Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine providers offer care for your complex pregnancy at offices on the Norton Healthcare downtown campus and the Norton Healthcare – St. Matthews campus in Louisville, as well as outreach clinics in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Elizabethtown, Kentucky; and Paducah, Kentucky. For many of our patients, the availability of multiple offices across the region helps reduce the need for long-distance travel to get specialized care.

A maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) physician is an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists, who are part of Norton Women’s Care, are equipped to perform a full range of diagnostic tests and provide ongoing care throughout your pregnancy and delivery if your doctor determines that you or your baby will need special monitoring or care. Services include:

• Amniocentesis
• Dedicated sonographers who are trained in high-risk diagnoses and are certified for fetal echocardiograms
• Diabetes support program for patients with preexisting diabetes, gestational diabetes or prior history of gestational diabetes
• Diagnosis and counseling for fetal abnormalities and inherited conditions
• External cephalic version
• Fetal blood sampling and transfusion
• Fetal Doppler studies
• Fetal cardiac screening
• Fetal lung maturity testing
• First-trimester nuchal translucency screening
• Genetic counseling for patients with a history of genetic conditions
• Nonstress test/biophysical profile
• Registered nurses who are patient navigators providing one-on-one support

Telemedicine services also are available, including virtual options for diabetes management and genetic counseling.

The Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital is one of the largest in the country. The Level III NICU at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital can care for all but the most complex cases.

Norton Maternal Opiate and Substance Treatment (MOST) Program

The Norton MOST Program offers treatment for pregnant patients who have substance use disorder. The program works to reduce stigma by providing prenatal and addiction treatment in the same clinic serving other patients with high-risk pregnancies. Any pregnant patient who currently is using opiates, benzodiazepines, illicit methadone/Subutex/Suboxone or alcohol can be referred to the program.

Diabetes Support Program

The diabetes support program provides multidisciplinary outpatient care for pregnant patients with preexisting diabetes, gestational diabetes or a prior history of gestational diabetes, as well as women with diabetes who are considering getting pregnant. If you have special care needs around a diabetes concern, we provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan specific to you. Patients in the program will see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, certified diabetes educator and dietitian.

Subspecialty Perinatal Care Through Norton Children’s Medical Group, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine

Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine works with the 370 pediatric providers with Norton Children’s Medical Group, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. These include specialists in fetal cardiology and congenital heart disease; urology; general surgery; gastroenterology; endocrinology; neuroscience; orthopedics; and pulmonology.

How We’ll Care for Your Complex Pregnancy, Delivery and Newborn

• Our team of more than 10 fellowship-trained, board-certified and highly experienced maternal-fetal medicine physicians means easier access to expertise for your complex pregnancy.
• Two dedicated patient navigators who are registered nurses provide one-on-one support and guide you through your pregnancy care, including coordinating appointments for those traveling from outside Louisville.
• Maternal-fetal medicine offices in Louisville, St. Mathews, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Paducah all provide the same level of specialized care.
• Deliver down the hall from the Norton Children’s Hospital Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) — the highest rated in Louisville and Southern Indiana — or the Level III NICU at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
• If your baby will need specialized care after birth, we’ll convene all the specialists who could have insight to your baby’s condition to prepare. Experienced physicians from across Norton Children’s will review your baby’s development and put in place a plan to provide the best possible care.
• Depending on your condition, you may deliver at your home hospital; if necessary, the Norton Children’s Hospital  “Just for Kids” Transport Team will bring your baby to a Norton Children’s NICU in Louisville.
• You can keep your OB/GYN for your delivery while getting the expertise of the maternal-fetal medicine team caring for your health and the health of your baby or multiples.
• Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans are accepted.
• Communicate with your medical provider, manage appointments and get alerts if an earlier appointment becomes available through your free Norton MyChart account.