Times of India
6, March 2010
Pune, India

In order to provide better testing facilities to pregnant women before and during early pregnancy, the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital will be kickstarting a pre–natal medicine programme soon. The programme will be launched by S Suresh, eminent sonologist and director of Chennai’s Foetal Care Research Foundation, on Saturday.

It will offer modern screening tests to identify possible risks the mothers or their foetuses may be exposed to before or during early pregnancy. The programme will also provide suitable treatment options. Routine tests, such as screening for thalassemia and gestational diabetes, special foetal ultrasound examinations and screenings tests for Down’s Syndrome and other chromosomal disorders will be part of this unique programme.

The team in–charge of this programme will also provide invasive pre–natal tests to obtain diagnostic foetal samples in special situations. “The programme’s features will help families diagnosed with birth defects or couples with known family history of genetic disorders,” said Dr Girish Godbole, who is leading the obstetrics team at the hospital, at a press conference on Thursday.

The programme will be lead by a team of neonatologists, paediatric surgeons, paediatric cardiologist, nephrologist, paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and neurosurgeon, who will be available to discuss prenatally detected problems and to plan post–natal care.

The programme will also start its state–wide helpline soon for medical professionals, as well as patients regarding pre–natal problems. Regular short courses and workshops, along with updates, will also be organised by the hospital for obstreticians, neonatalogists and sonologists.