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The Mystery of Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Why is this Field So Crucial in the History of Medicine?
Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM), also known as perinatal medicine, is a branch of medicine that focuses on the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Doctors who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine typically undergo a four-year residency training in obstetrics, followed by three years of fellowship training. These doctors not only perform prenatal testing and provide treatment and surgery, but also serve as the primary obstetrician in high-risk pregnancies and as consultants in low-risk pregnancies. They help manage pre-existing health conditions and complications arising from pregnancy.
History
Maternal-fetal medicine as a discipline has gradually emerged since the 1960s. As research and technology advance, doctors are able to diagnose and treat fetal complications in utero, rather than relying solely on heartbeat monitoring and the mother's reports of fetal movements. The development of amniocentesis in 1952 enabled earlier intervention and reduced mortality. In 1963, Albert William Liley developed the intrauterine blood transfusion technique for Rh incompatibility at the National Women's Hospital in Australia, which is considered the first fetal treatment.
The development of maternal-fetal medicine has enabled more sophisticated management of the health of pregnant women and fetuses, thereby successfully reducing the risk of exposure to complications.
Scope of Practice
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists divide pregnant women into different levels of care based on their health risks and focus on pregnant women with potential health risks. Pregnant women who require the assistance of these specialists often have chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and thrombosis), and their fetuses may be at risk due to chromosomal or congenital abnormalities, maternal illness, infection, genetic diseases, or growth retardation. Since 1990, maternal and infant mortality due to pregnancy complications has fallen by more than 23%, and this figure is still changing.
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists work to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies, advancing standards of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Training
Training requirements for maternal-fetal medicine specialists are rigorous, typically including an additional three years of specialized training focused on the evaluation and management of high-risk pregnancies. In addition to passing various certifications, these specialists must also be proficient in advanced technologies such as obstetric ultrasound examinations and invasive prenatal diagnosis. Especially with the technological development of maternal-fetal medicine, these experts are becoming increasingly important when dealing with fetal diseases.
Increasingly, maternal-fetal medicine specialists are demonstrating the expertise and ethical responsibility required in high-risk pregnancies, working to reduce health risks to both mother and fetus.
Future Outlook
Maternal-fetal medicine is developing rapidly as technology continues to advance, especially in areas such as fetal gene and stem cell therapy, which aims to treat genetic diseases early and perform invasive fetal surgery to correct birth defects. For example, in the prevention of preeclampsia, these advances show the future strength and potential of maternal-fetal medicine.
Advances in maternal-fetal medicine are undoubtedly crucial to future pregnancy management and maternal and infant health, but are we ready for the next challenge in this evolving field?
