Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic Provides the Right Care, at the Right Time, and in the Right Place
Kimberly Webster and her husband, Michael Griffith, couldn’t wait to become parents together. They knew, however, that given Kimberly’s age and history of high blood pressure, they would face a high-risk pregnancy.
It was just about a year ago when Kimberly, then 41, learned she was expecting their first child and was eagerly anticipating telling Michael. “At my age, we were trying and planning and hoping and not sure — and it worked,” said Kimberly, who gave Michael a gift to open — a baby onesie featuring the words “Love Made Me” — as the way to share the exciting news.
Kimberly and Michael welcomed their son, Finnegan Griffith-Webster, this past September. Weighing just over 5 lbs., Finn was born three weeks early and healthy, thanks in no small part, the couple says, to the quality care they received from the Health Care Team in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic at Munson Medical Center.
While Munson Healthcare has had a maternal-fetal medicine program for 20 years, it’s only in recent time that we’ve had a dedicated clinic and a board-certified, fellowship-trained maternal and fetal medicine physician on staff to lead this program that provides guidance and comfort to women throughout northern Michigan who are in a high-risk pregnancy situation.
Designed for preconception to postpartum, these expanded services mean patients are experiencing customized specialized care as well as a greater level of coordinated care among their health care providers right here in northern Michigan, said Mary Schubert, executive director of women’s and children’s services for MHC.
The clinic sees about 100 patients each month, said June C. Murphy, DO, FACOOG. She’s also providing these services at Manistee Hospital, and the hope is to next expand to Otsego Memorial Hospital. There is a great need for these services in northern Michigan, Dr. Murphy said.
“We do see moms delaying child-bearing, which then is related to the higher risks for diabetes and high blood pressure as we get older. But then also we are seeing other problems with, for example, opioid addiction and those special circumstances that affect the pregnancy and the newborn,” she said. Plus, with the way medicine has evolved, this team can address problems in utero and pick out the best scenario or best delivery plan for the patient.
OB-GYNs, their high-risk pregnancy patients, and the clinic team all work together for coordinated care. In Kimberly’s case, this meant her OB-GYN, Peter Bump, MD, of Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology helped her manage her care throughout and often was present for the ultrasounds that took place at the clinic.
Kimberly Webster and Michael Griffith are grateful for the close-to-home care they received throughout her pregnancy. They’re savoring these early months with their son, who recently learned how to roll over and lights up a room with his smile.
“Everything is good. He’s a really good baby,” Kimberly Webster said. “I think it was fantastic having that team available to us and knowing that I could always reach out if I had questions.”
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