Pregnant women under 17 or over 35 are considered high-risk pregnancies. Being pregnant with multiple babies. Having a history of complicated pregnancies, such as preterm labor, C-section, pregnancy loss or having a child with a birth defect. A family history of genetic conditions.
Stick to good-for-you habits. The usual lifestyle dos and don'ts that are recommended for any pregnancy can also benefit your and baby's health during a high-risk pregnancy. You know the drill: Get enough sleep, eat a healthy and varied diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and drinking. Manage your health.
If your pregnancy is considered high risk, your doctor may refer you to a perinatologist. Also called a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a perinatologist is an obstetrician with special training in high-risk pregnancy care.
In general, a healthy pregnancy should involve two ultrasounds: one in the first trimester and another mid-way through the second trimester. However, each pregnancy is different and you may require more ultrasounds based on factors including age, weight, and medical history.
Fetal medicine involves the assessment of the unborn fetus mainly by ultrasound. This may allow monitoring of certain conditions, the diagnosis of congenital disorders, in utero (within the womb) therapy, optimisation of time and place of delivery and optimisation of postnatal management.
Routine screening tests, such as blood tests or ultrasound exams, along with diagnostic tests, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), will help identify whether a pregnancy is high risk.
General OB training consists of four years of residency training after medical school and that qualifies a physician to practice general obstetrics, deliver babies and practice general gynecology. Maternal Fetal Medicine is a sub-specialty after the four-year residency program in obstetrics.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine is a sub-specialty of obstetrics that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of expectant mothers and their unborn babies.
The Maternal/Fetal Assessment provides antenatal testing services to high risk pregnant patients on an outpatient basis. These services include non-stress testing, measurement of biophysical profiles, contraction stress tests and outpatient inductions.
Maternal-fetal medicine doctors order or perform various procedures and treatments to manage health conditions in a pregnant woman or her unborn baby. Maternal-fetal medicine doctors are trained in both medical and surgical treatments.
Maternal–fetal medicine specialists are physicians who subspecialize within the field of obstetrics. Their training typically includes a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology followed by a three-year fellowship. They may perform prenatal tests, provide treatments, and perform surgeries.
The MFM uses ultrasound to perform a CVS, either through the cervix or the abdomen. We can test the placental sample for certain fetal diseases and health conditions.
Ultrasound is the most commonly used medical imaging technology in pregnancy to view the unborn fetus and determine the health of the pregnancy. Throughout each trimester, ultrasound imaging, also called sonography, is used to ensure both the mother and fetus are doing well.
If you have a medical condition, your treatment might be adjusted in preparation for pregnancy. Your health care provider might also discuss your risk of having a baby with a genetic condition. Seek regular prenatal care. Prenatal visits can help your health care provider monitor your health and your baby's health.
Ultrasound EvaluationBeing a high-risk pregnancy means you will have routine ultrasound examinations performed by a registered sonographer and reviewed by a perinatologist. The best way to protect your health and promote your baby's health during a high-risk pregnancy is to plan ahead.
Maternal medicine (obstetric medicine) is the specialist care of pregnant women who either have pre-existing medical diseases or have specific pregnancy-related diseases that can affect any organ in the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is considered high risk?
- What tests do maternal-fetal specialists offer?
- I'm having a normal pregnancy. Do I need these tests?
- What if results of the ultrasound are abnormal?
- How can you detect problems other than chromosome abnormalities?
- How do I know if I'm at risk for pre-term birth?
Expect to meet with a Genetic Counselor for about 30 minutes. She will take a detailed family and medical history, and offer screening and testing options based on your history and specific case. These tests are to give us more information about the baby's health and the mother's health as well.
At around 18 weeks of pregnancy, your unborn baby will start being able to hear sounds in your body like your heartbeat. At 27 to 29 weeks (6 to 7 months), they can hear some sounds outside your body too, like your voice.
DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY
- vaginal bleeding.
- convulsions/fits.
- severe headaches with blurred vision.
- fever and too weak to get out of bed.
- severe abdominal pain.
- fast or difficult breathing.
Recommended Schedule for a Healthy PregnancyWeeks 4 to 28: 1 prenatal visit a month. Weeks 28 to 36: 1 prenatal visit every 2 weeks. Weeks 36 to 40: 1 prenatal visit every week.
An obstetrician (OB) is a doctor who has special training in women's health and pregnancy. OB doctors specialize in both caring for women during pregnancy and labor, and delivering their babies.
Most healthy women receive two ultrasound scans during pregnancy. "The first is, ideally, in the first trimester to confirm the due date, and the second is at 18-22 weeks to confirm normal anatomy and the sex of the baby," explains Mendiola.
