Maternal–fetal medicine focuses on managing health concerns of the mother and fetus prior to, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

A maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist is an obstetrician/gynecologist who, by virtue of additional education, cares for and/or provides consultation for women with complications of pregnancy and is expected to: have advanced knowledge of obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy and their effects on the mother and fetus; be skilled in the areas of prenatal ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis; have clinical competence in maternal-fetal medicine and be able to function as a consultant to obstetricians/gynecologists and other physicians for women with complicated pregnancies; have advanced knowledge of newborn adaptation; and have advanced knowledge in the arena of basic, translational, and clinical research in maternal-fetal medicine in order to advance the discipline and remain current in a rapidly changing field.