Planning for a High-Risk Pregnancy

A high-risk pregnancy occurs when you or your baby is at risk for health problems before, during, or after birth. These health problems typically require special monitoring or care throughout your pregnancy.

Pregnancy risks can increase for certain conditions, including advanced maternal age. Lifestyle choices such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs can also increase a woman’s risk.

Preconception counseling is one of the best ways to improve your chances of having a healthy baby. It involves visiting your doctor to discuss any medical conditions that can affect your future pregnancy and develop a plan for your health.

During your counseling appointment, you may receive vaccinations for preventive reasons. You may also be referred to maternal-fetal medicine specialists, genetic counselors or other medical experts to address specific concerns.

Your provider will also counsel you on getting routine screenings that detect health conditions like a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease before they can cause issues during pregnancy or birth. They can also arrange genetic testing to determine your risk of passing on certain inherited disorders, including Tay-Sachs disease and sickle trait/sickle cell anemia.

The American Academy of Family Physicians encourages all primary care clinicians to provide comprehensive, high-quality preconception health care for women during routine primary care visits. These interventions are critical in reducing morbidity and mortality for pregnant patients, their babies, and their families.

A high-risk pregnancy may occur for several reasons. These include age, lifestyle choices, health conditions, and other risk factors.

Women diagnosed with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), often face higher risks during pregnancy. Similarly, women with a history of preeclampsia or eclampsia during previous pregnancies are at greater risk for developing complications.

If you have these risk factors, a doctor can help you manage them before and during pregnancy. This may include adjusting your medication or dietary habits to make you and your baby healthier.

Getting regular prenatal care helps you and your baby stay healthy. This care starts even before you get pregnant with a visit to your doctor or nurse and continues through pregnancy with checkups.

A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy that could put you or your baby at increased risk of health problems before, during or after birth. It can happen from a medical condition before or during the pregnancy that affects either you or your baby or an existing health problem that develops for you and your baby.

The extra care you get during a high-risk pregnancy can help reduce or prevent fetal growth abnormalities, congenital disabilities and low birth weight. It may include additional doctor appointments, fetal heart rate monitoring and lab tests.

In addition, we offer special genetic screening testing to identify certain chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome. This is especially important if you have a family history of these or other conditions.

Postpartum care is needed to support women and their infants in their recovery after delivery. It should be a woman-centered, ongoing process planned and managed by her obstetrician-gynecologist or another obstetric care provider.

During the postpartum period, women often experience mild changes in their bodies. They may feel tired and have a loss of appetite.

New mothers also experience emotional changes during this time. They might feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or angry.

Some women may experience perinatal depression, a serious mental health condition that affects one in 10 women after childbirth. This condition can be severe and may lead to thoughts of self-harm or harm to a baby.

Increasing awareness about the impact of pregnancy and the postpartum period on women’s mental health is essential to ensure that women receive appropriate care. ACOG recommends screening during the postpartum visit and initiation of treatment or referral to a mental health provider when a woman is identified with perinatal depression.