Maternal Fetal Medicine

Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of women with complications of pregnancy, pre-existing medical conditions which may be impacted by pregnancy and medical conditions which 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 (preconceptional counseling) and during pregnancy.

Some of the common maternal medical conditions and pregnancy complications managed by our physicians include, but are not limited to:

• 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, but are not limited to:

• 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 in order to obtain a copy of your medical records or to have them sent to another health care 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialist?

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.

Why would an expectant mother wish to be referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist?

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.

What types of patients are seen by maternal fetal medicine specialists?

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

NICU (English)         NICU (Spanish)

PICU (English)         PICU (Spanish)

 

About Us

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.