Articles
High-risk pregnancy: Know what to expect
Can I have a planned home birth?
What can I do to ease my anxiety?
What are the risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy?
What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?
Content
What makes a pregnancy high-risk?
Age
Lifestyle choices
Health problems
Pregnancy complications
Pregnancy with multiples
Pregnancy history
What steps can I take for a healthy pregnancy?
Schedule an appointment before you get pregnant
Get the care you need during pregnancy
Avoid risky substances
Do I need special tests?
Specialized ultrasounds
Cell-free DNA screening
Other genetic tests
Lab tests
What else do I need to know about high-risk pregnancy?
What can I do to ease my anxiety?
What are the risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy?
What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?
Content
What makes a pregnancy high-risk?
Age
Lifestyle choices
Health problems
Pregnancy complications
Pregnancy with multiples
Pregnancy history
What steps can I take for a healthy pregnancy?
Schedule an appointment before you get pregnant
Get the care you need during pregnancy
Avoid risky substances
Do I need special tests?
Specialized ultrasounds
Cell-free DNA screening
Other genetic tests
Lab tests
What else do I need to know about high-risk pregnancy?
Other genetic tests
Your healthcare professional might suggest amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). These tests can help find genetic conditions. They also can be used to confirm results from cell-free DNA screening.
- Amniocentesis. During amniocentesis, a sample of the fluid that surrounds and protects a fetus during pregnancy is taken from the uterus. The medical term for that fluid is amniotic fluid. Usually done after week 15 of pregnancy, the test can identify some genetic conditions. It also can find serious problems of the brain or spinal cord. Those conditions are called neural tube defects.
- CVS. During CVS, a sample of cells is taken from the placenta. It's usually done between weeks 10 and 13 of pregnancy.
