A type of ENDOSCOPY in which the FETUS can be inspected by passing a fibreoptic endoscope through a small incision in the abdominal wall of a pregnant woman into her UTERUS. Performed at about 18 weeks of pregnancy, it can be used to view the surface of the fetus, the umbilical cord and the fetal side of the placenta. Blood or tissue can be sampled, usually for confirmation of a suspected genetic disorder. In specialist fetal medicine units, surgical procedures can be performed on a fetus such as laser ablation in TWIN TO TWIN TRANSFUSION Syndrome, repair of fetal bladder outlet obstruction and of congenital DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA.