Hartford Hospital | Maternal Fetal Medicine (Prenatal Testing Services)

Maternal-Fetal Medicine focuses on the assessment of mom and baby through a variety of tests.

These tests are ordered to offer reassurance that your baby is doing well during your pregnancy:

• First Trimester Screening
• Fetal movement counting
• Level-II (targeted) ultrasounds
• Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome

If a risk factor is discovered during your pregnancy, a specific individualized program of testing will be ordered by your obstetrician and/or the Prenatal Testing Center. Some of these tests may include:

• Non Stress Test (NST)
• Amniotic fluid index evaluation (AFI)
• Fetal biophysical profile (BPP)

Through the Pediatric Care Alliance, moms and babies who need advanced care in utero and soon after delivery have access to the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s — the only center of its kind in New England.

After your baby is born there are several procedures, screening and tests performed to ensure your baby’s health and safety. Click here to learn more.

Prenatal Testing

Prental testing focuses on the assessment of your baby through a variety of tests.

These tests are ordered to offer reassurance that your baby is doing well even though a risk factor exists in the pregnancy. Since the risk factors themselves may vary widely in severity and type, a specific individualized program of testing will be ordered by your obstetrician and/or the Prenatal Testing Center.

In addition we provide genetic counseling, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.

First Trimester Screening
Most babies are born normal. All women, however, have a very small chance of having a baby with a chromosome problem such as Down Syndrome.

Fetal Movement Counting
Along with the tests that are performed on our unit, we commonly request that you also conduct a daily test of fetal health in your home.

Level II (Targeted) Ultrasounds
You may be referred by your obstetrician’s office to the Prenatal Testing Center for a "Level-II" or "Targeted" ultrasound exam.

Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome
Women over age 35 have an increased risk of giving birth to babies with Down syndrome and other chromosomal conditions.

If a risk factor is discovered during your pregnancy, a specific individualized program of testing will be ordered by your obstetrician and/or the Prenatal Testing Center. Some of these tests may include:

Non-Stress Test (NST)
The NST has become the most common method of antepartum screening for fetal well-being.

Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)
An ultrasound examination can diagnose either too little or too much amniotic fluid.

Fetal Biophysical Profile (BPP)
A biophysical profile (BPP) is a prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal wellbeing, involving a scoring system.

After your baby is born there are several procedures, screening and tests performed to ensure your baby’s health and safety:

Newborn Screening
The following procedures and tests are routinely done on all newborns. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your pediatrician before you deliver.