DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 4 -- FOR many families, pregnancy is a period of hope and anticipation. Yet for some women, it can become a period of serious medical risk when complications threaten the mother, the unborn baby or both.

Pregnancies complicated by high blood pressure, diabetes, heart or kidney disease, sickle cell disease, multiple pregnancy, poor fetal growth or congenital abnormalities require more than routine antenatal care. They demand specialised assessment capable of identifying danger early, monitoring the health of both mother and baby and determining the safest time and place for delivery.

This is where Fetal Maternal Medicine (FMM) becomes increasingly important.

The specialised field focuses on pregnancies in which eithe...