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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?
Specialized ultrasounds
An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of a fetus on a screen. Ultrasound is safe for both pregnant people and fetuses.
The following kinds of ultrasound may be helpful during a high-risk pregnancy:
- Three-dimensional (3D) or 4-dimensional (4D) ultrasounds can be used to pinpoint a suspected problem, such as fetal development that's not typical.
- Ultrasound to measure the length of the cervix can help determine if you're at risk for going into labor early.
- A biophysical profile is an ultrasound that can be used to check a fetus's health. Depending on the ultrasound results, your team also may check a fetus's heart rate. That procedure is called a nonstress test.
