High risk pregnancy

Why would a doctor classify me as a high risk patient?

High Risk Pregnancies

The majorty of pregnant women will not experience any significant problems during the time they are pregnant. Unfortunately, some women will be placed under the category of a high risk pregnancy if there are problems that raise a red flag for their caregiver. Finding out that you are considered high-risk can be scary, confusing and overwhelming.

There are a variety of reasons that a woman may be classified as high risk. Some common factors that would likely place a woman in the high risk category include:

Twins, triplets or more
High blood pressure
Cancer
Kidney trouble
STD's
AIDS or other autoimmune disorders
Fetal birth defect suspicions
Women age 35 and older
Drug/alcohol abuse
A history of pregnancy loss or complications
Teenagers
Having had 2+ seoncd-trimester abortions
Conceived with an IUD
Preterm labor symptoms
Blood disorders
Liver trouble
Neurological disorders
Recurring UTI's
Incompetent cervix
Uterine abnormalities
Placental abruption
Placenta previa
Polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid)

There is no exact time to be diagnosed as high-risk. Your caregiver may feel that you are high-risk from the moment of conception or you may be labeled high risk at 38 weeks. You can be labeled a high risk patient anytime your doctor suspects a potential problem that may make the pregnancy or delivery complicated. Some doctors to not have the experience and/or education to care for a high risk mother. If this is the case, you will be referred to a specialist that deals with high risk pregnancies. If you are a high risk patient, your caregiver will generally want to see you more often and may order a variety of tests to monitor the well-being of your developing baby. Some common tests include non-stress tests, stress tests, blood tests, ultrasound examinations, amniocentesis, genetics testing and biophysical profiles. It is not uncommon to be prescribed medications and bedrest to treat some of the problems that are associated with high risk pregnancies.

Comments: High risk pregnancy

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alohamom3 - 69 days ago.
@45andpreggers congrats on your little one on the way. I send you lots of sticky baby dust ;) It is so nice to see another mom on here that is my age. I'm 45 and will be 46 in early April. We lost our first one in Jan. and trying again now. I do have 2 others from my first marriage 19 girl & almost 16 boy. I will have you and everyone here in my thoughts and prays.

Hawk PO - 69 days ago.
I am high risk because I have Type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure. Both are under control at the time but I am having a harder time saying no to carbs. Im 7 weeks and 4 days today

shay5895 - 344 days ago.
Im currently 9 wks 3d. Im high risk due to hydromyelia. Its a collection of spinal fluid in my spinal chord. Has anyone given birth or known anyone who has given birth with this condition? Im scared out of my mind right now!

45andpreggers - 354 days ago.
i am also in high risk. i'm 46, had a mc lst yr @45, had my son who is 6 when i was 39. i have pcos, had toxemia/preeclempsia & gest diabetes when pregnat w/my son. i'm now 5w2d & started to have bleeding today. praying it is going to be ok.

nice_things@ymail.com - 381 days ago.
I'm 38 mum to 4 grandma to 2 and pregnant with #5. I'm high risk due to age, diabetes, overweight, past c-section, past miscarriages and asthma. I'm 16 weeks :))

samanthamarie0314@yahoo.com - 525 days ago.
Hello, I just found this forum. I am currently 8 weeks pregnant. I am considered high risk because with my daughter I had gestational diabetes. With my 2 boys I have had abnormal pap smears (sorry tmi). I am O- and RH-. I am a little scared and worried. I go back to the doctor on Monday. I had my first u/s today and got to see a heart beat of 167. Looked like a healthy baby to me but we will see when I go back to the doctor.

2under2and1ontheway! - 560 days ago.
I am wondering if any one knows that having a baby and then getting pregnant again 6-7 weeks later puts you in the high risk section of pregnancy? I can't realy find an answer lol

AMummylove - 717 days ago.
Hello Ladies I have been placed as a high risk patient from the moment of conception... Due to my daughter's death from incompatible with life birth defects. I also had preeclampsia with my first pregnancy and have high blood pressure already at 5 weeks with this one. Hoping to have a happy healthy pregnancy!!

reallyexcited - 1015 days ago.
Hi I'm 36 and have six gorgeous children, I'm 13 weeks + with baby #7. Before this pregnacy I was super fit, aerobics twice a day and short jogging sessions inbetween. I wanted to be physically healthy and ready for this pregnancy so I trained for months before ttc. Anyway at week 11 I woke to some severe chest pains and after loads of tests and a ct scan, revealed that I had a pulmonary embolis in the left lung (blood clots). Sorry I know I'm rambling on but I would love to hear of anyone who has been through this or something similar...please message me! Luckily the baby is fine and seems to be unaffected by all that has happened, however it pains me that I had to subject my precious one to radiation from x-rays and a CT scan. I'm taking blood thinners which I have to inject twice a day to help dissolve and prevent any more clots. Parts of my left lung have died but I'm told that it is possible for it to regenerate....I'm very hopeful for this. I haven't felt myself for a long time now and I can't wait to be able to feel well and enjoy this pregnancy. I'm so thankful for this site and for everyones posts...it's so wonderful how we can support each other in all our situations! All the very best with your pregnancies:)

EYIMAR - 1024 days ago.
IM HIGH RISK TOO! UGHH NOW ITS EVEN WORST BECAUSE I HAVE SOME KIDNEY STONES AND THEY HAD TO DO A VAGINAL SURGERY TO PLACE A TUBE THAT GOES FROM MY KIDNEY TO MY BLANDER AND IT HURTS LIKE CRAZY IT WAS VERY VERY SERIOUS THEY EVEN SAID THAT IF I WAS 30 WEEKS THEY WOULD HAVE DONE A C SECTION AND I WILL HAVE THE REGULAR SURGERY... DOCTORS ARE WAITING FOR ME TO HAVE THE BABY TO DO THE MAIN SURGERY AND GET TUBE AND THE STONE REMOVED AND ALL THIS IS VERY PAINFUL IT BOTHERS AND HURTS AND I PEE WITH BLOOD! IM SO SCARE OF MISCARRAGE BECAUSE A YEAR AGO MY 27 MONTHS DAUGHTER PASSED AWAY AND THIS WILL BE WORST IF I LOSE BOTH OF MY CHILDREN! IM JUST 15 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS SO I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WITH MY TUBE AND STONES

Felix - 1024 days ago.
I am 25 weeks pregnant with a beautiful baby boy... I'm 31 and this will be my 3rd child. I was told 8 yrs ago I'd never have anymore children. I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which has caused my baby's size to be 4 weeks advanced, and now my baby has been diagnosed with ventriculomegaly with his right side measuring at 13. I will be seeing a high risk specialist and undergoing lots of tests I'm sure. It's hard to deal with all at once. I have read up alot on things and I have several mixed feelings until I recieve more answers. I am worried for my son but also eager to face each day with my lil miracle.

baby2ac - 1121 days ago.
I have an IC and had 2 MC's before having my daughter. I am 10wks now and my first appointment is on thursday. I am so nervous because i don't have that many symptoms and spotted twice after doing laundry. Hopefully he give me an ultrasound and proves that everything is okay. The cerclage helped me have a beautiful baby girl but i had to lose 2 boys at 16wks( i found out sex after mc) I am so worried but hopefully everything so far is just fine. this will be the longest 2 days of my life.

MommyChanel - 1152 days ago.
I just had a cerclage placed in on Tuesday, its day 3 and it is a lot of mucous and some blood in my mucous (pinkish) is this normal? I am so tired I lost two children before my successful one and hoping to not have anymore if this pregnancy goes well. I am so tired!!! It so unfortunate that people who want kids have to go thru so much. Feedback is soooo welcomed! 17 wks and counting

Mama2B 01-10-10 - 1226 days ago.
baby723--my mother had surgery when she was pregnant with me 24 years ago. if they could do it then, they can do it now! i'm sure everything will turn out beautifully for you and your baby :)

baby723 - 1227 days ago.
Hi ladies Im new to this particular forum and very scared. Im hoping to be able to find some good support here. Im 12 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child and doctors just found a 3 1/2 inch tumor on my liver and want to remove it while Im pregnant, OMG surgery while Im pregnant. Can someone please help me calm down over this? Has anyone gone through this? Im so terrified.

pregnantnprayin - 1290 days ago.
Alexis oh gosh no!! the shots and the cervical checks are very important. I too lost my baby boy at 18 weeks do to IC i have a cerclage and im getting the shots in a few weeks if you ever need someone to talk to send me a message anytime.

alexis0321 - 1291 days ago.
Hello everyone , I'm currently 21 weeks and considered high risk. My daughter was born at 28 weeks because my cervix all of a sudden started to shorten. The doctor has me taking progestrone shots once a week. And check my cervix every two weeks. I'm still not sure I want to get this shots. Shouldn't the cervix check be enough?

micheleac2 - 1361 days ago.
omg ladies if you ever get told you have to take the lovenox shots just get ready for the rest of your pregnancy to be very unpleasent. i dont have to just take them in my stomach well not your stomach but your love handles. you can also take those in your arm which hurt out of everywhere else you can. you can also take them in your leg on your thigh on the side where the fat part is. i have to take one every day and they are painful, but very very helpful to baby it gives the baby alot more oxygen. good luck high risk ladies i am in same boat.

mom2threeplus2angles - 1409 days ago.
hi tquinn, I am new to this site and had a question for you or anyone else. Did your blood clots go away during your pregnacy or did they stay the whole time? I just had a stillbirth May 3 and then developed deep thrombus bloodclots in my left leg as well and May-thurners syndrome. I am on coumadin now and the clots are still there. I am nervous about having another baby someday and wondering if you can still carry a healthy baby even with blood clots in your legs. I also have 3 stents in my vein. Any advice would be great! Thanks!

tquinn - 1490 days ago.
I need someone to help with my quetion. I have 5 kids but with my third, a boy I recieved three deep thrombus bloodclots in my left leg. I was only 26 yrs. old now at 37 I am having number 6 and this time I am worried. My last two babies were girls and I had no problems. I was supposed to do lovanox shots in my belly while pregnant, they hurt severly. This time I want the shots and I will do them. Anyway is there anyone out there who has had bloodclots in your legs and then had 3 more babies? If so please advise me and support me. I am only 5 weeks pregnant and have an apointment on May 7th wish me luck.

nellymom - 1493 days ago.
I just found out at 8 weeks that I have a heart-shaped uterus (Bicureate). Does anyone else have this and have you had any complications? Also, at my first ultrasound, we could not see the baby - the sac was there and looked great! but no baby... I'm nervous because I think I may have a blightened ovum... It sucks because my husband and I have been trying for over 2 years to conceive.

NicholasMom - 1497 days ago.
Hi everyone! I've been looking for a site like this. I am currently on bedrest, have been since mid-Feb. and will stay this way until our baby is born. My due date is Aug. 17.... still some ways away. I have a 4 1/2 year old son and was also on bedrest with him. This is my 6th pregnancy and we are hoping to have two healthy children after. I am high-risk and have a cerclage. It will be nice to hear from other woman on bedrest. Some days seem to take forever and I'm hoping this will help me through the long days!

Mommyof2Kidos - 1497 days ago.
I had the worst scare this morning. I woke up around 6am and realized I actually had some decent rest last night. You would think I would be overjoyed. But suddenly I also remembered not waking up because the baby hadn't been moving. Normally, my LO will wake me once or twice during the course of a night. I also didn't have the normal episode of contractions I had been having lately. My baby usually starts to stir around the time I wake to get my son ready for school. This morning I wasn't feeling ANYTHING! So I drank 3 tall glasses of water and some OJ to see if that would help. I told my husband what was going on and he immediately started poking my stomach, talking to my belly, and anything else you can think of. I laid on my side (which is very uncomfortable for me) for a few minutes. I felt a real faint movement, but that was not enough for me. My this time a hour has passed and I called the Dr's office. Good thing I had a NST schedule for today anyway so they told me to come in right away. I must admit my nerves were shot and I literally felt sick to my stomach. I couldn't imagine getting this far and something happening to my baby. I don't know about you guys, but I pray when I'm terrified. Needless to say I prayed to whole way to the Dr's office. They hooked me up right away and I heard her HB! Eventually, she slow started moving around (as much as she can at this point). I'm telling you all this because I lost my 1st baby because I ignored some of the signs, and I thought everything was ok. I will never make that mistake again. Often times some people in the health profession can make you feel like you're a worry wart, but I don't care. I sure hope you all never have an experience like I did this morning. I wish you all the best with the rest of your pregnancy.

~* Yummy Mummy Shell *~ - 1505 days ago.
Hiya everyone Im having my baby induced on 20th April (ill be 35 wks preg) because i have obstetric cholestasis (the big itch) and also severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Im classed as a high risk pregnancy, i was originally carrying twins (lost one at 8/9 wks) and conceived on IUD...but also my conditions make me high risk, im really upset i just want to enjoy pregnancy and be 'blooming'....just wasnt to be! Still i shouldnt complain cos in 11 days ill meet my lil boy!!

3girlsunderage2 - 1505 days ago.
Can't tell you about the shots, i'm on vaginal suppositories. I am 24wks with twins and at 21 wks I had major cervical shortening and funneling. My cervix has shortened a small bit in the last 3 weeks, but I'm on hospital bed rest now and the docs are pretty sure that I'm just going to 'hang out' for a while. They feel that I'm pretty stable and have been . I wish you the best in your preganancy. E-mail me if you want, mary.antoinette@wowway.com. The internet access at the hosp is extremely restriced and I can't get to my profile:(