GP information

Feto-maternal medicine unit

Most pregnancies are normal and healthy, but all women have some risk of having an abnormal pregnancy. We see pregnant women with chromosomal, congenital abnormalities and other complications in the pregnancy.

Services available

We offer a range of non-invasive (screening) and invasive (diagnostic) procedures to help identify problems during pregnancy.

Our services include the following:

ultrasound scanning

  • anomaly screening
  • growth scans and fetal wellbeing
  • doppler ultrasound

invasive procedures

  • chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
  • amniocentesis
  • intrauterine blood transfusions
  • fetal shunt insertions

diagnosis of genetic/chromosomal disorders

  • chromosomal abnormalities
  • sickle cell
  • thalassaemia
  • cystic fibrosis
  • muscular dystrophy

assessment of high-risk pregnancy

  • biophysical profile
  • dopper (fetal and uterine)

Screening tests

A screening test does not tell you for sure whether or not the pregnancy is affected, but may help you to decide if you want to have a diagnostic test. These tests do not carry any risk to the pregnancy.

Common screening test performed include:

  • the combined test (11 to 14 weeks)
  • detailed anomaly scan (20 to 24 weeks)
  • doppler ultrasound (20 weeks onwards)

Diagnostic tests

These tests give a definite answer about whether or not there is a problem in the pregnancy. If an abnormality is detected, we will provide counselling, support and information so you can make an informed choice about your pregnancy.

Common diagnostic tests performed include:

  • chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
  • amniocentesis

Further information about these tests can be found in screening and diagnostic tests.

Making an appointment

Referrals are accepted from GP or midwife. Patients with a previous history of a problem may self-refer. A copy of all test results will be sent to the referring GP.
 

How to contact us

Call the unit on 020 8510 7291 or 020 8510 7087. We are based in the Picton suite on the first floor.

Key staff

Mr Yinka Akinfenwa
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in high dependency obstetrics, prenatal diagnosis and fetal medicine, and perinatal urology

Mr Ed Dorman
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in high risk pregnancy and feto-maternal medicine.

Miss Charlotte Kingman
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in fetal medicine, management of intrauterine growth restriction and monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Miss Sandra Watson
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in early pregnancy, acute gynaecology and gynaecological ultrasound, outpatient hysteroscopy, fetal medicine

Ella Hillbehari
Lead clinical midwife specialist

Bola Bello
Clinical specialist midwife

Alison Blackmore
Clinical specialist midwife

Kim Mackenzie-Morris
Clinical specialist midwife