Member News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2008
Advanced Prenatal Care Close to Home
For expectant parents, finding out you are categorized as a high risk pregnancy can be difficult to hear. However, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is helping concerned mothers- and fathers-to-be through difficult times by bringing quality care close to home.
Guillermo Font, MD, perinatologist with Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is an obstetrician specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk obstetrics whose services include pre-pregnancy consultation on issues such as age, medical concerns, family genetic complications, and genetic screening and testing, including advanced 3D/4D obstetric imaging services.
For the McIntyres, the Fetal and Neonatal Medicine team was great to work with.
Denise had previous complications to include two miscarriages at nine weeks followed by a stillbirth in her third trimester. At that time, it was discovered that she had a rare blood disorder. Denise is also an insulin dependent diabetic. Her sugar was high and her physician sent her to see an endocrinologist to address her diabetes and properly treat.
When Denise found out that she was pregnant again, Dr. Egan, Denise's OB/GYN, suggested that she see Dr. Font due to her circumstances. Denise made the appointment and met with Dr. Font and a treatment plan was developed.
Before Denise's delivery, she went for a series of ultrasounds to make sure the baby was developing appropriately and moving like it should. Due to Provena's joint partnership with Rush University, Dr. Font asked her to also consult with Rush in the fetal cardiology department. They would monitor the status of the baby's heart with fetal echo testing.
As a preventative measure, non-stress tests were also conducted on a regular basis to monitor fetal activity of the baby. "Dr. Font made sure he was taking every precaution," says Denise.
"Dr. Font made me feel at ease from the first doctor's visit to the last visit," says Denise. "I was a very nervous person through out my whole pregnancy. I cried a lot after hearing the heartbeat each time I went to Dr. Font's office. He reassured me every time saying it was understandable under the circumstances I went though with my stillborn daughter. I felt so comfortable around him. His nurse Teri was great to work with and would greet me with a smile everyday."
"I am in close contact with the patients by phone and during their visits", says Teri Vanderhei, the maternal fetal clinic nurse. "Working under the direction of Dr. Font, I ensure that patients, like Denise, are receiving the education and follow up instruction needed throughout their length of service in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic".
She progressed normally through the duration of her pregnancy, under Dr. Font's care.
On May 13, 2008, Denise had a caesarean birth two weeks early. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Andrew Thomas weighing in at 6lbs 12 oz.
After delivery, the nursing staff kept watch of her blood sugar closely. A dietician met with Denise to discuss healthy eating and helped put together a meal plan to control her diabetes when she got home.
"The nurses and staff couldn't have been more helpful during my stay," says Denise. "It was great delivering close to home, my husband was able to go home and take care of our dogs and still be up at the hospital early enough to spend time with Andrew and I.
Andrew is now six months old and is doing wonderful, thanks to Dr. Font and the staff at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. He is healthy and has no lingering effects of her blood disorder or diabetes that she had during her pregnancy. "He's our pride and joy," says Denise. "His smile can melt your heart."
"I can't even explain how much Dr. Font means to me," says Denise. "If it wasn't for Dr. Font and Dr. Egan I believe I wouldn't have Andrew either. "I am very lucky to have had the expertise of Dr. Font in my corner."
Advanced Care Closer to Home for High-Risk Moms-to-Be Dr. Font is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine. He has over 20 years of experience and has received his Doctorate of Medicine from the Universidad Complutense, in Madrid, Spain. His recent teaching and professional experience includes his role as Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush University medical Center, and he was also the Medical Consultant at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. He served as Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Michael Reese Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Font has made presentations nationally and internationally on multiple births, fetal infections, and first trimester ultrasound detecting structural abnormalities.
Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is designated by the State of Illinois as a Level II with extended capabilities for Neonatal and Perinatal services. This means The Family Birthing Suites and the NICU staff have the clinical expertise and equipment to care for mothers with high-risk pregnancies, premature infants that are as young as 28 weeks gestation, and infants with certain illnesses. Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is the only provider of neonatal care in the Will-Grundy area.
For additional information visit: www.provena.org/stjoes/DrFont.
