There is no formal or universally accepted definition of a high-risk pregnancy. Generally, however, a high-risk pregnancy involves at least one of the following:
The woman or baby is more likely to become ill or die than usual.
Complications before or after delivery are more likely to occur than usual.
Many women with complex high-risk conditions benefit from treatment at a specialized center that provides care by doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies.
Risk Assessment During Pregnancy
Certain conditions or characteristics, called risk factors, make a pregnancy high risk. As part of routine care during pregnancy, doctors check for these factors to determine the degree of risk for a particular woman and baby and thus to provide better medical care. For some couples, genetic evaluation is advisable. It involves assessing the couple’s family history and, if needed, analyzing blood or tissue samples (such as cells from the inside of the cheek). This evaluation is done to determine whether a couple is at increased risk of having a baby with a hereditary genetic disorder.
Factors that can affect risk in women include
Physical characteristics (such as age and weight)
Disorders that were present before pregnancy, such as chronic high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, sexually transmitted infections, or kidney infections
Disorders that develop during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
High-risk pregnancies must be closely monitored, and women are often referred to a center that specializes in managing these pregnancies.
The most common reasons for referral before delivery are
Preterm labor (often due to premature rupture of the membranes)
Disorders that were present before or that develop during the pregnancy, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and severe (morbid) obesity
