Every pregnancy has some risks, but there are more dangers to your health and the health of your fetus with a high risk pregnancy. The causes can be conditions you already have or conditions you develop. They also include being pregnant with more than one baby, previous problem pregnancies, or being over age 35.
If you have a chronic condition, you should talk to your health care provider about how to minimize your risk before you get pregnant. Once you are pregnant, you may need a health care team to monitor your pregnancy. Examples of common conditions that can complicate a pregnancy include
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney problems
- Autoimmune disorders
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Other conditions that can make pregnancy risky can happen while you are pregnant – for example, gestational diabetes. Good prenatal care can help detect and treat them.
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High-Risk Pregnancy
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/high_risk_pregnancy.cfm
- Risk Factors Present Before Pregnancy(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec22/ch258/ch258b.html
- Risk Factors That Develop during Pregnancy(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec22/ch258/ch258c.html
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Anemia(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_1049.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9254_9647.asp
- Bleeding and Spotting from the Vagina during Pregnancy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_25620.asp
- Estrogen Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/estrogen/test.html
- Fetal Echocardiography(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4686
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MedlinePlus: Prenatal Testing(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prenataltesting.html
- Progesterone Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/progesterone/test.html
- Pregnancy After Age 35(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/173_812.asp
- Safe Motherhood: Promoting Health for Women Before, During, and After Pregnancy(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/drh.htm
- Surviving Bed Rest(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/bed_rest.html
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Amniotic Fluid Abnormalities(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_4536.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_9929.asp
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Cervical Insufficiency (Incompetent Cervix) and Cerclage(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_20201.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9254_10476.asp
- Double Uterus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/double-uterus/DS00821/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum(American Pregnancy Association) - http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/hyperemesisgravidarum.html
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Intrauterine Growth Restriction: When Your Baby Stops Growing Before Birth(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/313.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/313.printerview.html
- Placenta Accreta(American Pregnancy Association) - http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/placentaaccreta.html
- Placental Conditions(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1154.asp
- Postterm Pregnancy(UpToDate) - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=pregnan/5708
- Pregnancy After Premature Birth(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/173_25788.asp
- Pregnancy Complications: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/complications/complicationssp.cfm
- Umbilical Cord Abnormalities(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_4546.asp
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Breast Cancer and Pregnancy (PDQ)(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast-cancer-and-pregnancy/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/cancer-de-seno-y-embarazo
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Chemotherapy and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Services) - Links to PDF - http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/chemotherapy.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/es_Quimioterapia.pdf
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Depression and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Services) - Links to PDF - http://www.otispregnancy.org/pdf/depression.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/es_depresion.pdf
- Eating Disorders during Pregnancy(American Pregnancy Association) - http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/eatingdisorders.html
- Epilepsy and Pregnancy: Healthy Choices for a Healthy Baby(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00123/METHOD=print
- Fetal Surgery(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site891/mainpageS891P0.html
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HELLP Syndrome and Your Pregnancy(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/complications/456.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/pregnancy/complications/456.printerview.html
- High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00125/METHOD=print
- Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_8923.asp
- Known Health Effects for DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Daughters(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/DES/consumers/about/effects_daughters.html
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Liver Disorders in Pregnancy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_14543.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_10310.asp
- Maybe Baby? What to Expect with Diabetes Insipidus Before You're Expecting(Diabetes Insipidus Foundation) - http://www.diabetesinsipidus.org/4di_di_and_pregnancy.htm
- Medication Exposures during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/meds/faqs.htm
- Pregnancy and Cancer(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Coping/Emotional+and+Physical+Matters/Sexual+and+Reproductive+Health/Pregnancy+and+Cancer
- Pregnancy and Heart Disease(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4688
- Pregnancy and Lupus(Lupus Foundation of America) - http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutindividualized01.aspx?articleid=314&zoneid=89
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Pregnancy and Lupus(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Lupus/Lupus_Guide/chppis11.asp
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Pregnancy and Thyroid Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/pregnancy/
- Pregnancy Pointers for Women with Psychiatric History(NAMI) - http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Pregnancy_Pointers_for_Women_with_Psychiatric_History.htm
- Pregnancy: When You Have a Chronic Health Condition(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00122/METHOD=print
- Pregnancy: When You Have a Heart Condition(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00124/METHOD=print
- Rh Disease(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1220.asp
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Thrombophilias and Pregnancy(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_9264.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_10048.asp
- When Pregnancy Is Complicated by Allergies and Asthma(American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) - http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/pregn.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy Complications(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pregnancy+Complications%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy, High-Risk(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pregnancy,+High-Risk%22
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Preventing Preterm Birth(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/resources/spotlight/081307_preterm_birth_progesterone.cfm
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Abstracts of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 7th... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18798908&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Commentary: The technology of continuous glucose monitoring. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18818255&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Unicef calls for more action to reduce maternal deaths in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18809591&tool=MedlinePlus
- High Risk Pregnancy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=pregnancy,high+risk[majr]+OR+pregnancy+complications[majr]+NOT+(pregnancy,multiple[mh]+OR+abortion,spontaneous[mh]+OR+fetal+diseases[mh]+OR+obstetric+labor+complications[mh]+OR+obstetric+labor,premature[mh]+OR+puerperal+disorders[mh]+OR+delivery,obstetric[mh]+OR+pregnancy,ectopic[mh]+OR+hypertension,pregnancy+induced[mh]+OR+diabetes,gestational[mh]+OR+hiv+infections[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/member-lookup/disclaimer.cfm
- SMFM's Physican Locator(Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine) - http://www.smfm.org/index.cfm?zone=search&nav=doctor
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - http://www.acog.org/
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March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation - http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
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National Women's Health Information Center(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - http://womenshealth.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/
- FASTATS: Birthweight and Gestation(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/birthwt.htm
- PeriStats(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/
- Diabetes and Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetesandpregnancy.html
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/highbloodpressureinpregnancy.html
- Infections and Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infectionsandpregnancy.html
- Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancy.html
- Pregnancy and Substance Abuse - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancyandsubstanceabuse.html
- Premature Babies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematurebabies.html
- Prenatal Care - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prenatalcare.html
- Twins, Triplets, Multiple Births - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/twinstripletsmultiplebirths.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Pregnancy and Reproduction - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancyandreproduction.html
The primary NIH organization for research on High Risk Pregnancy is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/