Obstetrix Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Houston, part of Pediatrix Medical Group

Dr. Behnia Departure Announcement

As of October 2, 2023, Faranak Behnia, M.D., will be leaving our practice. We welcome patients to call our office and schedule their next appointment with one of our other maternal-fetal medicine specialists committed to providing exceptional care for you and your baby.

About Our Practice

Obstetrix^® Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Houston is a network of three maternal-fetal medicine practices located throughout Houston with more than 25 years of caring for women with high-risk pregnancies and complex maternal-fetal conditions. Our practices offer the complete spectrum of maternal-fetal medicine services to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care possible.

Obstetrix Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Houston provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient management of high-risk pregnancies, including preconception counseling, prenatal counseling, fetal ultrasound, pregnancy management, delivery and critical care obstetrics.

Our team consists of expert maternal-fetal medicine specialists, advanced practitioners, nurses, obstetric trained sonographers and administrative staff committed to providing exceptional patient care and customer service.

We partner with our patients and their families and work collaboratively with obstetricians and other medical specialists to create a personalized care plan to achieve expecting mothers' healthiest possible pregnancy and outcome.

Hospital Affiliations
- Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital
- Tomball Regional Medical Center
- Houston Methodist West Hospital
- HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe
- Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
- St. Lukes Health The Woodlands Hospital
- Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
- Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital
- Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
- Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital
- HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest
- Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women
- Texas Children’s Hospital
- Houston Methodist Hospital
- Fannin Surgicare
- Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital
- The Women’s Hospital of Texas
- Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital
- HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood
- St. Joseph Medical Center
- St. Joseph Women’s Center
What is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist?

Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, also known as perinatologists, manage high-risk pregnancies affected by complex maternal-fetal conditions. Maternal-fetal medicine is considered a subspecialty of obstetrics. MFM specialists undergo training that includes four years in obstetrics and gynecology residency after completing medical school. After OB/GYN residency, MFM specialists complete a three-year maternal-fetal medicine fellowship where they conduct clinical research and receive extensive training in fetal ultrasound, prenatal diagnosis and management of complex obstetrical and medical complications affecting pregnancy.
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
A pregnancy is considered high-risk when there is an increased chance of complications for a pregnant mother, baby or both. Potential pregnancy complications can develop due to a pre-existing condition or maternal-fetal complications caused by pregnancy. You may be referred to an MFM specialist if your pregnancy is impacted by the following:
- A pre-existing maternal health condition and you are pregnant or would like to become pregnant
- You have experienced a complication in a previous pregnancy
- You develop a complication that impacts your maternal health during or shortly after pregnancy
- Your baby or babies develop a complication or are diagnosed with a congenital anomaly during pregnancy
- You have experienced a complication in a previous pregnancy
- You are pregnant with multiples: twins, triplets, or more
- Advanced maternal age (AMA)

Services Offered

Amniocentesis
Antenatal (Prenatal) Testing (Screening)

Antenatal or prenatal diagnostic screening, refers to a variety of testing options available to determine if a fetus has certain abnormalities. Many of the tests are conducted by an obstetrician (OB) as routine prenatal screening, including ultrasound, nuchal translucency screening and testing of a pregnant woman's blood to help estimate the risk of certain abnormalities. When a test indicates a higher risk, additional tests are available to further analyze the fetus. These additional tests, such as amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling, are often more invasive and have additional risks to the fetus and should be conducted by a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist.
Management of Advanced Maternal Age

Women who become pregnant after age 35 are more likely to have pre-existing health problems that can complicate pregnancy and are at greater risk for complications like high blood pressure, abnormal fetal growth and diabetes in pregnancy. There is also an increased risk for certain fetal genetic abnormalities, specifically trisomies (where the fetus has an extra chromosome).
Management of Multiple Gestations (twins or more)

Pregnant women carrying multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.) are at an increased risk of experiencing complications such as preterm delivery, low birth weight and preeclampsia. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist specializes in the care of women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, such as multiples, and has the additional training and experience required to treat any complications experienced during a pregnancy.
Diabetes Management in Pregnancy

Women diagnosed with diabetes before or during pregnancy have difficulties producing the appropriate amount of insulin to process glucose, or sugar, in their bodies. Improper management of diabetes during pregnancy can lead to serious health problems for both the mother and baby. A maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist is specially trained to treat women with diabetes during pregnancy. Through frequent prenatal visits, an MFM specialist can monitor and provide recommendations to help manage blood glucose levels through a combination of healthy eating, exercise and medications.
Genetic Counseling

Support provided by a genetic professional or qualified physician to the patient and the doctor by identifying genetic risk, discussing family history, explaining available testing options and implications of test results, as well as providing patient education. Genetic counselors or qualified physicians, act as patient advocates translating medical and scientific knowledge into practical information. In addition, resources are available to provide support to anyone who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions or birth defects, such as cystic fibrosis or disorders common to a particular race or ethnic group. This information is provided in a non-directive, unbiased manner and allows the patient to make their own decisions regarding testing options.
High-Risk Obstetric Care and Consults

An extra level of care available to women at risk of experiencing problems during or after their pregnancy. A variety of risk factors can make a pregnancy high-risk, including advanced maternal age, chronic health conditions, problems with a previous pregnancy and problems that develop during pregnancy. A high-risk pregnancy means the baby is at a higher risk of having health problems during pregnancy, birth or after delivery. Women having a high-risk pregnancy should be seen more frequently for close monitoring by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a physician specially trained to treat high-risk pregnancies.
Inpatient Consultation and Care
Pre-Conception Counseling

An evaluation of a woman's current health and medical history to help identify opportunities to better prepare the body for becoming pregnant and to counsel her on risks and management of future pregnancy. The evaluation may include a review of the patient's current lifestyle and medical/obstetric history, including current medications, screening and treatment for any infectious diseases, immunization updates, education and recommendations on behavior modifications to reduce risk factors.
Chorionic Villus Sampling

CVS is a diagnostic test to screen for chromosome abnormalities and inherited disorders by analyzing the chorionic villi cells from the placenta. The placenta cells are collected either transcervically, using an ultrasound guided catheter inserted through the cervix to gently suction the cells, or transabdominally, through a long thin needle inserted into the placenta through the abdomen.
Fetal Echocardiogram
Routine Pregnancy Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a method to get pictures or videos of the fetus (unborn baby). It can be used to help determine the due date, to find out whether there is only one fetus or multiples (twins, triplets, etc), to check on whether the fetus is growing normally, and to look for birth defects or other problems. The method uses sound waves to make the images, not x-rays or radiation. Ultrasound is painless and safe for both mother and fetus.
Special Ultrasound Exams

Our maternal-fetal medicine doctors have special training and certification to perform types of ultrasound that may not be available from a radiology service or a general obstetrician. These exams are performed in special situations, not in every pregnancy. Special exams include: Biophysical profile (A focused check of fetal movements and amniotic fluid (the liquid surrounding the fetus) to check on fetal well-being), Cervix length (If the cervix is short, there is a risk of preterm birth and special treatment might be needed), Doppler (Measurement of blood flow through certain blood vessels (umbilical cord, arteries in fetal brain, other blood vessels) to check on fetal well-being), Fetal echocardiogram (A detailed exam of the fetal heart to look for heart defects), 3-D Ultrasound (still pictures that appear 3-dimensional. These are used to get details for certain types of birth defects), 4-D ultrasound (Videos that appear 3-dimensional. These are used to get details of certain types of birth defects).

Conditions Treated

Heart Disease
Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure, can be present before pregnancy (chronic hypertension) or develop during pregnancy (gestational hypertension). Pregnant women with hypertension are at risk of developing preeclampsia, experiencing both high blood pressure and protein in the urine, which can lead to serious complications for both the mother and baby.
Kidney Disease
Morbidly Obese Patients