Fetal Medicine

Routine antenatal visits track the mother's blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, and the pregnancy's general progress, along with a standard obstetric scan schedule. Fetal medicine consultation goes a level deeper: it is used when there is a specific reason to look more closely at the fetus itself - a screening test result, a family or medical history that raises risk, a scan finding that needs clarification, or a multiple pregnancy that needs closer fetal monitoring. Most pregnancies never need a dedicated fetal medicine consultation; it is a targeted service, not a routine one.

• An abnormal first- or second-trimester screening result (e.g. NT scan, double marker, quadruple marker, NIPT)
• A soft marker or structural finding noted on a routine scan that needs further assessment
• A family history of genetic or congenital conditions
• Multiple pregnancy (twins or more), where fetal monitoring needs are different from a singleton pregnancy
• Pre-existing maternal conditions (diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease) that can affect fetal growth or development
• Advanced maternal age
• A prior pregnancy affected by a congenital anomaly or fetal complication

If a scan or screening test raises a concern, the next step is typically a detailed, targeted ultrasound to assess the specific finding further, sometimes alongside additional blood tests or, where indicated, invasive testing (such as amniocentesis) discussed with the patient. Dr. Mody's role at this stage is to explain what has been observed, what it may or may not mean, what further assessment is reasonable, and to guide the family through decisions with clear, factual information. Where a finding is outside the scope of what can be managed at Shraddha Women's Hospital, referral to a tertiary fetal medicine or genetics centre is made.

Dr Shaili Mody holds the Ian Donald Fellowship in Obstetric & Gynaecological Ultrasound (Ian Donald Centre of Excellence, Ahmedabad, 2018–2019) and two separate Fellowships in Fetal Medicine - from ICOG (Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists) and the Bangalore Fetal Medicine Centre (BFMC) - along with hands-on training in 3D-4D ultrasound (Dr. Nagori's Institute for Infertility & IVF, Ahmedabad, September 2019). Fetal medicine consultations and detailed scans are performed on the hospital's Voluson S8 ultrasound system, using dedicated convex, 3D, linear, and transvaginal probes.