Pro-Life Maternal-Fetal Medicine is a Special Focus Group of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. We are maternal-fetal medicine physicians dedicated to respect for, and preservation of, both mother and fetus in each pregnancy.  We are of like mind with the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a Special Interest Group of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

Although obstetricians have always been concerned for two patients¡ªmother and fetus¡ªon a practical clinical basis there was little they could do for the fetus prior to the 20^th century, and it has only been in the last 40 years that most of the medical advances allowing the development of maternal-fetal medicine have occurred.  So rapid have been these advances that there are now medical texts dedicated solely to fetal medicine and there are even those who predict that fetal medicine will become a field separate from maternal medicine. Beyond this, there is now even recognition of embryonic medicine.

Unfortunately, this explosion of knowledge about the development and behavior of the human embryo and fetus has not always led to a corresponding respect for, or protection of, the life of these young human beings.  Sometimes it has appeared that there is an inverse relationship between the new knowledge gained about the life of the fetus and the level of respect and protection afforded to the fetus.  Even among physicians who oversee the care of these young human beings and their mothers there has often been a seeming lack of concern for the life of the younger member of this patient dyad.

It is for these reasons that we have perceived the need to join together in affirming our responsibility for the protection of both patients acknowledged in the very name of our medical subspecialty¡ªmaternal and fetal.