Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Maternal-fetal medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics, caring for women who are high risk or who have complications of pregnancy, such as obstetric, medical, surgical or genetic complications. Dr. Dana Damron and Dr. Nora Gilo are board-certified in maternal-fetal medicine. They and their staff work in partnership with your personal obstetrician or family physician.

Ultrasound Services

Billings Clinic’s imaging technology offers detailed images of the fetus to help reassure parents about the health of their baby and to detect problems during pregnancy.

High-risk pregnancy patients receive the best ultrasound services available in this region. Our staff of nationally-certified ultrasonographers use optimal imaging technology and can provide 2D, 3D, and 4D resolution for sonogram images.

The Ultrascreen screening test is available and is used to check for chromosomal abnormalities with an ultrasound and blood test combination. This screening is available to all pregnant women, however the exam can only take place between the gestational age of 11 weeks, 0 days to 13 weeks, 6 days.

Billings Clinic’s maternal-fetal medicine program is the first obstetric ultrasound program in Montana or northern Wyoming to be accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). This is a national organization committed to excellence in medical use of ultrasound. Accreditation by the AIUM demonstrates Billings Clinic’s clinical excellence and commitment to the highest quality patient care when providing diagnostic ultrasound services.

Pregnancy Diabetes Clinic

Diabetes is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Billings Clinic’s Pregnancy Diabetes Clinic combines the services of dietetics and nutrition, nurse education, and physician experience. When patients are referred, they will have the opportunity to visit with certified diabetes educators, a dietitian and our maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the same time in the same place. Care will be coordinated for the benefit of the patient. If patients are referred for assistance with diabetes, they will continue to see their primary obstetrician or family physician for obstetric care and delivery.

Appropriate patients for referral include:

• Non-pregnant patients with diabetes considering pregnancy, for pre-pregnancy counseling
• Pregnant patients with diabetes, whether Type I or Type II
• Newly diagnosed patients with gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman develops high blood sugar during pregnancy.

Maternal Flight Team

Transfer of high-risk patients from a referring hospital is available by ambulance or the specialized Maternal Flight team via Medflight air ambulance. A specialized group of maternal nurses are available to assist in the transfer of the high-risk pregnancy patient from an outlying hospital to Billings Clinic.