Perinataalisten

Perinataalisten is a term used in several languages to describe physicians who specialize in perinatal medicine, focusing on the care of the fetus, the pregnant person, and the newborn around the time of birth. In English, the equivalent is typically called maternal-fetal medicine specialists or perinatal medicine specialists. Perinatalisten provide expertise for high‑risk pregnancies, fetal conditions, and complex deliveries, often working as part of multidisciplinary teams.

Their practice includes managing maternal medical conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases) that affect pregnancy, monitoring fetal growth and well‑being, and diagnosing fetal anomalies through ultrasound and other prenatal testing. They plan and supervise delivery in high‑risk cases, and may offer fetal interventions or coordination of neonatal care for premature or compromised newborns. Collaboration with obstetricians, neonatologists, genetic counselors, and surgeons is common, with decisions centered on optimizing outcomes for both mother and child.

Training for perinatalisten typically requires completing a medical degree followed by residency in obstetrics and gynecology or pediatrics, and then a subspecialty fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine or perinatal medicine. Certification and ongoing professional education vary by country but generally emphasize high‑risk obstetric management, fetal medicine, and neonatal collaboration.

Work settings are usually tertiary or academic medical centers with access to advanced imaging, fetal testing, and neonatal intensive care units. The field aims to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality by early detection, precise risk assessment, individualized care plans, and coordinated delivery care.