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What Does "High-Risk" Pregnancy Mean?
I'm 36 years old and pregnant. A friend told me that I automatically have a high-risk pregnancy. What is that and what does it mean?
– Jane
The term "high-risk pregnancy" describes a case where a pregnant woman has one or more factors that could put her or the fetus at risk for health problems.
In general, a pregnancy may be considered high risk if the pregnant woman:
- is 35 years old or older
- is 15 years old or younger
- is underweight or overweight prior to becoming pregnant
- has had a premature baby
- has had a baby with a birth defect, especially heart or genetic problems
- has high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lupus, asthma, a seizure disorder, or another longstanding medical problem
- has an ethnic background in which genetic disorders are common (or a partner who does)
- has a family history of mental retardation (or a partner who does)
For more information, check out these articles:
Pregnancy Precautions: FAQs
Prenatal Tests
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: March 2007
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