Doctors consider your pregnancy “high risk” if you:
- are over 35 years of age, or under 17 years of age
- are having a multiple birth
- conceived through artificial fertilization techniques
- if you suffer from a chronic condition
- have had breast cancer and any type of breast cancer therapy
- have an STD
- if you have had recurring gynecological problems in the past
- are the daughter of a mother who took DES (diethylstilbestrol- a synthetic estrogen drug) during her pregnancy with you
- have an IUD (intrauterine device) still in place in your body, or
- have had an abortion
Many of these conditions can still allow for a safe
pregnancy, and the “high risk” pregnancy label often only means that you will require more monitering than an “average” pregnancy. However, it is still very important that you consult with your doctor on your specific case.
You will very likely need to consult with an
obstetrician, a medical doctor trained in the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period after birth. Your
doctor, obstetrician or OB-gyn may also refer you to a perinatologist, a doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.
This node based on information I learned while preparing a pregancy brochure. I learned most of what I know from The Pregnancy Sourcebook, by M. Sara Rosenthal (Contemporary Books) and articles found through www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/highriskpregnancy.html