Welcome to the Homepage of the New Zealand Maternal Fetal Medicine Network (NZMFMN)

This Network was established with support from the Ministry of Health to promote excellence in Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Services around New Zealand and support maternity healthcare providers. It also hopes to encourage recruitment and retention within the sub-specialty field of Maternal Fetal Medicine.

MFM includes the care of women with a high risk pregnancy. This may include women with a very complex medical condition themselves or a pregnancy complicated by fetal anomaly, complex multiple gestation and other fetal conditions which may require access to advanced procedures.

Background

The subspecialties were developed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to:

• improve knowledge, practice, teaching and research
• promote the concentration of specialised expertise, special facilities and clinical material that will be of considerable benefit to some patients
• improve the recruitment of talented graduates into areas of recognised subspecialisation
• establish a close understanding and working relationship with other disciplines
• encourage co-ordinated management of relevant clinical services throughout a region
• accept a major regional responsibility for higher training, research and audit in areas of recognised subspecialisation
• establish, as far as possible, consistency in recruitment, training and assessment across areas of recognised subspecialisation.

Mission statement 

The NZMFM Network is dedicated to delivering safe, equitable and sustainable maternal fetal medicine services to the women, pepi and whānau of Aotearoa New Zealand.

We will provide support for the MFM service to ensure nationally consistent outcomes, accessibility and collaborative care for all that enter into the service.

The NZMFM Network is dedicated to ensuring the ongoing clinical education of staff, promotion of evidence-based care and research, and the collegiality and ongoing wellbeing of practitioners within the Network.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)

Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) is a branch of Women’s Health which includes high-risk pregnancy where the mother or baby or both has a problem. For most women the expectation is that pregnancy will be a happy time without any issues and most will not need MFM services. However, for the women who do need MFM, these services are provided for women throughout New Zealand.

Common Questions about NZMFM:

• What happens if there is a problem with my baby?
• When will I be seen?
• What will happen at the MFM unit?
• What about my LMC?
• Babies with heart problems
• Useful Links for Patient Support

Your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) will contact the Obstetrician at your local hospital. Some problems can be managed at your local hospital and will not need you to travel further. In some cases, if your local hospital Obstetrician feels that referral to an MFM Hub is required, they will refer on to one of the three Hubs in the New Zealand MFM Network (NZMFMN). The Hubs are based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

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If you have been referred as your baby has a problem on scanning, you will usually be seen within a week. This will vary as some conditions are more severe than others. Your case will be discussed with a doctor at the MFM unit who will decide when you are seen.

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You will be seen by a Doctor who is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with expertise in MFM. Usually they will talk to you briefly before a scan is performed. After the scan the doctor will explain the findings and any further tests they suggest. This may include testing such as amniocentesis and it is recommended that you are prepared to spend the rest of the day quietly.  We recommend that you bring a support person with you to your initial visit to the MFM Hub.  At this visit you will learn more about your baby's condition.  Please be aware that your Specialist may have to give distressing news about your baby - but this is not always the case.  You will be provided with information about your baby's condition.  This is so you and your family can understand the condition and your situation.  We recommend you make alternative arrangements for childcare when visiting the MFM Hub for the first time if possible.

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Your LMC or local obstetrician may have referred you to the MFM Hub. At your first visit the staff will get all the information about your local healthcare providers. It is useful to have all their details, including your GP, with you in case they are not on the referral. Depending on the circumstances the staff may contact your local healthcare providers. In some cases your LMC will continue to provide your care supported by the MFM staff. In some cases it might be necessary for you to deliver your baby at the MFM Hub rather than at your local hospital. In this case, care will be provided by the MFM team.

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Some babies will be diagnosed with a heart problem. Some of these babies will need surgery after birth. If this needs to be soon after birth the MFM Hub will recommend delivery at Auckland City Hospital. If this is the case you will be provided with support for this through the Auckland MFM unit and the Paediatric Cardiology Service.

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