Maternal Fetal MedicineAAMC's team on your side through a high-risk pregnancy Finding out that your pregnancy is considered high-risk can be, understandably, a cause for alarm or concern. But it will help to know that a team of caring and ultra-competent professionals from AAMC's Maternal Fetal Medicine Center will work with you and your OB-GYN doctor from the earliest weeks of your pregnancy. Their role is to help you manage and control that risk, working as a team not only toward maintaining the health of you and your baby during your pregnancy but toward a happy, positive outcome when the big day arrives. (As that big day draws closer, knowing that AAMC's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is just steps away is yet one more measure of reassurance.) A pregnancy can be considered high risk for a number of reasons:
Early InvolvementIf your OB/GYN doctor determines that your pregnancy is high-risk, he or she may refer you to the specialist physicians at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center. Not only are Drs. Sweeney and Lance both board certified, but their credentials include advanced fellowship training and medical school faculty positions in the field of Maternal Fetal Medicine. An initial consultation may be followed by diagnostic tests to evaluate the health of mother and baby as well as other related follow-up services, both of which may continue through your pregnancy as necessary. These can include antepartum testing, personalized instructional sessions, menu and dietary counseling, or the services of a clinical nurse specialist. The key is to identify potential problems early and accurately. And, throughout the process your OB/GYN doctor and Maternal Fetal Medicine Center specialist collaborate in managing and controlling risks as they monitor the health of your baby. Counseling for Couples Weighing the RisksCouples who are aware that there may be risks to a pregnancy but want to understand and minimize those risks in advance of a pregnancy can take advantage of counseling services under the auspices of AAMC's Maternal Fetal Medicine Center. One of the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist physicians will discuss risk factors and options on a personalized, individual basis. Among those options is a referral to a Reproductive Services office where AAMC staff physicians offer couples genetic counseling and other related services. Services Offered
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists William J. Sweeney, M.D., a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at AAMC, co-manages high-risk pregnancies in tandem with the mother's obstetrician by anticipating, identifying and managing problems early on. William J. Sweeney, M.D. is the medical director of AAMC’s Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine. Dr. Sweeney is a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine where he completed an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Sweeney did a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His past affiliations include New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. and Moore Regional Medical Center in Pinehurst, N.C. Dr. Sweeney also has been a clinical professor at the Coastal Area Health Education Center in Wilmington and the University of North Carolina. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Sweeney resides in Annapolis. He enjoys golfing, boating and diving in his spare time. Michael E. Lantz, M.D. is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at The Greater Baltimore Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Lantz did a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at The University of South Florida. After completion of his fellowship, he joined the faculty of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He was previously the Director of Obstetrics at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and an attending physician in The Maternal-Fetal Diagnostic Center at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Prior to joining AAMC, he was the director of Shore Perinatal Centers, a private practice on the Eastern Shore. Dr. Lantz is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He enjoys boating, fishing and running in his spare time. |
(443) 481-4000  |
AAMC Women's and Children's Center
2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis Maryland 21401
(443) 481-1000 | TDD: 443-481-1235
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