What is Perinatology?

Perinatology is a branch of obstetrics which focuses on the critical timespan between slightly before and shortly after birth. The services of a perinatologist are used when a pregnancy is considered high risk. These specialists usually work in a hospital environment providing medical and surgical care to expecting mothers and babies, and they may work side by side with genetic counselors, regular obstetricians, and other medical specialists who can provide supportive care.

This field is also known as maternal-fetal medicine. Before birth, a perinatologist can conduct genetic tests and other exams to determine the health of the fetus and estimate the risk of complications. He or she can also provide medical management of a pregnancy if it is considered high risk, as might be the case in a multiple pregnancy, or a pregnancy in which the mother has a chronic illness or is of advanced age. The perinatologist's goal is to ensure that the pregnancy runs as smoothly as possible.

These medical specialists can also provide care during labor and delivery. Perinatology includes conventional vaginal delivery, interventional c-sections, and other procedures which may be conducted to make the labor and delivery safer for mother and baby. After the birth, a perinatologist will examine the baby, and make recommendations for care which can include the administration of medications or the performance of surgery to repair congenital birth defects.

Specialists in perinatology start out in an obstetrics and gynecology residency, eventually narrowing their focus to the perinatal period, which is generally defined as the time from five months before delivery to around a month after birth. Perinatology requires an extensive knowledge of fetal development and the numerous complications which can develop, in addition to obstetrics and surgical skills.

When a woman has a high risk pregnancy, she will usually be referred to a perinatologist for care. This ensures that both the mother and the developing fetus get the best possible medical care, with early interventions for emerging medical problems, and the experience of a skilled physician who can address specific concerns and issues. A specialist in perinatology can also be part of the medical team involved in infertility treatment.

Working with a perinatologist can increase the chances of a positive outcome in a high risk pregnancy, but no guarantees can be made. Pregnancy is complex, and a number of conditions and random events can have an impact on a pregnancy, making it impossible to predict the way in which things will turn out.