Maternal-fetal medicine is an interdisciplinary field integrating obstetrics, genetics, neonatology, critical care, imaging, and other related specialties. Its core concept is to consider the mother and fetus as an interconnected unit, with a focus on maternal safety and long-term health outcomes of the offspring. The field is evolving from a traditional care model focused on reducing maternal and perinatal mortality toward life-course precision health management. To clarify the developmental trajectory of maternal-fetal medicine and explore current challenges, the author summarizes research advances and future trends in maternal-fetal medicine from three perspectives: redefinition of disciplinary concepts, innovation in technologies and theories, and implications for strategic development. ① Maternal-fetal medicine has expanded beyond the traditional boundaries between pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology, establishing a continuous care framework spanning embryonic development, fetal life, childhood, and transition to adulthood, while clarifying the distinct disciplinary positioning of maternal-child medicine, perinatal medicine, and maternal-fetal medicine. ② The development of maternal-fetal medicine faces several challenges, including the coexistence of healthy populations and patient populations among its target groups, incomplete development of key diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, incomplete disciplinary and workforce development systems, and insufficient preconception prevention strategies. ③ Advances in emerging technologies and theories continue to reshape the understanding of maternal-fetal medicine. Recent research advances have emerged in areas including maternal-fetal bidirectional interactions, organ development in extremely preterm infants, artificial womb technology, life-course follow-up and health management, and the redefinition of neonatal concepts. Meanwhile, frontier theories such as the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) and pregnancy immune mechanisms are reshaping traditional concepts of maternal-fetal care. Under the framework of the Healthy China strategy, maternal-fetal medicine is transitioning from passive rescue of offspring toward early prevention, intrauterine intervention, and long-term health management. In the future, the field will rely on advances in multi-omics, artificial intelligence, and minimally invasive fetal therapy, while improving multidisciplinary team(MDT) and tiered healthcare systems, ultimately achieving the strategic transformation from " ensuring maternal and infant survival" to " promoting lifelong high-quality health for mothers and offspring" .