During pregnancy, a woman’s medical needs are usually handled by an obstetrician. However, sometimes a woman needs additional expertise and 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 Penn Medicine and Shore Medical Center, our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program provides these expectant mothers with the specialized care they need. Dr. Debbs, whose offices are in the Shore Medical Office Building at 155 Medical Center Way in Somers Point, 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 Medical Center’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program and an appointment with Dr. Debbs, call 609-653-3636.
