A nationally renowned maternal-fetal medicine specialist has joined Union Health to help Wabash Valley women with complicated pregnancies have the best possible outcome.

Dr. Mary Abernathy has been practicing maternal-fetal medicine since 1996. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist is a doctor who helps take care of women having complicated or high-risk pregnancies. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her obstetrics/gynecology residency followed by her maternal-fetal medicine fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine.

According to Dr. Abernathy, the Wabash Valley has been underserved by high-risk maternal services. She says if we identify local issues and solve some of those problems, we can spread that information and start to improve outcomes throughout all of Indiana.
 

"One of the things that I have found in all my work is that you can't just help a woman while she's pregnant," Mary Abernathy, MD, said. "You have to start to identify, before she even becomes pregnant, what those issues, those insecurities are. For example, lack of transportation, housing, food; that you can start to address, from a community standpoint, to try to give her the best possible outcome in a complicated pregnancy."

Dr. Abernathy hopes to break down some of those barriers and focus on decreasing infant and maternal mortality rates, along with improving women's services throughout the Wabash Valley.

"A significant number of maternal deaths are related to substance use disorders and mental health conditions," Dr. Abernathy said. "The issue with SUD is that women are self-medicating for their mental health disorder or issues. Our leading cause of maternal deaths in the state from all causes is SUD, so if we can identify and start to assist women that have these problems, prior to pregnancy, then we can start to break down those barriers that we've seen over and over again."

Looking at reproductive health planning and family planning and addressing medical issues prior to pregnancy, preparing a woman for the pregnancy, usually results in a healthier pregnancy in general.

"There's always a golden opportunity in pregnancy if you can get women into care early, if you can get them to understand the importance of taking good care of themselves prior to pregnancy and even during pregnancy," Dr. Abernathy said. "So, we are hoping to decrease infant mortality, maternal mortality in the Wabash Valley by bringing those services closer to patients."

Dr. Abernathy says her focus remains on improving the lives of her patients by using new and innovative approaches, including centering pregnancy care for high-risk complicated pregnancies.

"I believe that every woman deserves access to quality prenatal care and that a safe pregnancy best occurs through well-coordinated patient-centered care," Dr. Abernathy said. "I enjoy working with patients to improve their chance of a successful pregnancy."

Dr. Abernathy has trained many of the OB/GYNs and MFMs across the State of Indiana. She is known nationwide for her research and publications.

However, for Kristen Moore, Director of Maternal Child Services at Union Hospital, it's more about 'who' she is.

"The thing for me that is most impressive about Dr. Abernathy isn't necessarily her resume, it's not necessarily the research she's done, the articles she's written – although those are commendable and wonderful and fascinating and put her in a league of her own, but for me, the value with Dr. Abernathy lies in who she actually is," Moore said. "Her interest is truly in the patient. How can we better serve, how can we best serve a patient? And she looks at women as the human beings that they are. Her number one goal isn't to be recognized throughout the state, recognized throughout the nation, recognized for publications – although she certainly is – her number one goal is to serve a population of women in this community. That, for me, is where her greatest value lies, what excites me the most – her vision for what we can do for the health of the entire community."

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mary Abernathy, call 812.242.3115. Her office is in the Union Medical Group Medical Office Building, Building No. 8.