After an eight-year battle with infertility, Kristine Bruning was thrilled to find out she was pregnant – with twins no less! While Kristine and her husband knew they’d require some additional TLC due to age and a thyroid disorder, they could never have anticipated the challenges before them. Fortunately, the Brunings were in the highly capable hands of Dr. Joseph Adashek, co-founder and Medical Director of the state’s largest Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialty group – Desert Perinatal Associates (DPA).

“Four months into my pregnancy I developed placenta previa which caused me to have several episodes of bleeding,” Kristine notes. The Brunings were terrified but found comfort in the entire Desert Perinatal Associates team. “[They] not only met our physical needs but also our emotional ones…every phone call was answered promptly, we were seen immediately, and appropriate testing done right away,” Kristine adds.

Desert Perinatal Associates’ specialists treat high-risk pregnant women. Risk factors include advanced maternal age, multiple babies, or a baby identified as having a special need. According to Dr. Wilkes, co-founder of DPA, “Our center provides patients the full-spectrum of support from genetic counselors to social workers, but no matter the sophistications of science, it can never replace good old-fashioned hand-holding.”

Shortly after Kristine delivered, she suffered a near-fatal hemorrhage. As Kristine relates, “Even though it took most of the night to stabilize me and [Dr. Adashek] had a full schedule the next day, he never left my side until I was stabilized and settled into the ICU.” Dr. Adashek’s skill  not only saved Kristine’s life but her reproductive potential by avoiding the typical emergency hysterectomy.

 Such heroics are, unfortunately, frequent in the life of a Maternal-Fetal specialist but their advanced training provides the expertise when it’s most critical. Desert Perinatal Associate’s physicians hail from the world’s most respected institutions: Northwestern University, University of Colorado, University of British Columbia, University of Miami, and Baylor.

 According to Dr. Wilkes, “We’re prepared to handle any situation because we’re privileged to participate in the care of expecting women and their babies, and we don’t ever take that for granted.”