Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program

During pregnancy, a woman’s medical needs are usually handled by an obstetrician, a physician who specializes in pregnancy, labor and delivery. However, sometimes a woman needs additional expertise and she is referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist -- an obstetrician who is trained in fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies.

Under the direction of Dr. Robert Debbs, a renowned specialist with the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Shore Memorial Hospital, our Maternity Care Center’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program provides these expectant mothers with the specialized care they need. Dr. Debbs has more than 10 years of maternal-fetal medicine experience and is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

A pregnancy is considered high risk when there are potential complications that could harm the mother, fetus or both. Complications can exist prior to or during pregnancy and include:

• Heart disease
• Cervical insufficiency, a weakened cervix making a woman more likely to miscarry mid-term or have premature delivery
• High blood pressure or preeclampsia (toxemia), a form of high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy
• Placental problems
• Multiple gestation pregnancy (twins, triplets or more)
• Diabetes or other endocrine disorders
• Infectious diseases
• Kidney or gastrointestinal disease
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Recurrent pre-term labor and delivery
• Recurrent pregnancy loss
• Congenital abnormalities (birth defects)
• Later age pregnancy

For more information about Shore Memorial Hospital’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program, call 609-653-3636.