Perinatalmedizinern

Perinatalmedizin, or perinatal medicine, is a medical specialty focused on the fetus, the mother, and the neonate during the perinatal period, from approximately the late pregnancy through the first weeks of life. Perinatalmedizinern are physicians and specialists who practice in this field, often working within obstetric and neonatal teams to optimize outcomes for high-risk pregnancies and newborns.

Training typically involves completion of a medical degree followed by specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology and/or pediatrics, with additional fellowship or subspecialty training in fetal medicine, neonatal intensive care, or perinatal care. In many countries, certification or board recognition in perinatal medicine or fetal and neonatal medicine is available and helps standardize expertise in maternal-fetal assessment, fetal therapy, and neonatal stabilization.

Clinical work includes risk assessment, monitoring of fetal well-being, management of maternal conditions (such as diabetes or hypertension), planning and performing obstetric interventions when indicated, and coordinating neonatal care for preterm or ill newborns. Perinatal medicine often involves fetal imaging (ultrasound, echocardiography), neonatal resuscitation, and care in perinatal intensive care units.

Settings and teams: Perinatal medicine is typically practiced in tertiary care hospitals and specialized perinatal centers with levels of care. It relies on multidisciplinary teams comprising obstetricians, neonatologists, sonographers, nurses, and social workers, who collaborate to support families through high-risk pregnancies and complex deliveries.

Research and ethics: The field includes research on fetal surveillance, prediction of outcomes, fetal therapies, and strategies to reduce preterm birth and neonatal morbidity, as well as ethical considerations around decision-making and palliative care.