Prenatal Care

Morel Family Foundation Center for Prenatal Care

Our Morel Family Foundation Center for Prenatal Care offers a modern, relaxing space with three private ultrasound rooms as well as a separate space for nonstress tests for expectant parents.

Located on the ground floor near the Art Walk, this spacious, calming environment is intended to help parents feel more at ease during important prenatal tests and feel more comfortable asking questions and getting answers.

Morel Prenatal Care provides testing and evaluation services using the latest technology to determine the health of mom and baby prior to birth.

An experienced maternal fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist) handles all of our services for high-risk pregnancies on site.

For general questions and appointments, call 215.345.2423. A physician's order is required for all testing.

Please note that children are not allowed in the ultrasound and nonstress test rooms.

Perinatologists

Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) in both Maternal-Fetal Medicine and OB/GYN

Sonographers

Highly qualified Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDMS) credentialed by The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Perinatologists and Sonographers are certified by the Nuchal Translucency Quality Review Program (NTQR) to perform Nuchal Translucency Ultrasounds.

Registered Nurses

Our BSN prepared registered nurses have many years of experience in Labor and Delivery, fetal monitoring, and venipuncture.

First Trimester Testing

• Viability Exam

  Appointment time: approximately 30 minutes per baby

  • Basic ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and gestational age of the baby
• Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound Screening

  Appointment time: approximately 30-60 minutes per baby

  • This ultrasound is performed between 11 and 13 weeks
  • Nuchal translucency (NT) measures amount of fluid behind the baby’s neck
  • The nuchal translucency measurement screens for baby’s risk of various conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, and 18
  • During this ultrasound the baby is also evaluated for any major anatomical anomalies such as congenital heart defects
  • This test is usually done in conjunction with one of the screening blood tests
• Sequential Screen

  A two-part maternal blood test that screens for the risk of a baby being born with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and open neural tube defects (ONTDs)

  • The first part can be performed between 11 weeks and 13 weeks, 6 days gestation along with the NT measurement
  • The second part can be performed between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation
  • This test gives two screening risk results; one with the first blood draw for Down syndrome and trisomy 18 risk, and a result with the completion of the second blood draw for ONTDs such as spina bifida
• Integrated Screen

  A two-part maternal blood test that screens for the risk of a baby being born with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and open neural tube defects (ONTDs).

  • The first part can be performed between 11 weeks and 13 weeks, 6 days gestation along with the NT measurement
  • The second part can be performed between 15 and 22 weeks, 6 days of gestation
  • This test gives one screening risk result at the completion of the second blood draw for Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and ONTDs such as spina bifida
• Cell Free DNA (cfDNA)

  Also known as Noninvasive Prenatal Screening (NIPT), is a maternal blood test to screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities in a fetus.

  • DNA from the mother and fetus is extracted from a maternal blood sample and screened for the increased chance of specific chromosomal problems, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and more
  • This screening can also provide information about fetal gender
• Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

  Appointment time: approximately 60 minutes

  • A prenatal test in which a sample of chorionic villi is removed from the placenta for testing
  • Can reveal whether a baby has a chromosomal condition, such as Down syndrome, as well as other genetic conditions
  • Performed between 11 and 13 weeks using ultrasound guidance
  • Patients must meet with a genetic counselor prior to this appointment

Second and Third Trimester Testing

• Amniocentesis

  Appointment time: approximately 60 minutes

  • A procedure in which amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus to test for certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, other genetic conditions, and spina bifida
  • Performed after 16 weeks gestation using ultrasound guidance
  • Patients must meet with a genetic counselor prior to this appointment
• Cervical Length and Transvaginal Ultrasound

  Appointment time: approximately 30 minutes

  • Measurement of the cervical length with transvaginal ultrasound if there is risk of preterm labor or if there is a history of cervical surgery
  • Performed at approximately 16 to 28 weeks
• Anatomy Ultrasound

  Appointment time: approximately 60 minutes per baby

  • Obtains measurements and ultrasound images of the baby, including the heart, brain, spine, and abdomen
  • Performed at approximately 20 weeks
• Targeted Level II Anatomy Ultrasound

  Appointment time: approximately 60 minutes per baby

  • Detailed measurements and ultrasound images of the baby, including the heart, brain, spine and abdomen. Sometimes all of the images necessary cannot be obtained and the patient may be asked to return in a week or two
  • Performed at approximately 20 weeks
• Basic or Growth Ultrasound

  Appointment time: approximately 30 minutes per baby

  • Ordered routinely at different times and for various reasons during a pregnancy
  • Assesses the baby’s size or estimated fetal weight; measurements of the head, leg and abdomen are taken and plotted on a graph to help determine whether the fetus is average, larger or smaller in size for their gestational age
• Doppler Studies
  • In certain cases, Doppler flow studies will be used to assess fetal well-being and may be done in conjunction with other exams
  • Color Doppler is used to aid in the diagnosis of placenta accreta

Prenatal Testing Services

• Nonstress Test

  Appointment time: approximately 30 to 60 minutes per baby in conjunction with amniotic fluid index (AFI) and/or BPP

  • A nonstress test is a common prenatal test used to assess fetal and placental wellbeing
  • Baby's heart rate is monitored, using an external fetal monitor, to see how it responds to the baby's movements
  • The term "nonstress" refers to the fact that nothing is done to place stress on the baby during the test
  • This test is ordered for high-risk mothers on a weekly or biweekly basis and begins at 32 weeks gestation
• Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)
  • AFI measures the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus and is another tool to assess fetal and placental wellbeing
• Biophysical Profile (BPP)

  Appointment time: approximately 30 minutes

  • BPP provides information about fetal well-being, through ultrasound, by assessing fetal breathing, fetal movement, fetal tone, and amniotic fluid measurement

The Beck Family Classroom is just next door to the Morel Family Foundation Center for Prenatal Care. This welcoming space is for expectant and new parents to gather for education and support. Our educational programs include a variety of topics, as we help parents prepare for giving birth and becoming parents.  Our educators look forward to expanding our program offerings for the community in a comfortable, dedicated space for our families.