High Risk Pregnancies

What is high-risk pregnancy?

The first question many women ask is, “what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy?” High-risk pregnancy may include medical conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and advanced maternal age (over 35).

High-risk pregnancies are also categorized by:

• Health History. If you have had a C-section, a low birth-weight baby or a preterm birth in less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, you are considered at higher risk. If you have a fetal genetic condition, a family history of genetic conditions, a history of pregnancy loss or loss of a baby shortly after birth, you are considered high-risk.
• Health Conditions. Diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, epilepsy, auto immune conditions, infection or an underlying mental health condition are all considered high-risk.
• Lifestyle. Alcohol or drug use and smoking cigarettes can put your pregnancy at risk.
• Overdue. If your pregnancy lasts beyond your due date, your risk increases.
• Pre-Natal Complications. These include problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta, severe morning sickness past the first trimester, too much or too little amniotic fluid, restricted fetal growth or a potentially serious condition that can occur when your baby’s blood is Rh positive and your own blood is Rh negative.
• Twins. Pregnancy risks are higher with twins, triplets or more multiple births.

Every year, millions of women with high-risk pregnancies go on to deliver healthy babies. With careful monitoring and management throughout your pregnancy, you can deliver a healthy baby, too.

Careful monitoring and management

To help you through your high-risk pregnancy, the medical team at Carteret Ob-Gyn Associates provides a host of services, including:

Ultrasound services, including screening, amniocentesis, fetal non-stress testing, association with maternal and fetal specialist and tertiary care centers in Greenville, Wilmington and the Triangle area.

High-risk pregnancy need not be worrisome, as long as you have the right care. Get help from us. Call Carteret Ob-Gyn Associates at 252.247.4297. We look forward to caring for you! For your convenience, you can also fill out our online Request an Appointment form.