusion of blood or blood products directly into the fetal bloodstream. In some conditions, it is necessary to perform surgery on the fetus or the placenta using minimally invasive fetoscopy and other techniques. See, CHLA-USC IMFH Fetal Therapy Program.

9. What is Prenatal Diagnosis? The major tools for prenatal diagnosis are the genetic evaluation and family history, high resolution ultrasound, MRI, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. All these services are offered through the IMFH. See Prenatal Diagnosis.