Expectant parents hope that pregnancy is a healthy, happy time. But for women with high-risk pregnancies, the miracle of birth may need help from the miracle of modern medicine. At Desert Regional Medical Center, our perinatology team, is highly skilled in caring for women with medical problems that may affect their health and the health of their newborns.

"A high-risk pregnancy may be due to the mother having diabetes, heart problems or expecting multiple births such as twins or triplets," explains Steven Thomas, M.D., perinatologist at Desert Regional Medical Center. "There may also be genetic issues that could put the infant at risk for premature birth, growth retardation or other severe complications."

The Maternal Fetal Medicine Center at Desert Regional Medical Center uses advanced technology to help them assess high-risk women. Families may also undergo genetic screening and counseling if there is a history of serious disease or birth defects.

"Our Maternal Fetal Medicine Center is located right on the labor and delivery floor of Desert Regional’s Women and Infant Center, so if we discover a serious problem with a patient, we can act promptly," adds Dr. Thomas. "Patients may not need to be transferred from one facility to another." In addition to the on-site perinatology department, Desert Regional Medical Center has a 30-bed State Certified Community Level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) also located in the Women and Infants Center. The NICU provides comprehensive care for preemies and other high-risk infants.

For information on perinatology services at Desert Regional Medical Center, call (760) 416-4551.