High-Risk Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of joy and expectation. But for some, especially those with chronic medical conditions or who are expecting multiples, pregnancy can also be a time of fear and uncertainty. With the right specialized care, both mother and child can ensure a more positive, healthy experience.
Five-ten percent of pregnancies are termed “high risk.” A pregnancy is “high risk” or “complicated” when the life or health of the mother or baby may be at risk. It is estimated that approximately one out of every four pregnant women will experience complications this year, sometimes leading to the birth of a premature baby. When babies are born preterm, they have a higher risk for serious health problems.
Families can cope more successfully with a high-risk pregnancy with appropriate medical intervention, education, and a strong support system. In fact, many risk factors can be identified even before conception occurs.
Following are some factors that may lead to a a high-risk pregnancy:
- Being over 35
- Being pregnant with more than one baby
- Complications with previous pregnancies
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney problems
- Anemia
- Autoimmune disorders
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Chronic Hypertension
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Thyroid Conditions
- Neurologic Conditions
- Gestational Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
A high-risk pregnancy diagnosis shouldn’t automatically be perceived as negative. With the proper pre-natal care, 90-95% of these pregnancies produce healthy, viable babies. When problems are detected early, the better the chances that both mother and baby will stay healthy. Maternal Fetal Medicine has leading physicians in this area.
What are examples of patients seen by MFM specialists?
Patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, such as:
- Comprehensive ultrasound
- Genetic and maturity amniocentesis
- Fetal treatment (medications to slow down or speed up the fetal heart, medications to accelerate lung maturity)
- Fetal echocardiogram (advanced assessment of the fetal heart anatomy and function)
- Fetal Doppler studies (advanced assessment of the fetal circulatory system and placenta)
Women with medical disorders, such as:
- Heart disease (valvular stenosis or regurgitation, heart failure, irregular heartbeats)
- Hypertension
- Preeclampsia (high-blood pressure at the end of pregnancy)
- Diabetes, hypo- or hyper-thyroidism
- Kidney failure or gastrointestinal disease
- Infectious diseases
- Autoimmune disease such as Systemic Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis
Healthy women whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes, such as:
- Abnormal screening for Down Syndrome, Trisomy-18, or Spina Bifida
- Expecting twins, triplets, or more
- History of a preterm birth
- Recurrent premature labor
- Preterm premature rupture of the membranes
- Suspected growth restriction (baby not growing enough)