Most pregnancies progress with reassuring scan results and straightforward antenatal check-ups. But for some families, a finding on a routine scan, an abnormal screening result, or a medical history that raises specific concerns brings them into contact with fetal medicine for the first time. That moment is almost always anxiety-inducing, and what families need alongside clinical expertise is clear, honest communication about what has been found and what it means.
The Fetal Medicine service at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City provides advanced prenatal assessment for pregnancies requiring a higher level of specialist input. For families across Electronic City, Hosur Road, Anekal, and surrounding areas of South Bengaluru, this specialist service is now available close to home rather than requiring travel to distant tertiary centres.
What Fetal Medicine Does
Fetal medicine is the subspecialty of obstetrics focused on the health and development of the baby before birth. A fetal medicine specialist has advanced training in detailed ultrasound, interpretation of prenatal screening results, invasive diagnostic procedures, and the management of structural and chromosomal abnormalities identified prenatally.
The clinical value of this specialty lies in what it enables: the identification of problems before birth, when planning can begin, when parents have time to understand the diagnosis, and when the clinical team can prepare for the delivery and postnatal care the baby will need from the very first moment.
Who Is Referred to Fetal Medicine
- Referral to our fetal medicine service at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City is appropriate in a range of situations:
- A structural abnormality identified or suspected on a routine anomaly scan requiring detailed specialist assessment
- Advanced maternal age where the risk of chromosomal conditions is elevated
- A family history of a genetic condition or a previous pregnancy affected by a chromosomal or structural abnormality
- Abnormal results on first or second trimester screening including combined screening or cell-free DNA testing
- Multiple pregnancy, particularly identical twins sharing a placenta, where specific complications require regular surveillance
- Fetal growth restriction identified on routine or growth scans
- Reduced or excessive amniotic fluid
- Placental abnormalities including placenta praevia, low-lying placenta, or suspected placenta accreta
- Maternal conditions that may affect the baby, including poorly controlled diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease, and certain medications
Detailed Fetal Anomaly Scan
A comprehensive abnormality scan is carried out by a fetal medicine specialist on a high resolution ultrasound machine. It gives a systematic evaluation of the baby’s entire anatomy. Anatomy comprises brain, heart, spine, limbs, kidneys, abdominal organs, face and placenta . The specialist reviews a discovery as identified, in the same session. This provides a better view and removes the need for an additional appointment.
As part of the detailed anomaly assessment, a neurosonogram is performed to provide an in-depth evaluation of the baby's brain structure. This specialised scan assesses the fetal brain in detail beyond what a standard anomaly scan covers, identifying subtle abnormalities of brain development including cortical malformations, posterior fossa anomalies, and midline defects that may not be visible on routine imaging. Having a fetal medicine specialist perform this assessment rather than a general sonographer significantly improves the detection rate of neurological findings that require further evaluation or early intervention planning.
Families also have the option of taking home a 3D or 4D scan photograph of their baby during the anomaly scan appointment. Seeing the baby's face, features, and movements in three dimensions is a meaningful moment for many parents, and our team is happy to capture these images alongside the clinical assessment so families have a memory to keep from this important milestone scan.
Fetal Echocardiography
Congenital heart disease is the most common significant structural abnormality in newborns, and many cases can be identified before birth through a dedicated cardiac scan. fetal echocardiography assesses the heart's structure and function in detail, using colour Doppler to evaluate blood flow through the chambers and valves.
When a cardiac abnormality is identified prenatally, it allows the obstetric, neonatal, and cardiac surgery teams to plan the delivery setting and immediate postnatal care in advance. At KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City, this coordination happens directly with the paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery teams at KIMS Hospitals, ensuring complete preparation before the baby arrives.
Prenatal Screening
Combined screening is done in the first trimester between eleven and fourteen weeks. The nuchal translucency measurement on ultrasound is paired with maternal blood indicators to quantify the risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. This scan will be done and reported by our fetal medicine team, who will discuss the findings with you and explain the options should a high risk result be returned.
NIPT or cell-free DNA screening is a blood test that may be done from 10 weeks of pregnancy. It provides a very accurate risk estimate for chromosomal disorders with no danger to the foetus. Our team recommends when NIPT is the most appropriate test and helps families interpret and act on results.
Invasive Diagnostic Procedures
When screening results are high-risk or when a structural finding warrants definitive chromosomal assessment, invasive testing is offered. Chorionic villus sampling in the first trimester and amniocentesis from fifteen weeks both provide a definitive chromosomal result by sampling fetal genetic material under continuous ultrasound guidance.
These procedures carry a small procedural risk of pregnancy loss. Our fetal medicine specialists discuss this clearly and honestly before any procedure. This ensures that families make an informed decision with full understanding of what the test involves and what information it provides.
Twin Pregnancy Surveillance
Identical twins sharing a placenta, known as monochorionic twins, carry the specific risk of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. In this case blood flows unequally between the twins through shared placental vessels. This condition requires structured surveillance with fortnightly ultrasound from sixteen weeks to detect early signs of discordance. Our fetal medicine team manages the full programme of twin surveillance, with escalation to specialist fetal intervention services where TTTS is identified.
Why Choose KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City
fetal medicine combines technical ultrasound skill, clinical experience with rare prenatal findings, and the communication ability to explain complex and emotionally charged information clearly and compassionately. Our team at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City brings all three, alongside the full hospital infrastructure for coordination with neonatology, paediatric surgery, and cardiac surgery when prenatal findings require postnatal specialist care.
Book a Consultation
If you have been referred for a fetal medicine assessment or have concerns about your pregnancy that need specialist evaluation, our team at KIMS Cuddles at KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City is here to help. Book online or by phone.
