High Risk Pregnancy Specialist

What is a high risk pregnancy?

High risk pregnancy occurs with a chance of potentially serious complications associated with your pregnancy. They can threaten your or your fetus’ health, requiring a greater level of attention and management than low-risk pregnancies. 

A high risk pregnancy increases your baby’s risk of developmental problems, but proper medical monitoring optimizes their well-being. 

What constitutes a high risk pregnancy?

Your OBGYN provider may determine your pregnancy is high risk if you experience one of the following risk factors:

• Young or old maternal age
• Being pregnant with multiple fetuses
• History of abnormal pregnancies
• Symptoms of pregnancy problems
• Specific genetic conditions
• Being underweight or overweight
• Poor past prenatal care
• History of premature labor or miscarriages
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes or another chronic disease
• Sickle cell disease
• An abnormally shaped uterus
• A weak or shortened cervix
  
  

Using drugs or alcohol and smoking while pregnant also creates a high risk pregnancy. If you have one or more risk factors, your Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA provider can monitor you more frequently to reduce your risk of complications.

Is my pregnancy high risk?

To find out if you have a high risk pregnancy, your OBGYN provider reviews your symptoms and medical history. They complete a physical examination, including a pelvic exam, and analyze blood tests and ultrasound results. 

Your provider might recommend you undergo amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to establish you and your baby’s risk factors.

What are the symptoms of a high risk pregnancy?

If you experience one of the following symptoms, you might have a high-risk pregnancy:

• Decreased fetal movement
• Blurry vision or other vision changes
• Persistent headaches
• Vaginal bleeding
• Pelvic pain
• Frequent contractions
• Painful urination
• Watery vaginal discharge
  
  

Call your Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA provider right away if you experience any of these symptoms.

How does my provider manage a high risk pregnancy?

The main difference between low-risk and high-risk pregnancy management is the number of visits needed to closely monitor you and your baby’s health. You require more frequent appointments in the case of a high-risk pregnancy.

Nutritious eating is crucial, as well as healthy weight gain, avoiding risky medications or other substances, and taking prenatal vitamins. Your provider might recommend you avoid physical activity, not work, or rest at home with a high-risk pregnancy.

In addition to routine screening examinations, your OBGYN specialist might recommend additional tests to assess your health and fetal development. They may suggest a targeted ultrasound or a biophysical profile to gain more information than standard testing procedures.

If you experience a high-risk pregnancy, give you and your baby the best chance of staying healthy. Schedule an appointment with Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA, by phone or book online today.