What Is A Perinatologist

Table of Contents:

• Introduction 

• What is a perinatologist

• What does a perinatologist do?

• What conditions does a perinatologist treat?

• High-risk pregnancy birth plans

• Difference between an obstetrician and a perinatologist

• When to visit a Perinatologist

• Take-Home Points

• FAQs

Introduction 

A perinatologist is an OBGYN who has done additional training in providing care in case of high-risk pregnancy. A perinatologist and a Maternal-fetal medicine specialist are the same things. There is a difference between an Obstetrician and a perinatologist as perinatologists are specialized and deal with only high-risk pregnancies.

In India, Most Obstetricians undergo training during their Residency to manage both high-risk and low-risk pregnancies, sometimes you may be referred by an obstetrician to a Perinatologist.

In This blog, we’ll cover What is a perinatologist? What does a perinatologist do? Why would I be referred to a perinatologist? What conditions does a perinatologist treat? What is the difference between an obstetrician and a perinatologist? etc

What is a perinatologist

A Perinatologist is an Obstetrician-Gynaecologist who further specialises in dealing with High-risk pregnancies, Perinatologist and Maternal-fetal medicine are the same thing.

Role perinatologist comes when there is a high-risk pregnancy meaning when there is a health complication risk to the mother or the fetus, their role is not in normal healthy delivery. We’ll elaborate on What conditions a perinatologist treats? in further sections.

For instance, if you have Uncontrolled Diabetes, then a perinatologist can monitor pregnancy and you may require an appointment. The same goes the case with babies, if the baby has congenital anomalies or some health issue, a perinatologist can be involved in prenatal care.

Even women, who are expecting multiple pregnancies like twins may need to visit a perinatologist for a healthy pregnancy plan.

An obstetrician and Perinatologist work together while dealing with high-risk pregnancies. Your obstetrician may refer you to a perinatologist if an Obstetrician finds any abnormality.

What does a perinatologist do?

A perinatologist deals with high-risk pregnancies and is also involved with prenatal care in case of congenital anomalies in the fetus, Here are the roles of a Perinatologist:

1. Counselling: Perinatologist is involved in preconception counselling as well as counselling when any complication happens to the mother or fetus.

2. Testing high-risk pregnancies: A perinatologist is involved in testing for high-risk pregnancies using USG, genetic karyotyping and other tests to detect high-risk pregnancies.

3. Identifies Genetic disorders through USG and Prenatal genetic testing.

4. Manages complications which may occur to the mother or fetus after delivery.

5. Checks fetal blood in case of Rh incompatibilities 

What conditions does a perinatologist treat?

Perinatologists treat a wide range of conditions, they work closely with OBGYNs to manage and treat conditions about high-risk pregnancies or Conditions related to babies. Here is a List of What conditions does a perinatologist treat.

1. Diabetes: Maternal Diabetes predisposes the fetus to complications like fetal hypoglycemia, and macrosomia. Congenital anomalies can also be seen in babies if the mother has uncontrolled diabetes before 20 weeks of pregnancy (overt DM).

2. High blood pressure: High Blood pressure leads to a spectrum of diseases including pre-eclampsia, eclampsia etc, which are all managed by a Perinatologist.

3. Heart diseases: Heart diseases need special attention during pregnancy In Pregnancy, blood volume increases and puts more stress on the heart, even during labour stress on the heart increases. For certain diseases like WHO category IV heart disease(severe Mitral stenosis) becoming pregnant is contraindicated. Counselling with a Perinatologist can help in these cases.

4. Bleeding and clotting disorders: These require extra attention as they can lead to excessive bleeding during labour and sometimes even death if severe postpartum haemorrhage occurs. Therefore, it is important to understand, what is a perinatologist. And reasons to See a perinatologist 

5. Renal disease: Examples include kidney failure.

6. Autoimmune diseases: They include SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus)

High-risk pregnancy birth plans

A perinatologist draws high-risk pregnancy birth plans, what are high-risk pregnancies we have already covered in the section What does a perinatologist treat?

Let’s take an example of High blood pressure. High BP during pregnancy is considered high risk as it can lead to a spectrum of conditions like preeclampsia, eclampsia(Convulsions), and IUGR(growth restriction baby in Uterus).

A perinatologist will regularly assess the fetus using USG for any Growth restrictions, as well as maternal BP, whether medications or interventions are required or not. 

After accessing both maternal and fetal conditions, He draws high-risk pregnancy plans which include when to induce labour, and what medications to use during inductions or complications.

Difference between an obstetrician and a perinatologist

There is a difference between an obstetrician and a perinatologist. Perinatologists have done additional years of training than Obstetricians. They are obstetricians who have specialized in providing care to high-risk pregnancies.

Normal healthy pregnancies are dealt with by obstetricians but high-risk pregnancies are dealt with by a perinatologist. You may be referred to a Perinatologist for additional counselling and a treatment plan. This doesn’t mean your primary caregiver becomes a perinatologist but this means you need extra care and treatment from a perinatologist.

Perinatologists are also involved in providing care when a baby has a genetic disease. 

When to visit a Perinatologist

You don’t always need to consult a perinatologist. You are generally referred to a perinatologist by your obstetrician for evaluation of a high-risk pregnancy. Here is a list of conditions if you're looking for why visit a perinatologist? Or Reasons to See a perinatologist:

1. High-risk pregnancies like High Blood pressure

2. Diabetes

3. Heart disease

4. Acute fatty Liver disease of pregnancy

5. Multifetal pregnancy(eg-Twins)

6. Post-term pregnancy

7. Any congenital anomalies

Take-Home Points

1. What is a perinatologist? A Perinatologist is an Obstetrician-Gynaecologist who further specializes in dealing with High-risk pregnancies, Perinatologist and Maternal-fetal medicine are the same thing.

2. Perinatologists do USG to diagnose and rule out congenital anomalies and growth restrictions. Performs various tests for high-risk pregnancy, performs genetic testing etc.

3. Perinatologists treat conditions which come under the domain of High-risk pregnancy like High BP, diabetes, multifetal pregnancy, growth restrictions, heart disease, genetic disease etc.

4. Perinatologists lay down high-risk pregnancy plans including when to do induction labour, what medications to use, mode of delivery, medications and treatment modalities to manage high-risk pregnancy.

5. There is a difference between perinatologists and Obstetricians. Normal healthy pregnancies are dealt with by obstetricians but high-risk pregnancies are dealt with by a perinatologist.