What does your MFM do?

travljunky · February 2012

I've noticed a lot of women discuss their MFM's opinion of their weight gain, etc. My MFM only does ultrasounds (dopplers every 2 weeks, growth every 4). Nothing else. My OB handles everything else pregnancy related. What is your experience?

By the way, I googled 'what does an MFM do' and wow - I never thought about other meanings of MFM (threesomes!).

erinruns · February 2012

I think every MFM is probably slightly different in how they handle things. I will say from my point of view, the ultrasound techs and their machines were of high caliber at the MFM. They knew things to look for that my OB's techs did not. Ultrasounds at my OB's office were very routine, whereas at the MFM they really knew what to look for and had the capabilities to do so.

Also, because I had id twins and was diagnosed with TTTS, my care was transferred to my MFM. My OB was in over his head with me, so I stuck with the more specialized doc.

Temp123197812503460 · February 2012

I saw a practice of MFMs. Other than doing my amnio, I had very little interaction with them. I had ultrasounds with them every 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks (OB did checks in between), but thankfully I had a textbook pregnancy so all the MfMs ever did was come in with my ultrasound report after the tech finished and say that everything looks great. I'm sure if there had been a problem they would have done more.

Temp123197812503460 · February 2012

My OB didn't do ultrasounds (unless they weren't sure they were hearing both hb on the Doppler and they would check with the ultrasound). They were high risk obs.

DoraBride07 · February 2012

LOL @ Google -- I would have never thought about that either!

I see a team of MFMs at the clinic in the new hospital. (My OB hasn't moved over there yet, seeing as the building isn't finished.) As for now, I see my MFM once a week for a biophysical profile, and every three weeks for growth scans. This group runs a multiples clinic for my city area, so they've addressed my lack of weight gain, gotten me in to see a nutritionist (in house) and work very closely with my OB to keep on top of things like my weight and the babies IUGR.

natb22 · February 2012

My MFM did every monthly ultrasound. The ultrasound tech would actually perform the u/s and then my MFM would come to talk to me about the results afterwards, their weight gain, measurements, heart and brain growth, etc. It was reassuring to know that someone with more experience was reviewing the u/s's

leapgirl8 · February 2012

We see an MFM exclusively, so she does everything.

EMHeb09 · February 2012

My MFM does cervical length check via transvaginal ultrasound and growth scans every 2 weeks. The tech does the ultrasounds and the MFM comes in afterward to summarize everything. Thankfully everything has been uneventful so far! ( I'm 25 weeks)

naflmj · February 2012

Mine does an u/s each visit (which is why I see him) and answers any questions I may have. I am also weighed, vitals are taken, etc.

WaitingforGrace · February 2012

The way it was described to me is that my OB is there to watch and advocate for me - their decisions will always be based on me whereas my MFM is there to advocate for the babies and their decisions will always be based on the best interest of the babies (not to the extreme of my health or anything just in general...). I always said the OB was my doctor and the MFM was the babies doctor. Of course this is a black and white example, but you get the idea.

pea-kay · February 2012

My MFM did everything, I didn't have an OB. So it really depends on the doctor.

erniebufflo · February 2012

My twins are di-di, so we're lower risk in that aspect and they're not looking for TTTS or anything. Basically, I only started seeing the MFM team regularly after one of my twins was diagnosed with a neural tube defect, so they do a US every 4 weeks and keep an eye on that. They don't talk to me about weight gain or anything, and when they ask me about questions, unless I have a question specifically about the babies' health, I save it for my OB-- she's the one I talk to about pains and discomforts and symptoms and stuff. I think of the MFMs as the babies' doc, and the OB as mine.

starburst210 · February 2012

very interesting how everyone's treatment is a little different.

my MFM checks cervical length every 2 weeks and does growth scan every 4 weeks. i also get blood pressure, urine and weight done there as well and they check the heartbeats of the babies each time.

my OB also does urine, weight and blood pressure...i have been seeing her about once a month but that's about to change now to 2x a week and soon 1x a week...she does a sonogram every time (but that's just a bonus) along with measuring my stomach and all the norms...blood work, GD test, etc.

if i have a problem i call my OB for sure. she is my MAIN doc however if i am seeing my MFM i will ask him questions if I have any!

Chrissymarie98 · February 2012

I'm actually wishing that my MFM would delivery me. I heard someone mention that they only deliver babies in certain states. Is that true?

If so, does anyone know if they deliver in the state of Georgia?

I'd love to just go directly to my specialist.

LewisTwins · February 2012

Well they are Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists, so they are trained to deal with all aspects of the pregnancy. That goes from the mothers health and well being right on back to the fetus' too. I'm seeing exclusively MFMs b/c I don't see the need for two docs or two sets of appointments, but I do want the specialist in on all aspects of things.

MuseumMaven · February 2012

My entire pregnancy was handled by an MFM, so he did everything (other than my delivery, which was handled by the on-call resident and attending, who was an OB.)

travljunky · February 2012

Thanks for the responses, ladies. I'm still under the care of my OB with visits every 2 weeks (mono/di) to the MFM. My OB will deliver me, but MFM is keeping a close eye on the babies. Sounds like that's the case with a few others as well.

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