Do I need a Referral for my visit?
Will my insurance cover my visit?
What insurance companies does Greater Washington Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Genetics participate with?
What type of payment do you except?
What do Genetic Counselors do?
When will my CVS/amniocentesis be ready?
What is the First Trimester Screening Test?
Is the First Trimester Screening Test for all women or just those who are over 35?
Do I still need another blood test after the First Trimester Screening test?
Do I need a full bladder?
When can the gender of my baby be seen?
What is the earliest I can do my first trimester screening for Down Syndrome?
When will my obstetrician get a report of my sonogram and visit to your office?
Should I call your office if I have symptoms that worry me?
Will I always see a doctor at each visit?
Do I need a Referral for my visit?
You can check the Insurance Referral List or contact our office by calling (301) 279-6060.
Will my insurance cover my visit?
To check to see if your insurance will cover your visit, the best thing to do is contact the member services number on your insurance card. If you have any questions about what procedure codes might be billed, please contact our office at (301) 279-6060.
What insurance companies does Greater Washington Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Genetics participate with?
Please check the Insurance Referral List. If you do not see your insurance company listed please contact our office at (301) 279-6060.
What type of payment do you except?
We take Cash, Check, Visa or MasterCard. However in our White Flint Location we can only except Cash or Check.
What do Genetic Counselors do?
Genetic Counselors:
When will my CVS/amniocentesis be ready?
Results from CVS/amniocentesis typically take 10-14 days. One of the genetic counselors will call you when these results are available.
What is the First Trimester Screening Test?
The First Trimester Screening test is a new method of screening for Down syndrome and Trisomy 18. It involves a specialized ultrasound and a blood test at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy.
Is the First Trimester Screening Test for all women or just those who are over 35?
Anyone can have the First Trimester Screening test. Women who are over 35 years of age should also consider CVS or amniocentesis.
Do I still need another blood test after the First Trimester Screening test?
Yes, all women should consider AFP screening for spina bifida and related conditions.
Do I need a full bladder?
A full bladder is usually necessary when the scan is done abdominally and up until 28 weeks of pregnancy if you are having a sonogram or procedure. This helps us to visualize the fetus, and the lower segment of the uterus.
When can the gender of my baby be seen?
Most of the time the gender of the baby can be seen by about 20 weeks of pregnancy and very often as early as sixteen weeks. On the other hand, as the correct visualization of any fetal part depends on a host of factors such as fetal position, there are time when the gender is unable to be determined.
What is the earliest I can do my first trimester screening for Down Syndrome?
If you have your blood test as early as 9 or 10 weeks gestation, you can get immediate results of test when you come in for you nuchal fold sonogram in our office at 11-13 weeks. Your blood test can be done in your home by a simple finger stick. Call our office for more information.
When will my obstetrician get a report of my sonogram and visit to your office?
We usually send a report to your doctor within 24 hours after your visit. If necessary, our perinatologist will contact your doctor directly if findings need to be discussed at the time of the visit.
Should I call your office if I have symptoms that worry me?
If you feel you need immediate emergency treatment you should call 911.
Otherwise, you should always call your obstetrician first so that you can discuss your concerns with him/her. Your obstetrician may wish to call the Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician to discuss the issue, or have you call during business hours to schedule an appointment.
Will I always see a doctor at each visit?
On your first visit to our office, you will have the ultrasound exam performed by a sonographer and then visit with the doctor to discuss the exam. At follow-up visits you may often see the sonographer only; she will document the exam and a perinatologist will review the pictures later and send a report to your obstetrician. Of course, if the sonographer sees any thing during the exam that concerns her she will have the physician come in to your room and review the sonogram.
To help us serve you better, please check out the Your Visit section for important information and forms.
