Genetic Consultation

We're here to help you start your new chapter in the best possible way.

Genetic Consultation

Most women have healthy pregnancies and their babies are born without difficulties.

However, women with high-risk pregnancies often need to be closely watched for potential problems or complications. If a birth defect or inherited disorder runs in your family, the Delaware Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine of ChristianaCare is prepared to guide you.

Our genetic counselors can help you identify your baby’s potential health risks. Drawing on knowledge gained through specialized graduate degrees and experience in medical genetics and counseling, genetic counselors can help you understand such conditions and review available options.

Find a doctor

Appointments with the center are made by referral through your primary obstetrician.

How Can We Help?

Our genetic counselors can serve as an advocate for you and your baby. Additionally, our counselors’ experience in disciplines ranging from biology and nursing to psychology and social work helps them provide supportive counseling, referrals to community and state support services, and insight on medical research.

Most women have healthy pregnancies and their babies are born without difficulties. However, women with high-risk pregnancies often need to be closely watched for potential problems or complications.

If a birth defect or inherited disorder runs in your family, the Delaware Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine of ChristianaCare is prepared to guide you. Our genetic counselors can help you identify your baby’s potential health risks.

Our Experience

Drawing on knowledge gained through specialized graduate degrees and experience in medical genetics and counseling, genetic counselors can help you understand such conditions and review available options. They also can serve as an advocate for you and your baby.

Additionally, our counselors’ experience in disciplines ranging from biology and nursing to psychology and social work helps them provide supportive counseling, referrals to community and state support services, and insight on medical research.

Delaware Center for Maternal & Fetal Medicine of ChristianaCare

When complications arise, the Delaware Center for Maternal & Fetal Medicine of ChristianaCare gives our smallest patients and their mothers special care. The center’s maternal-fetal medicine specialists, also known as perinatologists, have advanced training and experience to care for you if your pregnancy is high-risk due to medical, surgical or obstetrical factors, including:

chronic illness
poor obstetric history
pregnancy over age 35
previous pregnancy loss
multiple gestations (twins, triplets, etc.)
preterm labor
hypertension (high blood pressure)
diabetes

Maternal and Fetal Testing

Some mothers are more likely to need a closer watch on their pregnancy. Some conditions that may warrant maternal and fetal testing include the following:

pre-existing maternal diseases (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease)
abnormal amniotic fluid amounts
abnormal fetal growth
multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
post-term pregnancy
very young or older than 35 years old
obesity