High-Risk Pregnancy

A high-risk pregnancy is one that threatens the health or life of the pregnant woman, her unborn baby or both. A high-high risk pregnancy can result from a medical condition that exists before pregnancy or emerges during pregnancy. Regardless, a high-risk pregnancy can pose health risks to the mother and child during pregnancy or delivery, or after the baby is born.

Protect yourself and your baby by understanding the risk factors for high-risk pregnancy and, if you believe you are at high risk, seek appropriate care. It is also important that you and your family are aware of urgent maternal warning signs that can occur during and up to a year after pregnancy.

Several factors can increase your risk of complications during or after pregnancy. While some of these conditions may develop as you age, they can impact your pregnancy risk regardless of your age.

• Advanced maternal age (age 35 years or older)
• Race and ethnicity. Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women, and Native American women are more than twice as likely, regardless of their income or education. Read about what Memorial Hermann is doing to help reduce and ultimately eliminate these racial and ethnic disparities.
• Maternal health problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), blood clotting disorders, obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, thyroid disease, poorly controlled asthma, connective tissue disorders and infections
• Lifestyle choices, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use during pregnancy
• Pregnancy complications, such as low fetal growth for gestational age, unusual placenta position and rhesus (Rh) sensitization, a condition that can occur when your blood group is Rh negative and your baby’s blood group is Rh positive
• Multiple pregnancy (carrying more than one fetus)
• Pregnancy history, including a history of pregnancy-related conditions, such a high blood pressure/preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, or multiple miscarriages or procedures to end pregnancy
• Gynecological history with surgical interventions, such as procedures to treat endometriosis
• Social factors, such as lack of support or help at home, or financial concerns.

While some high-risk pregnancies result from a medical condition present before a woman becomes pregnant, other medical conditions can develop during pregnancy, posing a risk to either you or your baby. Some examples include:

• Pregnancy-related hypertension (gestational hypertension and preeclampsia/eclampsia)
• Pregnancy-related diabetes (gestational diabetes)
• Unusual placenta position
• Multiples
• Fetal conditions diagnosed during expected physician visits
• Infections
• Early labor

Conditions That Can Develop After Delivery

Even if a woman’s pregnancy and delivery go smoothly, she may develop pregnancy-related complications for up to a year after giving birth. The most common postpartum conditions are:

• Excessive bleeding after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage)
• Postpartum depression
• Headaches that worsen over time