Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Southwest Florida, part of Pediatrix Medical Group

About Our Practice

Our practice has been serving patients in southwest Florida since 2000, treating and caring for women and unborn babies at risk of complications or illness during pregnancy or who have been diagnosed with a disease or other medical problem. Our team includes four board-certified physicians and an advance practice provider who work collaboratively with your referring physician to alleviate fear and work to help you experience a healthy pregnancy.

For many patients, we serve as an advisor and supportive member of a pregnancy team to monitor conditions. Our team may also diagnose and provide treatment options for complications that can be resolved. For patients requiring ongoing visits with our team during the course of the pregnancy, a treatment plan will be developed, and the patient will visit our office while remaining under the continued care of her obstetrician.

Insurance Options
- Aetna
- Beechstreet
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Cigna
- First Health
- Humana
- Medicaid
- Medicaid HMO's
- Medicare
- Multiplan
- One Health
- United Healthcare
- PHCS
- Tricare
- VA
Pediatrix accepts most insurance plans. Please note that contracts are subject to change without notice, and insurance directories may not provide the most current clinicians listings. Please contact our office or your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
What is an MFM?

Our board-certified maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists provide prenatal care for expectant patients with complicated or high-risk pregnancies. They offer advanced medical care, monitoring and diagnostic services to help ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and her unborn baby. Our MFM specialists collaborate closely with OBGYNs, enhancing the comprehensive care provided to expectant mothers.

Specialized services

Through the use of cutting-edge equipment, our experienced staff will monitor your pregnancy through sonograms. The detailed structural and functional information gained through a sonogram may include signs of chromosomal abnormalities, heart defects, growth problems, circulatory problems or placental problems.

If additional, precise information is required to monitor a condition, our team is trained to safely and effectively obtain samples of placental tissue, fluid from the uterus or even fetal blood with the use of ultrasound guidance using thin needles or catheters.

Genetic Counseling

We also offer the services of specially trained and highly experienced genetic counselors who can help our patients understand the complex issues surrounding pregnancy and family illness.

Sometimes it is possible to avoid problems rather than manage them. Couples with medical problems, family or personal histories of birth defects or genetic disease, or problems with prior pregnancies, often benefit from consulting with our genetic counselors and physicians prior to a pregnancy.

All of these services can be arranged through your physician as we strive to optimize outcomes for each and every patient we see.

Services Offered

Amniocentesis
Antenatal (Prenatal) Testing (Screening)

Antenatal or prenatal diagnostic screening, refers to a variety of testing options available to determine if a fetus has certain abnormalities. Many of the tests are conducted by an obstetrician (OB) as routine prenatal screening, including ultrasound, nuchal translucency screening and testing of a pregnant woman's blood to help estimate the risk of certain abnormalities. When a test indicates a higher risk, additional tests are available to further analyze the fetus. These additional tests, such as amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling, are often more invasive and have additional risks to the fetus and should be conducted by a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist.
Diabetes Management in Pregnancy

Women diagnosed with diabetes before or during pregnancy have difficulties producing the appropriate amount of insulin to process glucose, or sugar, in their bodies. Improper management of diabetes during pregnancy can lead to serious health problems for both the mother and baby. A maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist is specially trained to treat women with diabetes during pregnancy. Through frequent prenatal visits, an MFM specialist can monitor and provide recommendations to help manage blood glucose levels through a combination of healthy eating, exercise and medications.
Fetal Echocardiogram
Genetic Counseling

Support provided by a genetic professional or qualified physician to the patient and the doctor by identifying genetic risk, discussing family history, explaining available testing options and implications of test results, as well as providing patient education. Genetic counselors or qualified physicians, act as patient advocates translating medical and scientific knowledge into practical information. In addition, resources are available to provide support to anyone who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions or birth defects, such as cystic fibrosis or disorders common to a particular race or ethnic group. This information is provided in a non-directive, unbiased manner and allows the patient to make their own decisions regarding testing options.
Inpatient Consultation and Care
Management of Advanced Maternal Age

Women who become pregnant after age 35 are more likely to have pre-existing health problems that can complicate pregnancy and are at greater risk for complications like high blood pressure, abnormal fetal growth and diabetes in pregnancy. There is also an increased risk for certain fetal genetic abnormalities, specifically trisomies (where the fetus has an extra chromosome).
Management of Multiple Gestations (twins or more)

Pregnant women carrying multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.) are at an increased risk of experiencing complications such as preterm delivery, low birth weight and preeclampsia. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist specializes in the care of women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, such as multiples, and has the additional training and experience required to treat any complications experienced during a pregnancy.
Special Ultrasound Exams

Our maternal-fetal medicine doctors have special training and certification to perform types of ultrasound that may not be available from a radiology service or a general obstetrician. These exams are performed in special situations, not in every pregnancy. Special exams include: Biophysical profile (A focused check of fetal movements and amniotic fluid (the liquid surrounding the fetus) to check on fetal well-being), Cervix length (If the cervix is short, there is a risk of preterm birth and special treatment might be needed), Doppler (Measurement of blood flow through certain blood vessels (umbilical cord, arteries in fetal brain, other blood vessels) to check on fetal well-being), Fetal echocardiogram (A detailed exam of the fetal heart to look for heart defects), 3-D Ultrasound (still pictures that appear 3-dimensional. These are used to get details for certain types of birth defects), 4-D ultrasound (Videos that appear 3-dimensional. These are used to get details of certain types of birth defects).
Routine Pregnancy Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a method to get pictures or videos of the fetus (unborn baby). It can be used to help determine the due date, to find out whether there is only one fetus or multiples (twins, triplets, etc), to check on whether the fetus is growing normally, and to look for birth defects or other problems. The method uses sound waves to make the images, not x-rays or radiation. Ultrasound is painless and safe for both mother and fetus.
High-Risk Obstetric Care and Consults

An extra level of care available to women at risk of experiencing problems during or after their pregnancy. A variety of risk factors can make a pregnancy high-risk, including advanced maternal age, chronic health conditions, problems with a previous pregnancy and problems that develop during pregnancy. A high-risk pregnancy means the baby is at a higher risk of having health problems during pregnancy, birth or after delivery. Women having a high-risk pregnancy should be seen more frequently for close monitoring by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a physician specially trained to treat high-risk pregnancies.
Chorionic Villus Sampling

CVS is a diagnostic test to screen for chromosome abnormalities and inherited disorders by analyzing the chorionic villi cells from the placenta. The placenta cells are collected either transcervically, using an ultrasound guided catheter inserted through the cervix to gently suction the cells, or transabdominally, through a long thin needle inserted into the placenta through the abdomen.
Non Invasive Prenatal Screening

Pregnant women have access to a variety of tests to determine a baby's risk of Down syndrome, Trisomy 18 and open neural tube defects. Some newer testing methods involve only a blood test and an ultrasound, which can be done safely early in the pregnancy. These screenings are minimally invasive and do not pose any identifiable risk to the fetus. However, while they predict the likelihood that a particular condition is present, they do not provide definitive answers. For example, a "positive result" would not necessarily mean that a baby has a health problem, but it shows that the baby is at increased risk. Similarly, a "negative" result would not guarantee that no health problem is present. Other testing methods can provide a more definitive answer for the specific condition being investigated. However, these tests may pose a greater risk to the mother and fetus because often they are more invasive.
Pre-Conception Counseling

An evaluation of a woman's current health and medical history to help identify opportunities to better prepare the body for becoming pregnant and to counsel her on risks and management of future pregnancy. The evaluation may include a review of the patient's current lifestyle and medical/obstetric history, including current medications, screening and treatment for any infectious diseases, immunization updates, education and recommendations on behavior modifications to reduce risk factors.

Conditions Treated

Heart Disease
Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure, can be present before pregnancy (chronic hypertension) or develop during pregnancy (gestational hypertension). Pregnant women with hypertension are at risk of developing preeclampsia, experiencing both high blood pressure and protein in the urine, which can lead to serious complications for both the mother and baby.
Morbidly Obese Patients
Prematurity
Kidney Disease