High Risk Pregnancy Care

A pregnancy is considered high risk if the patient or baby has an increased chance of a health problem. For high risk pregnancy patients, having the proper care, experience, and knowledge is essential to a successful term and delivery of an expected baby.

Perinatology (also known as Maternal-Fetal Medicine) is a subspecialty of obstetrics that focuses on managing the health concerns of patient and fetus prior to, during, and just after a high risk pregnancy.  Women who have a higher risk of developing complications or problems while pregnant are usually referred to a perinatologist (also called a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist) to ensure the healthiest possible pregnancy.

Many factors and conditions may increase the chance of a high risk pregnancy and/or delivery.  These factors and conditions include:

• Advanced maternal age (pregnancy after 35)
• Adolescent maternal age (younger than 17)
• Lifestyle habits (i.e. alcohol abuse, illegal drug use, or smoking)
• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure coupled with high protein in the urine)
• Eclampsia (seizures or convulsions)
• Obesity (or being underweight)
• Gestational diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Other pre-existing medical conditions (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, blood disorders, kidney disease, heart disease, epilepsy, cancer, HIV, hepatitis C, rubella, syphillis, etc.)
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
• Multiple pregnancy (pregnant with more than one baby)
• Preterm Labor (when labor starts between approx. 20-37 weeks)
• Slow growth of the baby (fetal growth restriction due to placental abnormalities and hypertension during pregnancy).
• Past multiple miscarriages or abnormal pregnancies
• Having a baby with a genetic abnormality such as Down syndrome.