Dr Elena Núñez: fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancy in Murcia

Dra. Mª Elena Núñez Cerrato holds a degree in Medicine from the Universidad de Oviedo and trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Hospital Universitario de Burgos. In 2016 she completed the Master's in Human Reproduction at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.

She was a Research Fellow at the Fetal Medicine Foundation for three years (2016 to 2019) and obtained the Fetal Medicine Expert qualification at King's College Hospital in London, under the supervision of Prof. K. Nicolaides. She has worked at King's College Hospital, at the private clinic of the Fetal Medicine Centre in London and at the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, where she works now. She has published work in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

It is the branch of obstetrics that looks at the baby's wellbeing during pregnancy: growth, anatomy and how the placenta is working. At the clinic it is done with 3D, 4D and Doppler maternal and fetal ultrasound, and complemented by screening for defects and complications.

The NHS explains that this scan is usually done between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. It looks for signs of 11 conditions, including anencephaly, open spina bifida, cleft lip and palate, diaphragmatic hernia, serious cardiac abnormalities and Edwards' and Patau's syndromes, and it also checks the baby's growth, the placenta and the blood flow in the womb.

The NHS itself reminds us that the scan cannot find all conditions. If a problem is found, you may be offered further scans and tests and referred to a specialist who can explain them so you can decide. That is where fetal medicine makes the difference.

• If a routine scan has shown something you want to understand better.
• If you have a history that makes your pregnancy higher risk, or it already is.
• If you want a second opinion with a high-resolution scan.
• If you are planning a pregnancy and want to talk it through first.