Our services
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Obstetrics Department works with a variety of services to bring the best care to you and your baby.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) is a subspecialty of obstetrics offering care for both mothers and unborn fetuses with complex pregnancy related conditions. Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists may follow patients with health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, seizure disorders, or infections (such as HIV, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, …) as well as pregnancies with fetal problems such as structural anomalies, genetic syndromes or growth disorders. You may also be referred to a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist if you have had pregnancy complications in the past, such as preterm birth, placental issues, fetal issues or pregnancy loss.
Our Multiple Pregnancy Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic consisting of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM), nursing, nutritionists and ultrasound technicians who offer complete assessments and education for families with a multiple pregnancy. The clinic also specializes in the treatment of complications of twin pregnancies including twin-to-twin transfusion.
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists conduct diagnostic procedures and fetal therapies for pregnancies with fetal anomalies. The Fetal Anomaly Clinic works collaboratively with the Fetal Diagnostic and Treatment Group, a multidisciplinary group consisting of maternal fetal medicine and pediatric specialists who offer tertiary and quaternary care for the unborn baby with complex needs. Pediatric subspecialties including prenatal genetics, general surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, urology, orthopedics, radiology, neonatology and cardiology all contribute to the prenatal evaluation and postnatal management of complex fetal disease.
The prenatal hematology team accepts referrals for a number of medical conditions that affect the mother and/or the fetus including thrombocytopenia, different anemias, thromboembolism, isoimmunisation and more.
The Prenatal Genetics team of genetic counsellors and medical geneticists sees patients for genetic counselling and consultation for a variety of indications in pregnancy, including a fetal malformation or soft marker identified on ultrasound, a fetal chromosome abnormality, a positive prenatal screening result, a teratogen exposure or a family history of a genetic condition. Most referrals to our service are urgent considering there is an ongoing pregnancy and we aim to see most patients within a week of referral, depending on the exact urgency.
We work with other specialties and hospital centres to access important diagnostic tools in pregnancy, such as chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, detailed ultrasound, fetal echocardiogram and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Referring physicians :
We accept referrals of patients who are currently pregnant for the following indications.
- Fetal malformation identified on ultrasound
- Fetal chromosome abnormality
- Positive screening result with risk greater than 1 in 30
- Low maternal serum estriol (≤ 0.5 MoM)
- Fetal ultrasound screening with :
- Increased nuchal translucency (greater than 3 mm)
- The following soft markers:
- Echogenic bowel
- Ventriculomegaly
- Increased nuchal fold: ≥ 5mm at 16-17 weeks, or ≥ 6mm at 18-24 weeks
- A combination of 2 or more soft markers (including choroid plexus cysts, enlarged cisterna magna, clinodactyly, echogenic intracardiac focus, short femur length, short humerus length, pyelectasis and single umbilical artery)
- Teratogen exposure
- Family history of genetic condition
We can be reached at 514 934-1934 ext.3555 (locating) or 514 412-4427 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss new referrals. Please ask to speak to the on call prenatal genetic counsellor.
Obstetrical medicine is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and obstetrics that specializes in prevention, diagnosing, and treating medical disorders in pregnant women. Obstetrical medicine specialists may follow women for high blood pressure, preeclampsia, anemia, kidney disease, to name a few. They may follow women during any stage, including preconception, prenatally and postpartum.
Our multidisciplinary team includes endocrinology, maternal fetal medicine, nursing, nutritionists, and ultrasound technicians. Together they provide complete assessments and education for patients who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes or already known for type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Care also includes postnatal testing for Type 2 Diabetes.
The antenatal endocrinology team accepts referrals for patients in the context of pregnancy with Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, hormone imbalances (thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, etc.), lipid disorders, and more.
Our nutritionists can provide prenatal assessments and education for pregnant patients for a wide range of concerns such as women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, pregnancies following bariatric surgery, poor weight gain during pregnancy, or elevated body mass index, and more.
Currently only available to MUHC patients.
A non-stress test is a common prenatal test used to check on a baby's health by recording the changes in the fetus’ heart rate. As the term “non-stress” implies, a non-stress test is noninvasive and doesn't pose any physical risks to you or your baby. Typically, a non-stress test lasts 20-30 minutes. However, if your baby is inactive or asleep, the test may last longer. The test might indicate the need for further monitoring, testing or delivery.
Your obstetrician might recommend a non-stress test if you have:
- A multiple pregnancy with certain complications
- An underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- A pregnancy that has extended past your due date
- A history of complications in a previous pregnancy
- A baby who has decreased fetal movements
- Possible fetal growth problems
The CARE (Contraception Advice Research & Education) Complex Contraception clinic is subspecialized gynecology clinic aiming to provide care to reproductive-aged adolescents and women with complex contraception needs. We primarily invite referrals for patients to counsel patients with complex medical conditions or with contraindications/intolerances to various contraceptives, patients in whom pregnancy is discouraged for medical reasons, or patients undergoing medical or surgical treatments where pregnancy would be contraindicated (eg: teratogenic medications, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc).
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) provides ultra-specialized intensive care to both mothers and babies. The MCH's NICU is equipped with the most recent technologies for invasive ventilatory procedures as well as non-invasive ventilation therapies and equipment for therapeutic hypothermia, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
