Maternal Fetal Medicine

The Fetal Assessment Unit (FAU) at HSC/Women’s Hospital is the primary site for prenatal diagnostic services for the population of Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and parts of Nunuvut. Multidisciplinary patient care is provided in the FAU with Prenatal Genetics, Neonatology, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric subspecialists and Social Work involvement in the unit. All advanced invasive procedures such as cordocentesis, fetal transfusion, shunt placement, and amnioreduction are performed at this unit. Advanced fetal echocardiography services are provided by a Pediatric Cardiologist at the Children’s Variety Heart Centre at HSC. Fetal MRI is provided by two Pediatric Radiologists at HSC. Nuchal translucency measurement in the first trimester is performed for eligible patients primarily in the FAU at Women’s Hospital.
The Fetal Assessment Unit at St. Boniface General Hospital provides some prenatal diagnosis services and all the fetal surveillance for the 5400 parturients at that site.
The FAU at both sites are staffed by five Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians; four of which also provide preconception counselling and prenatal care to women with high-risk pregnancies.