Finding Care in New York

Finding a High-Risk Pregnancy Specialist on Long Island: MFM Care in Nassau and Suffolk

By the Find Her Doctor editorial team · Updated November 1, 2026 · 5 min read

To find a high-risk pregnancy specialist on Long Island, ask your OB/GYN or midwife for a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) practice, confirm that the specialist and their ultrasound unit are in your insurance network, and ask early which hospital they recommend for delivery. Most Long Island MFM groups are tied to the big hospital systems, including the region's Regional Perinatal Centers.

Getting referred to "high-risk" can be scary to hear. In practice, it usually means more ultrasounds and a second set of expert eyes, not that something is wrong. Here's what the care looks like and how to make the logistics work from Nassau or Suffolk.

What an MFM specialist does

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists (sometimes called perinatologists) are OB/GYNs with about three extra years of training in high-risk pregnancy. They may:

  • Do detailed ultrasounds, including the anatomy scan and growth scans
  • Manage conditions such as chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus or a blood clotting disorder
  • Monitor twins or other multiples
  • Interpret genetic screening and offer diagnostic testing
  • Plan delivery timing and location for complex pregnancies

There are three common setups, and it helps to know which one you're in:

  • One-time consult: you see the MFM once or twice, and they send a plan to your OB/GYN.
  • Co-management: your OB/GYN handles routine visits and delivery; the MFM does ultrasounds and advises.
  • Full transfer: for some conditions, the MFM team takes over.

Many patients keep their regular OB/GYN the whole time. More in high-risk pregnancy and maternal-fetal medicine.

Why you might be referred

  • High blood pressure before or during pregnancy, or preeclampsia in a past pregnancy
  • Diabetes before pregnancy, or gestational diabetes that needs medicine
  • Twins, triplets or more
  • A previous preterm birth or stillbirth
  • An ultrasound finding in the baby
  • Placenta problems, such as placenta previa or suspected placenta accreta
  • A medical condition such as heart, kidney, autoimmune or bleeding disorders
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Age 35 or older, depending on your practice and other risk factors (see pregnancy after 35)

What MFM visits are actually like

Much of MFM care happens on an ultrasound table. Depending on your situation, you might have:

  • A detailed anatomy scan around 18 to 22 weeks (see the 20-week anatomy scan)
  • Growth scans every few weeks if there are concerns about the baby's size
  • Fetal heart monitoring (non-stress tests) later in pregnancy for some conditions, often weekly or more, about 20 to 40 minutes hooked to a monitor
  • Genetic counseling and, if you choose, diagnostic testing such as amniocentesis

The visit count adds up in the third trimester. Many patients say that's when location starts to matter more than anything else.

Where MFM care happens on Long Island

Nassau County. Specialists concentrate around the hospital campuses in Manhasset, New Hyde Park and Mineola. North Shore University Hospital (Manhasset) is listed in the NYS Department of Health's Regional Perinatal Center program, NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island (Mineola) is listed as an RPC on the DOH hospital profile site, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center sits right on the Queens–Nassau line. Browse Nassau County maternal-fetal medicine.

Suffolk County. Stony Brook University Hospital is Suffolk's Regional Perinatal Center. MFM offices and satellite ultrasound sites are spread across western and central Suffolk, but East End patients may travel farther. Browse Suffolk County maternal-fetal medicine.

For birth volumes and cesarean and VBAC rates by hospital, see where to give birth on Long Island.

Getting set up: a checklist

  1. Ask your OB/GYN why you're being referred. Write down the specific question the MFM is answering. It keeps the first visit focused.
  2. Check insurance. Confirm the MFM practice, the ultrasound location and any genetic testing lab are all in-network, and whether you need prior authorization. See how to check if an OB/GYN is in-network.
  3. Pick the office you can reach repeatedly. Many groups have several. The one 15 minutes from home beats the flagship 50 minutes away when you're going weekly at 36 weeks.
  4. Bring records: prenatal labs, ultrasound reports, your medication list and past pregnancy records.
  5. Ask the delivery question early: "Where should I deliver, and does my OB/GYN deliver there?" If not, you may need to switch OB/GYNs, and that's easier at 24 weeks than at 34.

Questions to ask your MFM

  • What's my specific risk, and what could happen?
  • How often will I need ultrasounds or testing?
  • Do I need to deliver at a hospital with a higher-level NICU?
  • When would you recommend delivery?
  • Who do I call with concerns: you or my OB/GYN?
  • Are there medicines, such as low-dose aspirin, I should talk about?
  • What blood pressure number (or other symptom) means I should come in?

Planning around Long Island distances

Distance adds real risk if you go into labor early or develop a complication. If you live in Riverhead or Montauk, a Regional Perinatal Center can be a long drive, and traffic on the LIE or Sunrise Highway can stretch it further. Talk with your team about:

  • Which hospital to go to if labor starts suddenly
  • Whether a scheduled induction or delivery at the recommended hospital makes sense
  • How a transfer would work if you start at a closer community hospital

Write the answers down and put them where your partner can find them.

Insurance protections in New York

If your plan has no in-network specialist with the right training and experience for your condition, New York law requires managed care insurers to refer you to an appropriate provider. If you're pregnant and your MFM leaves your plan's network, ask for transitional care so you can keep seeing them for a period of time.

When to call your provider

Go to labor and delivery right away for heavy bleeding, severe belly pain, a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling of the face or hands, chest pain or trouble breathing, leaking fluid, regular contractions before 37 weeks, or fewer baby movements. If you have high blood pressure, ask your team exactly which home reading means you should call or come in, and keep that number on your phone.

Need a specialist now? Search the directory for MFMs across Nassau and Suffolk.

Frequently asked questions

What is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist?

A maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, sometimes called a perinatologist, is an OB/GYN with additional training in high-risk pregnancy. MFMs consult on or take over care for pregnancies with medical conditions, complications or fetal concerns.

Do I need a referral to see a high-risk pregnancy doctor on Long Island?

Usually your OB/GYN or midwife refers you, and many insurance plans require a referral or authorization for MFM visits and detailed ultrasounds. Check your plan's rules.

Will I stop seeing my regular OB/GYN if I see an MFM?

Often not. Many patients see an MFM for consultation and specialized ultrasounds while their OB/GYN continues routine prenatal care and delivers the baby. For some conditions, the MFM team takes over.

Which Long Island hospitals handle the most complex pregnancies?

Regional Perinatal Centers provide New York's highest level of perinatal care. On Long Island these include North Shore University Hospital and Stony Brook University Hospital, with NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island also listed on the NYS DOH hospital profile site and Long Island Jewish Medical Center just over the Queens line.

Is being over 35 a reason to see a high-risk specialist?

Age alone doesn't always mean you need an MFM, but some practices refer older patients for consultation or extra testing. Your OB/GYN will decide based on your age, health history and test results.

Sources

  • Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine — What is a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist?
  • ACOG and SMFM — Levels of Maternal Care (Obstetric Care Consensus No. 9)
  • NY State Department of Health — Regional Perinatal Centers contract list (CRER 20513)
  • NY State Department of Health — Hospital Maternity Information, 2023 (health.data.ny.gov)
  • ACOG — Pregnancy at Age 35 Years or Older (Obstetric Care Consensus No. 11)

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.