Diagnostic Testing
A complex or high-risk pregnancy may bring with it challenges before, during or after delivery. Finding the source of the problem is a crucial component of treating a fetal condition early and comprehensively.
If you have been diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, you and your baby may need special monitoring and ongoing care. At Fetal Care Center Dallas, we perform in-depth fetal diagnostic testing to evaluate any concerns an expectant mother or referring physician may have. Our use of innovative digital technologies allows us to gain a clear understanding of what is causing the prenatal condition or anomaly, and what we need to do to address and treat it.
Based on the specific needs presented by you and your baby, our team of fetal specialists will work together to choose the appropriate diagnostic tests and provide a thorough consultation so you feel comfortable with the next steps in protecting the health of you and your baby.
Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is designed to help your fetal care physician assess if there is a genetic disorder or other anomaly affecting your unborn baby. For this procedure, ultrasound is used to guide a very thin needle into the amniotic fluid. A small portion of the fluid is withdrawn and sent to the lab. The baby replenishes the fluid that was removed.
Biophysical Profile
The biophysical profile is a combination of tests that may be performed if there is a question about the fetal health of your baby resulting from either an examination, maternal/fetal symptoms, or because of the high-risk nature of your pregnancy.
Chorionic Villi Sampling
In this test, a physician will use ultrasound guidance to take a sample of some of the placental tissue, which contains the same genetic material as the unborn baby.
Fetal Echocardiography
A fetal echocardiogram allows doctors to see the growth and development of your baby’s heart and blood vessels.
Level II Ultrasound
A level II ultrasound is a targeted, high-resolution ultrasound that can be done beginning in your second trimester of pregnancy to check your baby for some birth defects.
Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler
The middle central artery Doppler test measures systolic blood flow in the fetus's middle cerebral artery.
Paracentesis
Certain conditions can sometimes cause fluid to build up in your baby's belly. Paracentesis is a procedure that your doctor may order to remove some of this fluid.
Pediatric Echocardiography
This is a detailed evaluation of your child’s heart and is indicated when there is a family history of heart defects or in the presence of certain medical conditions such as diabetes, genetic disorders, IVF pregnancies, monochorionic twins and certain birth defects.
Thoracenteses (Fetal Chest Fluid Drainage)
Testing fetal chest fluid can tell your fetal care specialist what condition or difficulty your baby may be experiencing. Sometimes, a child has an abnormal collection of fluid in their chest that may be affecting other organs such as the heart, swallowing, or lung development. In these settings, it may be helpful to use ultrasound to guide a thin needle into the fetal chest to sample the fluid.
Umbilical Blood Sampling (Cordocentesis)
With this test, physicians retrieve a small sample of fetal blood from the baby's umbilical cord.
Umbilical Doppler Studies
Doppler technology is used in fetal medicine to evaluate changes in sound waves to provide information about how blood is flowing through the uterus, umbilical artery and heart.
Vesicocentesis
A vesicocentesis involves needle aspiration of the excess fluid from the fetal bladder under ultrasound guidance.
