The majority of pregnancies are uncomplicated and result in the birth of a healthy baby.
Occasionally problems are suspected with the unborn baby and in these circumstances you may be referred for additional assessment by the fetal medicine team. We aim to see urgent referrals within three working days.
We offer individualised care for pregnant women and their families who book their antenatal care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The fetal medicine team holds clinics at The James Cook University Hospital and also at the Friarage Maternity Centre. The team consists of specialist doctors and midwives and is located within the antenatal clinic.
You may be referred to the fetal medicine team if:
- Something unexpected was seen on one of your routine ultrasound scans
- There is greater than usual chance of your baby having a health condition. This could be because you have had a high chance screening result or following the previous birth of a baby with certain conditions.
- Your baby is thought to be much smaller than usual.
- Your baby is likely to need specialist treatment very soon after birth
Meet the team
- Dr Vedrana Caric
- Dr Kumar Kumarendran
- Dr Louise Michie
- Dr Sathyapriya Parthasarathy
- Dr Mohamed Alaaeldin Ali
- Kendra Exley – superintendent ultrasonographer
Fetal medicine midwives
The fetal medicine midwives will offer support to parents and help you to understand the implications of any diagnosis or treatment options.
They will talk to you about the results of any tests or procedures and liaise with other health care professionals involved in your care.
Our fetal medicine midwives are:
- Charlotte Howard
- Jordan Wilson
- Parween Nazir
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
As we are a teaching hospital there may be specialists in training, medical students, sonographers or student midwives working with us and observing the scan. The students can be at various stages of their training and may be male or female. They always appreciate your permission to watch or participate in any part of your care as this experience is vital to their training. It is your decision as to whether you will allow any student to participate or watch any or all of your care.
Contact us (non urgent enquiries)
Calls will be returned Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Urgent enquiries
Please contact the maternity advice line for any urgent concerns:
- North Tees and Hartlepool – 01642 624239
- South Tees – 01609 763093
What happens when I am referred?
If you have an appointment with the fetal medicine team at South Tees trust, the following information will help prepare you for your visit.
During your appointment
We are aware that you may be anxious about your appointment. You are welcome to bring one other person with you but please be aware that the department cannot accommodate children during the scan and consultation.
The waiting room is in the antenatal clinic department. If you have any concerns about this and wish to wait in the gynaecology department please inform the antenatal receptionist at the desk and we will aim to accommodate your needs.
If you are unable to attend your appointment please call the Antenatal Appointments team on 01642 854883.
A fetal medicine consultant will take a detailed medical and obstetric history and discuss the reason for your referral to the fetal medicine team, they will then perform an ultrasound scan and will look carefully at the entire baby as well as the area of concern.
The consultant will take images of your baby during this time. The scan will usually take approximately 30 minutes, but sometimes longer depending on the position of the baby and the reason for referral.
Following your scan the Consultant and the Fetal Medicine midwife may take you into another room where the findings of your scan will be fully explained and what this may mean for you and your baby.
You will have plenty of opportunity to ask any questions that you may have, it may be useful to make a note of any questions prior to your appointment. The team will also explain any further tests that you may be offered at this time.
As we aim to offer individualised counselling and support to our women it can make anticipating and planning appointment times difficult. Please be aware that delay may occur on the day that you attend, however every effort will be made to keep you informed of when you are likely to be seen.
Further tests and investigations
Whilst ultrasound provides us with a lot information about your baby it does not enable us to make a full diagnosis.
The following diagnostic tests may help further identify any genetic or chromosomal problems with your baby.
Fetal blood flow measurement (Dopplers)
The most commonly used Fetal Doppler is the Umbilical Artery Doppler. This is a form of ultrasound examination of the cord which measures the resistance of fetal blood passing through the placenta.
Umbilical cords contain two arteries and one vein. Blood leaves the baby and travels through the arteries into the placenta. The vein is used to return blood from the placenta to the baby. Strength of blood flow indicates the strength of the baby’s heartbeat, as that is the force that drives the blood. It is used in the surveillance of fetal well-being.
Past medical research concludes the measurement of blood flow can predict a high-risk baby. Identification of such babies prompts early monitoring and treatment, reducing the risk of fetal death and other complications.
Additional Doppler
The Ductus Venosus is a small blood vessel in the baby’s liver connecting the umbilical vein to the vein entering the right side of the heart. Ultrasound examination of the blood flow through the Ductus Venosus allows the most accurate assessment of the heart function. It is used to assist us to determine the time of delivery for growth restricted babies.
Other specialist services
Whatever the outcome of your fetal medicine appointment, we are here to support you.
In certain cases it may be necessary for us to refer you to another specialist fetal medicine centre for further investigations.
We work closely with the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle Upon Tyne, referrals to this centre may be made necessary for a further medical opinion or if your baby may require surgery following delivery.
Twin pregnancies complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion are referred to St George’s Hospital in London or Birmingham Women’s Hospital for consideration of laser ablation.
We work closely as a team and discuss any new or complex cases each week in our multidisciplinary team meeting, along with our neonatal colleagues. This is to ensure that our patients receive the best care we can offer.