High-Risk Pregnancy (Maternal Fetal Medicine)

High-risk pregnancies can arise from various situations, including:

• Complications in current pregnancy: This can include issues like preeclampsia, bleeding, infections, or preterm labor.
  
• Complications in a previous pregnancy: Past complications such as a miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia, cesarean section, or stillbirth can make a subsequent pregnancy high-risk.
  
• Multiple gestations: Pregnancies involving twins, triplets or more can be classified as high-risk.
• Conception methods: A pregnancy resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be considered high-risk.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy or lupus can lead to a high-risk pregnancy.
• Family history: A family history of genetic diseases, disabilities at birth or childhood conditions can also influence risk levels.
  
• Environmental or medication concerns: Concerns about environmental factors or exposure to certain medications can also play a role.

When dealing with a high-risk pregnancy, the treatments and consultations are tailored to the specific situation. Here are some general treatment guidelines:

• Coordinated care: A maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist complements, but doesn't replace, the primary obstetrician (OB). They collaborate with the OB and other specialists for comprehensive care.
• Consultations before pregnancy: For those with chronic health conditions or a history of pregnancy complications, preconception consultations with an MFM specialist can be beneficial. This helps in planning and ensuring the healthiest possible pregnancy.
• Routine care and advanced procedures: Depending on the situation, the mother might be subjected to routine care or advanced procedures. This includes level 2 ultrasound exams, amniocentesis, chorionic villus screening (CVS) and other necessary procedures.
  
• Post delivery care: Following delivery, the mother might need to consult both the obstetrician and the MFM specialist, especially if there were complications during the pregnancy. This ensures the well-being of both the mother and the baby and provides guidance for future pregnancies.