Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs provide thorough, specialized care for high risk pregnancy

Some patients have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure which require more monitoring and attention throughout the pregnancy. Other patients develop problems during the pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia that also require more attention. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs provide expert high risk pregnancy care.

Which conditions contribute to a high risk pregnancy?

When a woman has certain conditions or risk factors that could cause complications during the gestation period, her pregnancy is treated as a High Risk pregnancy and she will receive extra care and attention from our Grapevine and Fort Worth obstetricians.

There are several conditions and factors that contribute to this risk.

• Pre-existing health conditions—diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, thyroid conditions, kidney disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lupus
• Conditions that occur during pregnancy—gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preeclampsia
• A multiple pregnancy
• Maternal age—women age 35 and older or teenage mothers
• Lifestyle choices before and during pregnancy—excessive alcohol use, smoking, being severely over or underweight and having a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Can high risk pregnancy be prevented?

In some cases, high risk pregnancy can be prevented. For example, there are lifestyle changes women can make before they get pregnant that will help reduce their risk. Before getting pregnant, women should try to make important lifestyle changes.

• Stop smoking
• Avoid alcohol
• Quit using illegal substances
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Take a folic acid supplement

Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs also encourage all patients to schedule a preconception counseling appointment, particularly if they are concerned about a potential high risk pregnancy. At this appointment, our physicians counsel women about diet, lifestyle choices and other factors that can contribute to a healthy pregnancy before conception.

We can also talk about any preexisting health issues, and we can decide if those conditions require any special treatment before and during the pregnancy.

Specialized testing and procedures

When a patient has a high risk pregnancy, our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs may recommend specialized testing or procedures to more closely monitor the health of the fetus. Some tests we use are targeted ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), lab tests and amniocentesis. We will advise patients throughout pregnancy about which tests we may want to add to our routine prenatal care.

We also provide patients with thorough information about signs and symptoms that may indicate problems and require special attention. These include lower abdominal pain or cramps; vaginal bleeding; fluid leaking from the vagina; extreme or sudden swelling in the hands or face; feeling less fetal movement; or persistent headaches.

Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs provide thorough, expert care for both mother and baby during a high risk pregnancy

Pregnancy should be a joyful journey, and our message to patients is that high risk pregnancy can be a healthy, happy time when mothers-to-be put themselves in the competent, capable hands of our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs.

We work to make every pregnancy and delivery uneventful, safe and as healthy as possible. Contact us today for an appointment.