Specialized Care for Healthier Pregnancies and Births

Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of women with
complications of pregnancy, preexisting medical conditions that may be impacted by pregnancy
and medical conditions that impact the pregnancy itself. Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists
collaborate with obstetricians in providing consultations, co-management or direct care for
patients with complications both before (pre-conceptional counseling) and during pregnancy.

Driscoll Health System Maternal Fetal Medicine was founded in 2008. Since then, we have
grown to include five maternal-fetal medicine specialists, supported by pediatric cardiology,
genetics, perinatal sonographers and nurses, and a clinical care coordinator, now providing care at seven locations. Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art maternal care, fetal diagnosis and treatment for the women of South Texas.

Services

Noninvasive testing:

  • Genetic screening
  • Genetic counseling
  • Pre-conceptual counseling
  • Detailed fetal anatomy survey
  • Doppler studies
  • Cervical length ultrasound
  • Antenatal testing
  • Fetal cardiac echocardiography
  • Cell-free fetal DNA testing

Invasive testing and fetal procedures:

  • Amniocentesis
  • Chorionic villus sampling
  • Fetal blood sampling
  • Intrauterine fetal transfusion
  • Fetal shunt placement
Some of the common maternal medical conditions and pregnancy complications managed by our physicians include:
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertensive disorders
  • Cardiac disease
  • Renal disease
  • Thyroid disease
  • Infectious diseases
  • Preterm labor, including cervical insufficiency and premature rupture of membranes
  • Placental abnormalities
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss

Fetal conditions diagnosed and managed by our physicians include:

  • Multiple gestations
  • Fetal growth abnormalities
  • Suspected fetal anomalies
  • Fetal congenital cardiac defects
  • Fetal abdominal wall defects
  • Fetal neural tube defects
  • Fetal anemia
  • Intrauterine infections
  • Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome

After Hours and Emergencies
For life-threatening situations, please call 911. If you have an urgent problem, please call our
office for instructions. After hours, our answering service will inform you of how to reach the
physician.

Prescription Refills and Tests
We prefer to refill your medications at the time of your office visit. Please bring your
medication list with you to each appointment. Please give us at least 48-hour
notice on all refill requests.

For test results, please call our office at (361) 980 - 1244 during regular office hours.

Your Medical Records
Medical records are kept confidential. A medical release waiver must be signed to obtain a copy
of your medical records or to have them sent to another healthcare provider. If you are
requesting your records to be sent to another provider, we ask that you supply us with their
name, address and phone number.

Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists are doctors who are specially trained to care for women with high-risk pregnancies. Mothers with diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, babies with possible genetic conditions or mothers expecting multiple babies can all benefit from the care of a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist. These doctors receive two to three years of additional training that focuses on high-risk pregnancies, ultrasound techniques and fetal anomalies.  

Most women seek consultation from or care by a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist because they are "at risk" and considering becoming pregnant or because they are pregnant and "high-risk," "complicated" or otherwise worried about their pregnancy. 

Patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures during pregnancy, such as:  

  • Comprehensive ultrasound  
  • Chorionic villus sampling  
  • Genetic amniocentesis, fetal surgery or treatment  

  

Women with medical or surgical disorders, such as:  

  • Heart disease  
  • High blood pressure  
  • Preeclampsia (toxemia)  
  • Diabetes or other endocrine disorders  
  • Kidney or gastrointestinal disease  
  • Infectious diseases  

  

Healthy women whose pregnancy is at markedly increased risk for adverse outcome, such as:  

  • Abnormal AFP (alpha fetoprotein) blood test  
  • Twins, triplets or more  
  • Recurrent pre-term labor and delivery
  • Premature rupture of membranes 
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Suspected fetal growth restriction       
Learn about the Driscoll Children's Hospital Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
 

Seamless Specialist Care

Visit all your child's specialists in one trip to Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Contact any of our specialty clinics to schedule a convenient one-day visit to all your child’s specialists.

Call 361-694-5000 or your 
specialty clinic.

Meet the Maternal Fetal Medicine Team

Carlos Alberto Carreno MD
MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Javier Castillo, MD
Javier Castillo
MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Franklyn C. Christensen, MD
Franklyn C. Christensen
MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Maurice Eggleston, Jr., MD
Maurice Eggleston, Jr.
MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
John Visintine, MD
John Visintine
MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
See All Driscoll Children’s Doctors

Maternal Fetal Medicine Locations

Specialty Center, Brownsville

5500 N. Expressway 77
Brownsville
TX 
78526
(956) 698-8600
(361) 808-2076
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Ste. 201
(956) 698-8670
(361) 808-2762

Specialty Center, McAllen

1120 E. Ridge Rd.
McAllen
TX 
78503
(956) 688-1200
(361) 808-2075
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
(956) 688-1200

Specialty Center, Victoria

106 Springwood Dr.
Victoria
TX 
77904
(361) 572-1000
(361) 578-0680
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
(361) 572-1057
(361) 576-9845

Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, Laredo

6423 McPherson Rd.
Laredo
TX 
78041
(956) 764-7000
(361) 808-2138
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Maternal Fetal Medicine

Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, Corpus Christi Bay Area Hospital

7121 S. Padre Island
Corpus Christi
TX 
78412
(361) 694-6054
(361) 808-2718

Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, Corpus Christi Spohn South Hospital

5920 Saratoga Blvd.
Corpus Christi
TX 
78414
(361) 694-1590
(361) 808-2718
(361) 651-1239

Miracle Stories

Together, Against All Odds

Our experts put their passion to work every day, helping kids defy incredible odds on their health journeys here at Driscoll.
Read More Miracle Stories
crosschevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram