The fetal medicine unit (FMU) provides screening services for all pregnant women. The unit also specialises in additional care for those who have previously had a pregnancy with fetal abnormalities or who have issues with their current pregnancy.
What we do
- Screening for chromosomal and fetal abnormalities
- Combined test: a screening test for Down's syndrome in pregnancy. It is available to you between 11 weeks and 13 weeks plus 6 days of your pregnancy
- Quadruple test: a screening test for Down's syndrome and spina bifida. This test is available to you between 15 weeks and 22 weeks and six days of your pregnancy.
- Diagnosis and management of fetal abnormalities – see the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme website.
- Antenatal diagnosis:
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): a test to detect specific genetic disorders. It is available between 11 and 14 weeks of your pregnancy
- Amniocentesis: a test for Down's syndrome or other specific genetic disorders. It is available from 16 weeks of your pregnancy
- Cordocentesis: a test to detect abnormalities using blood from the umbilical cord.
- Ultrasound monitoring of high risk pregnancies
Our links with other departments
The unit has close working links with both the hospital's antenatal clinic and ultrasound department, which are located next to the fetal medicine unit. It also works closely with other departments in the hospital, such as fetal cardiology, neonatology and genetics.
Further information