High Risk Pregnancy Care
High-risk pregnancy is a term that can denote a wide variety of common conditions. Many of them are related to pre-existing conditions you may have had before becoming pregnant or conditions you may have developed while pregnant or during delivery.
A high-risk pregnancy does not necessarily mean that your pregnancy will be more difficult or challenging than a low-risk pregnancy. However, it does sometimes mean that you will need to consult a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and undergo more monitoring than someone with a low-risk pregnancy.
What conditions may lead to a high-risk pregnancy?
Diabetes. If you have diabetes before you become pregnant, you will likely be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist to monitor your condition and determine the proper medications.
Pre-eclampsia : Pre-eclampsia is a condition unique to pregnancy where you have high blood pressure in conjunction with protein in your urine and edema (swelling of the skin). In some women with pre-eclampsia, liver or platelet abnormalities are present. You may be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist depending on the severity of your disease .
Hypertension. If you have hypertension before pregnancy, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will monitor your baby’s growth and may be consulted if problems arise. Some medications commonly used outside of pregnancy to treat hypertension are contraindicated in pregnancy.
Multiples. Pregnancies: Twins or higher-order multiples have a greater risk of complications. Women with multiple pregnancies are more likely to develop pre-eclampsia or go into preterm labor. Twin pregnancies have a higher risk of fetal anomalies and growth problems, especially if they share a placenta. If you have a multiple pregnancy, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will closely monitor the pregnancy by performing additional ultrasounds. The maternal-fetal medicine specialist will recommend how and when your babies should be delivered.
Sexually transmitted diseases(STD) In general, your obstetric provider can treat you for sexually transmitted diseases that may occur during pregnancy or if there is a pre-existing STD, such as herpes. In certain cases, consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will be required. For example, if you are being treated for syphilis and an ultrasound shows that your fetus may be affected, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will provide further care and management. Women with HIV are also generally cared for by maternal-fetal medicine specialists because the medication regimens are complex.
Obesity: Women who are obese have a greater risk of developing diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Obesity is the one of the only health conditions affecting pregnant women that can be changed before pregnancy, which is why maternal-fetal medicine specialists encourage women to lose weight through healthy strategies.