by Judy Walsh
Above: A non-stress test as done by Betsy Weaver, RNC, RDMS, measures the fetal heart rate in response to movements by Judith Zittrauer’s baby.
When Judith Zittrauer found out she was pregnant at age 39, she was concerned.
She knew about the risks of genetic and chromosomal problems to older mothers, and wanted the information that an amniocentesis test could provide about her baby’s health and development.
Her obstetrician, Dr. William Simpson, referred her to Dr. Robert Stauffer, medical director of the Columbus Regional Maternal Fetal Medicine Center. Dr. Stauffer, who is also Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Medical Center, is a board-certified perinatologist with extensive experience in his field.
Judith’s Story
Zittrauer recalls, “I wasn’t able to have an amniocentesis test, though. Dr. Stauffer said the baby was moving too much, and it could be harmful. Hewas so kind, and I appreciated his being conservative. It gave me confidence in him.”
Zittrauer’s first appointment was seven weeks into her pregnancy. But it was not to be her last.
Expecting to continue working in the accounting department at TSYS until her delivery day, Zittrauer began experiencing contractions and back pain and learned she was in pre-term labor at 22 weeks. She spent a week at The Medical Center and was then ordered to bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy.
As she continues to await the birth of her child, she visits the Center twice a week for non-stress tests and once a month for an ultrasound to see how the baby is developing and to monitor the fetal heart beat.
“The nurses are super nice and very thorough,” she said. “I had no idea these services were available. The care has been extraordinary.”
New Location
The Center recently relocated to a building on North Avenue across the street from The Medical Center because of the growth of its services. The staff performs outpatient diagnostic tests there from early through late pregnancy to verify fetal well-being.
“Basically we are here to help people with any sort of problem that may complicate a mother’s pregnancy,” said Dr. Stauffer, mentioning age, poor obstetrical history, multiple pregnancies and medical problems such as diabetes or hypertension.
“We’ve expanded our services as we’ve developed more and more techniques to help people with problem pregnancies so we can provide closer observations for successful outcomes.
“Columbus is fortunate that The Medical Center is one of six regional perinatal centers in Georgia and can manage pregnancies both from an obstetrical and neonatal standpoint, for both mother and child. Otherwise, people would have to drive to Atlanta or Macon to get these services,” he said.
Highly Trained Staff
Dr. Stauffer is supported by a staff of highly-trained nurse clinicians, including a full-time genetic counselor, registered nurses who are also registered medical sonographers and registered nurses with special certification in obstetrics. The Center also offers gestational diabetes management. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes.
Other services include fetal ultrasound, perinatal consultations, first trimester screening, cervical ultrasounds and biophysical profiles.
Genetic Counseling
Beth Brown, a certified genetic counselor, is part of the healthcare team at the Center and provides information and support to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions and to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders.
“There are a variety of reasons a patient is referred to me,” she said. “Sometimes because of a mother’s age or their family history. Sometimes they have had a test that has predicted a risk in their pregnancy.
“My perspective in the patient’s care is a little different from the clinician. Mine is an education process. We may spend 30 minutes to an hour on a subject, interpreting information and reviewing available options with the family.
“What are the benefits of this test? What are the risks? Some decide they don’t want invasive testing such as amniocentesis because of the risks but just want to follow pregnancy with blood screening and ultrasound. I follow them throughout their pregnancy and answer questions they have along the way.”
Besides information, Brown also provides a shoulder. She hears a mother’s and family’s hopes and dreams, along with their fears.
Grief counseling, she explained, begins the moment that a mother is told that something is wrong with her child. “The baby may still be in the womb and have a heartbeat, but the mother is grieving the loss of the child that she was expecting,” Brown said. “Certainly when there is a birth defect, a genetic disorder or a loss, I will be there for the mother, counseling and making referrals to community or state support services, to support her and her family.”
Privacy is of utmost importance at the Center. From the privacy of testing and In front of the new Columbus Regional Maternal Fetal Medicine Center on North Avenue near The Medical Center are Dr. Robert Stauffer, M.D., the Center’s medical director and a staff of highly-trained nurse clinicians. diagnostic rooms to the private counseling areas, a mother’s comfort and confidence at this stressful time in her life is at the heart of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center.
For more information:
Columbus Regional Maternal Fetal
Medicine Center
706-571-1285.
