Fetal Assessment Center

The testing performed at the Fetal Assessment Center includes:

• Nonstress Testing

• Amniotic Fluid Index

• Doppler Evaluation

• Sonographic Fetal

• Activity Assessment

These assessments provide information about your baby’s health, and will enable your physician to provide you and your baby with optimal care.

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WHAT IS FETAL ASSESSMENT TESTING AND WHY AM I BEING TESTED?

The testing performed includes Nonstress Testing, Amniotic Fluid Index, Doppler Evaluation and Sonographic Fetal Activity Assessment. For more information about these tests, please click here. Your physician has sent you for fetal assessment so that we can check on your baby’s health. This will enable your physician to provide you and your baby with optimal care. Some indications that make you a candidate for testing are decreased fetal movement, diabetes, high blood pressure, past due date or pre-term labor. These are common reasons your physician may order the testing for you.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to safely see your baby and other internal soft-tissue organs. Ultrasound is a very safe and effective tool used to image your unborn baby when used by properly by trained professionals. Our practice is accredited by the AIUM. Accreditation by theAIUM demonstrates a facilities clinical excellence and its commitment to the highest quality patient care when providing diagnostic ultrasound services. To become accredited, a practice must undergo a rigorous and detailed process including but not limited to proof of safe and maintained equipment, numerous acceptable ultrasound studies graded acceptable by physicians who review studies through AIUM , proof of practice’s compliance of practicing ALARA (as low as reasonably acceptable). By proving ALARA, it proves no risk to the fetal ormaternal tissue.

There are several reasons your doctor may have requested you have an ultrasound be performed at PANM. It is useful to determine appropriate gestational age to give you the most reliable due date, thoroughly assessing your unborn baby’s anatomy for possible birth defects, underlying maternal healthissues, and several others.

When a sonogram or ultrasound is performed by the sonographer and/or perinatologist you may be asked to return for further evaluation. In most cases, this is to ensure we’ve seen your baby’s anatomy adequately. If you’ve been asked to return because of an ultrasound finding, chances are the diagnosis given to you is unfamiliar. Some reasons for return evaluation may be

  • CPC (Choroid Plexus Cyst)
  • EICF (Echogenic Intracardiac Focus)
  • Polyhydramnios
  • Oligohydramnios
  • Increased Nuchal Fold

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HOW LONG WILL THESE TESTS TAKE?

You should plan on spending an average of one and one half hours for the tests.

WILL MY INSURANCE COMPANY COVER THE COST?

Most insurance companies cover the cost of the fetal assessment testing. If you have questions please contact your insurance carrier directly. Please view our insurance page for more information, or call our billing office at 764-0148.

For more information on the Fetal Assessment Center, download our Fetal Assessment Center Brochure.