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Perinatal Diagnostic Services



As a regional referral center for high-risk pregnancies, Baptist Health Lexington offers specialized care to pregnant women.

Our perinatal services include diagnostic services, a special unit for women who need to be hospitalized during pregnancy, education for pregnant women with diabetes and home health services.

Find out more information about pregnancy and childbirth and answers to pregnancy and parenting questions by visiting Baby Steps.

Perinatal Diagnostic Services

Expectant mothers want to give their babies the very best possible start in life. For this reason, your doctor may recommend special tests to take a look at the growing life inside you. Baptist Health Lexington offers ultrasound to help your doctor determine:

  • how far along you are in your pregnancy;
  • if you are going to have more than one baby;
  • if your baby has any major health problems and is growing properly; and
  • the position of the placenta, which can affect whether or not a vaginal delivery is safe.

We also offer amniocentesis, a simple procedure which withdraws amniotic fluid from around the growing fetus through a slender needle. Your doctor may recommend amniocentesis for many reasons, including:

  • if your baby is at risk for certain types of birth defects such as Down syndrome, spina bifida or anencephaly;
  • to determine if the baby's lungs are mature enough for delivery;
  • if he or she suspects you have an infection; or
  • there is maternal blood sensitization (usually Rh sensitization) to make sure the baby is developing normally.

Although most pregnancies proceed with very few problems for the full 37 to 41 weeks, a few do not. Our perinatal diagnostic center's physician specialists in maternal fetal medicine provide care and expertise if complications of pregnancy arise. For a list of perinatologists who have active privileges with the hospital, click here.

Perinatal Unit

Baptist Health Lexington's perinatal unit is designed to care for women with high-risk pregnancies who need to be hospitalized. Our highly skilled nurses are trained to recognize and respond to obstetrical emergencies. The unit is equipped with continuous electronic fetal monitoring and OB TraceVue® central surveillance.

Home Health Care

Baptist Health Lexington Home Health Care offers services to help your doctor manage pregnancy complications in the comfort of your home.

"Life with Diabetes" Program

Baptist Health Lexington's "Life with Diabetes" program provides education to women with diabetes who are planning a pregnancy or who are pregnant already and to women with gestational diabetes. The goal of the program is to help pregnant women with diabetes achieve healthy pregnancy outcomes.

Genetic Counseling Center

Baptist Health Lexington's Genetic Counseling Center provides counseling for anyone concerned about passing along an inherited disease. A counselor can help you better understand your chances of giving birth to a child with a birth defect or genetic condition and help plan for the care of a child born with a birth defect or other health problem.