High Risk Pregnancy
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Making informed decisions about my extremely premature infant…
Your
pregnancy is considered high-risk if you or your baby has an increased chance of a health problem.
Many things can put you at high risk:
- Health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or epilepsy.
- Smoking and consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Age (under 17 or over 35).
- Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc…).
- Three of more previous miscarriages.
- A baby with a genetic condition, such as Down syndrome or a heart, lung, or kidney problem.
- Previous pregnancy problems such as preterm labor or preeclampsia.
- Infections such as hepatitis C, HIV, or chickenpox.
- Certain medicines such as lithium or phenytoin.
It’s important to remember that being at high risk doesn't mean that you or your baby will have problems. If your pregnancy is identified as high-risk, your doctor will watch you closely to find any problems early.
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The content on the referenced sites above is not intended to provide medical advice, but rather to provide you with information to better understand your health and your diagnosed disorders. Nothing in these website should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. Please consult your physician for diagnoses and for answers to your personal questions regarding medical conditions. Please check your health benefit plan coverage booklet for information on covered services under your health benefit plan.
