If an abnormality is detected during one of the screening scans, your doctor will refer you to the foetal medicine team
Foetal medicine involves the multidisciplinary care of the couple in relation to their foetus’s condition. This care requires the involvement of a diverse medical team providing support to the couple on medical, psychological, and social levels. The
cornerstone of this is the coordinating midwife, who acts as the link between the various professionals and the couple.
The medical team includes gynaecologists and ultrasound specialists specialising in foetal medicine, paediatric radiologists, geneticists and psychiatrists. The paramedical team includes coordinating midwives specialising in foetal medicine.
The diagnostic techniques used include diagnostic ultrasound (level 2), foetal magnetic resonance imaging and, to a lesser extent, foetal CT scans. The main purpose of chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis is genetic testing.
The prevalence of congenital malformations is approximately 1%. The majority of these are discovered during childhood, but with advances in ultrasound imaging and genetic technology, the detection of these abnormalities during the antenatal period is increasing, and our department is supporting a growing number of couples during this antenatal period.
Technical procedures performed in foetal medicine:
Chorionic villus sampling
This is carried out between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy.
It involves taking a sample of the placenta and has the advantage of enabling the very early detection of certain genetic disorders in the foetus.
The risk of miscarriage is estimated at 0.5%.
Amniocentesis
This is ideally performed from the 16th week of amenorrhoea until the end of the pregnancy.
It enables the detection of genetic abnormalities or foetal infections (for example, when a foetal malformation is discovered).
The risk of complications is estimated at 0.1%
Foetal MRI
Foetal MRI, performed by Professor Marie Cassart, a paediatric radiologist, is a scan prescribed as a complement to ultrasound, in order to confirm a diagnosis and establish a prognosis.
This scan involves no radiation and is safe for both mother and baby; it requires no prior injection or sedation (no X-rays, no injection of medication or contrast medium, and no special preparation)
It is therefore completely harmless for the mother and her baby.
If you are offered this test, Professor Cassart will explain the practical details during the ultrasound scan carried out beforehand.
