High Risk Pregnancy Care

A High-risk pregnancy is one that threatens the health or life of the mother or her fetus.

For most women, early and regular prenatal care promotes a healthy pregnancy and delivery without complications. But some women are at an increased risk for complications even before they get pregnant for a variety of reasons.

Women with high-risk pregnancies should receive care from a special team of PFRC to ensure that their pregnancies are healthy and that they can carry their infant or infants to term.

Existing health conditions

Existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes

Overweight and obesity

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, more than half of all pregnant women in the United States are overweight or obese.2 Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, stillbirth, neural tube defects, and cesarean delivery. NICHD researchers have found that obesity can raise infants’ risk of heart problems at birth by 15%.

Multiple births

The risk of complications is higher in women carrying more than one fetus (twins and higher-order multiples). Common complications include preeclampsia, premature labor, and preterm birth. More than half of all twins and as many as 93% of triplets are born at less than 37 weeks gestation.