A high-risk pregnancy means that, for some reason, you or your baby require special monitoring throughout your pregnancy, as well as during labor and delivery. Some women have risk factors that qualify their pregnancies as high-risk from the start, while others develop an unexpected complication that causes their normal pregnancy to become high risk.
Regardless of the underlying reason, having a high-risk pregnancy means that you or your baby are more likely to experience unique medical challenges before, during, or after delivery. These challenges can range in severity from minor to life-threatening, making extra care and monitoring from your OB/GYN all the more essential.
Whether you’re currently trying to conceive or you’re already expecting, here’s what you should know about the circumstances that can put your pregnancy in the high-risk category.