As a regional referral center for high-risk pregnancies, Central Baptist Hospital 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. Our Perinatal Diagnostic Center is staffed by three board-certified perinatologists.

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. Central Baptist Hospital 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 that 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;
• 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 37-41 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.

Research

The perinatologists at Central Baptist Hospital are national leaders in their field. Groundbreaking techniques are performed at Central Baptist Hospital every year, furthering research that helps high-risk infants get a healthy start in life, while also giving special attention to the health of the mother.

Preeclampsia

John Barton, M.D., and his colleagues are investigating a variety of complications of pregnancy, especially those associated with high blood pressure. The Perinatal Diagnostic Center has managed many of the most complicated patients with HELLP syndrome and has published several articles on its management. The outpatient management of high blood pressure is also an area of interest for Dr. Barton.

To contact the Perinatal Diagnostic Center, please call (859) 260-6970.