Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect at my care appointments?

We are here to provide ultraspecialized care for you and your baby during pregnancy, giving you the best chance to have a relaxing, healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Often, we are able to address your fears and concerns and provide realistic and reassuring news.

To provide care, we partner closely with your chosen obstetrician and see you periodically throughout your pregnancy. During your initial evaluation with a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) doctor and health care team, we provide a physical exam, run lab tests, and conduct fetal imaging and, in some cases, amniocentesis. We then create a care plan for you during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and for your baby after birth.

How do you diagnose an infection in me or my unborn baby?

Infections are usually diagnosed in two ways: during routine pregnancy screening and via a routine fetal ultrasound. If an expectant mother has a known chronic infection that can disrupt fetal development, we may perform amniocentesis to determine if the fetus is also infected. When in-depth prenatal testing is required, we partner with our Perinatal Diagnostic Centers at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.

If I know I have an infection, should I see you before I get pregnant?

Ideally, we like to see you before you become pregnant to provide you with the most up-to-date medical information, discuss how the infection will impact your pregnancy, and, if needed, get your infection under good control before you conceive. We further can partner with our Stanford Children’s Perinatal Diagnostic Centers to provide a pre-conception visit that involves prenatal screening and diagnostic testing using state-of-the-art technology. There are seven centers throughout the Bay Area. During your visit, our program’s care team will join in person or via telehealth to provide insights, reassurance, and care.

Can I still see you even if I live far away?

Yes. Depending on the state where you live, our initial evaluation and follow-up appointments can take place via telehealth if you don’t live in the Bay Area. On the chance that your unborn baby will need specialized care upon birth, we help you temporarily relocate near our hospital with lodging and housing assistance—something that is fairly unique to Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. That way, you and your baby can receive our highly specialized care during delivery and immediately after birth. We assemble a team of newborn experts to provide exceptional care in our renowned Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to provide top-notch care to minimize any effects the infection might have on your baby.

Can I pass my infection on to my baby?

You are not alone in asking this question and having concerns about getting pregnant with an active or chronic infection. For most infections, if appropriate treatment is available, risk of infection passing through the placenta and infecting your unborn baby is small. Even for infections that may not have treatment, generally they are passed through the placenta in less than half of the cases. For those infections that do pass through the placenta, with early and regular care during pregnancy we can minimize or avoid complications of many infections that can affect your pregnancy or your baby’s health. For example, HIV can be prevented in your baby 99% of the time when it is successfully suppressed by medications. Other infections, such as syphilis, can be essentially cured while you are pregnant with early and appropriate treatment, eliminating the risk of fetal infection altogether. Even for concerning infections that are passed on, we are with you every step of the way, doing everything possible to suppress the infection during pregnancy and carrying out a multispecialty care plan for your baby after birth to decrease complications and improve outcomes.

Can I still see my regular obstetric doctor in my local area?

Yes! We welcome the chance to collaborate with your community family practice, obstetrician, or maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk OB) doctor. We stay in close touch with them throughout your pregnancy to help you and your baby stay healthy. You’ll see us for an initial evaluation appointment, which we share with your doctor. We then team up with your chosen physician to carry out a multispecialty care plan that’s best for you.

Are medications for infections safe during pregnancy?

We only recommend medicines that have FDA approval and that are known to be safe during pregnancy. If you are concerned, please ask us about your medications, and we will guide you along the way.

Are screenings for infections standard during pregnancy?

Yes, many infections that can impact the health of your pregnancy or unborn baby are screened for routinely during pregnancy. It’s an opportunity to catch and treat these infections quickly. If they are not curable, we recommend seeking care from a specialized maternal-fetal medicine doctor with expertise in perinatal/pregnancy infections (like our care team) for your best chance at a positive outcome. At Stanford Children’s, we can also find clues of a congenital (in utero/at birth) infection on your unborn baby’s 20-week ultrasound, which may lead to further testing for you and your baby.

What is pregnancy care like at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health?

Our program’s care is part of the Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Center of Excellence. Within this center, we offer fertility, obstetric, fetal, newborn, child, and advanced maternal care all in one place—something that’s unique in the Bay Area and in the United States. With us, you and your baby have the backing of dozens of teams, including our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program, which provides all-encompassing care for complex fetal conditions and pregnancy disorders; our renowned neonatology (newborn) care, ranked in the top 10 in the country by U.S. News & World Report; and our extensive pediatric specialty services. Should you need expert adult care, we partner with specialists at the adjacent hospital, Stanford Hospital. Put simply, we can give you and your baby the care you need at the right time, from the right expert, and in the right way.