High Risk Pregnancy

A high-risk pregnancy means you or your baby have health concerns that may cause pregnancy complications. Though you may require more prenatal visits and tests, a high-risk pregnancy can be a healthy pregnancy. Pushpinder Dhillon, MD, MS, FACOG, and the team at Maternal Fetal Specialists in Fredericksburg and Springfield, Virginia, specialize in the management of high-risk pregnancies and offer special tests and monitoring. To schedule an appointment, call the office nearest you to book your visit today.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

A high-risk pregnancy means there are concerns about your health or your baby’s health that may complicate your pregnancy. With a high-risk pregnancy, you may be at greater risk of developing complications that lead to premature birth or a more difficult delivery. 

Your pregnancy may be considered high risk at the start because of your medical history. Or, you may develop health issues during your pregnancy that lead to your pregnancy being classified as high risk.

Health conditions that affect your baby and are discovered during first trimester screenings or fetal ultrasounds may also mean you have a high-risk pregnancy. 

What conditions make a high-risk pregnancy?

There are many factors that make pregnancy high risk. Some of the most common include:

• Mother’s age is 17 or younger
• Mother’s age is 35 or older
• Carrying multiples, like twins or triplets
• Personal medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or an autoimmune disorder
• Gestational diabetes
• Preeclampsia
• History of complications during a prior pregnancy

Health conditions that affect the baby may also make your pregnancy high risk. This may include a congenital abnormality, such as a congenital heart defect, or a chromosomal abnormality like Down syndrome.

Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, also make your pregnancy high risk. 

What can I expect during high-risk pregnancy care?

The details of your prenatal care during a high-risk pregnancy may depend on the underlying reason you or your baby need additional care and monitoring. In general, you can expect more frequent prenatal visits for monitoring.

You may also need additional tests or special tests to assess and monitor your health and your baby’s health during gestation. 

What types of tests do I need during a high-risk pregnancy?

The providers at Maternal Fetal Specialists are experts in caring for women with high-risk pregnancies. They not only monitor you and your baby closely, but also offer many of the special tests you may need throughout the gestation.

Some tests you may benefit from during your high-risk pregnancy include:

• First trimester screenings
• Advanced fetal ultrasound and imaging
• Fetal echocardiogram
• Amniocentesis
• Chorionic villus sampling
• Noninvasvie cell-free DNA screening
• Doppler velocimetry
• Antenatal testing, including biophysical profile and nonstress test

In addition to testing and monitoring, the experts at Maternal Fetal Specialists also provide guidance for preterm labor prevention and diabetes management.

For expert care of your high-risk pregnancy, call Maternal Fetal Specialists to book an appointment today.