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.
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:
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:
One of the things you can do to protect yourself and your unborn baby during pregnancy is to be aware that something may be wrong and act on it. While most pregnancies turn out just fine, complications can occur. And some complications can happen for up to a year after your baby is born.
Below is a list of common warning signs and symptoms of pregnancy related problems, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It’s also a good idea to make your family aware of these warning signs, so they can help you look out for them as well.
If you have any of these symptoms during or after pregnancy, contact your health care provider and get help right away. This list is not meant to cover everything you might be experiencing. If you feel like something just isn’t right, tell your doctor.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Remember to say that you’re pregnant or have been pregnant within the last year.
If you believe you are at high risk for pregnancy related complications, talk to your doctor about how to manage your risk factors, including your existing health conditions. If you need to establish a relationship with a prenatal care provider, call (713) 222-CARE or Find a Doctor.
Be honest with your doctor about your medical history. Keep your doctor informed of any new conditions or concerns that arise throughout your pregnancy. And be sure to keep all of your scheduled appointments, both before and after delivery.
Memorial Hermann is dedicated to providing specialized care for patients—both moms and their babies—before, during and after delivery.
The maternal-fetal medicine physicians affiliated with Memorial Hermann offer advanced care for women with high-risk pregnancy conditions and for babies diagnosed with fetal anomalies. Memorial Hermann has the ability to offer patients direct access to high-risk pregnancy clinics close to home, conveniently located across the Greater Houston area.
The Women’s Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, part of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, provides advanced level care for high-risk maternal patients. Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital has been designated a Level IV Maternal Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the highest designation awarded by the DSHS, and has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest level of care available for premature and critically ill newborns, as designated by the DSHS.
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is also home to The Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, a national referral center and international leader in fetal diagnosis, fetal intervention and comprehensive fetal care for infants with congenital anomalies or genetic abnormalities. In collaboration with pediatric subspecialists at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, the affiliated team offers patients a complete range of prenatal testing and fetal interventions, with a coordinated program for mothers and their babies before, during and after birth.
Memorial Hermann Maternal Health Access Committee was formed to fully understand the severe maternal morbidity problem and to identify and begin to address the underlying causes.
Learn More
As a Labor and Delivery nurse at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, Bianca Allen has guided countless women through some of their most vulnerable, life-changing moments. But when she suddenly became the patient, everything changed.
Shruti, who had previously given birth to their first child at the same location in 2018, was admitted for monitoring overnight and told that her baby would likely be born the next day.
At 13 weeks, Anh chose to undergo a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) to screen for genetic conditions. The results showed she was a carrier of Alpha Thalassemia Major, a serious hemoglobin disorder that could affect their baby’s health.
This was the case for Jessica Harris-Wiltz, 38, when she became pregnant in 2019. Little did she know that her pregnancy would take place during the global COVID-19 pandemic and lead to a life-threatening situation for her and her baby during an already high-risk pregnancy.
“My doctor and I decided together to monitor it and follow up with another scan in a few weeks,” Maggie said. “I was so nervous after I first learned about my diagnosis, so I started doing all of this research on my own, and that’s when I first came across The Fetal ...
At the time, Shamesia was only 18 weeks along. Although their baby’s heartbeat was strong, the amniotic fluid was too low for the baby’s lungs to develop during the critical period between 16 to 20 weeks’ gestation
Kayla’s pregnancy was considered high risk because she had several pre-existing medical conditions including gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and lupus, an inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Since she had gastric sleeve surgery, that also elevated h...
Almost 4 years after her daughter, Sutton, was born, Joymesha Jones recalls her pregnancy, along with its challenges, like it was yesterday. As a 35-year-old expectant mother, her first and second trimesters flew by right on track. She knew about the potential risks due to her weight, but o...
During Black Maternal Health Week, we want to spotlight Ronnie Fisher, who despite several challenges throughout her pregnancy, had a safe delivery and recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world.
After a heartbreaking loss of her first baby at 19 weeks’ gestation in 2017, Tonjanic Hill, 31, was excited but apprehensive when she became pregnant again two years later…with not one baby, but two! She understood that it wouldn’t be an easy road, and in her second trimester, ...