High-Risk Pregnancy Awareness Week

High-Risk Pregnancy Awareness Week

Spotlight on Specialized Care

High-risk pregnancy care remains an important but often misunderstood area of women's health. High-Risk Pregnancy Awareness Week (June 1 - 8) aims to shine a light on the issue and the resources that are available to help.

For many families, pregnancy doesn't necessarily follow a predictable path. When complications arise, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, like those at Valley Health Maternal Fetal Medicine , step in to provide the advanced care and guidance needed for both mom and baby. "Our compassionate team specializes in helping women and families through challenging pregnancy issues by empowering them with knowledge and supporting them with expert care," says Masaru Negi, MD , medical director for Valley Health Maternal Fetal Medicine.

What Is Maternal-Fetal Medicine?

Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) is a subspecialty of obstetrics focused on high-risk pregnancies. MFM physicians are OB/GYNs with additional training to manage complex maternal or fetal conditions.

They work closely with primary obstetricians to ensure the best possible outcomes through:

• Advanced prenatal screening and diagnostics
• Management of medical conditions during pregnancy
• Coordination of specialized care for mother and baby
• Monitoring of fetal growth and development

What Makes a Pregnancy "High Risk"?

A pregnancy may be considered high risk for many reasons, including:

Maternal Health Conditions

• Diabetes or gestational diabetes
• Hypertension or preeclampsia
• Obesity
• Metabolic conditions
  • Including Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Autoimmune or cardiac conditions

Fetal Concerns

• Genetic conditions
• Growth abnormalities
• Structural differences identified on ultrasound

Pregnancy-Related Factors

• Multiple gestation (twins, triplets)
• Advanced maternal age (35 and up)
• Prior pregnancy complications
• Preterm labor risk

Being labeled "high risk" can feel overwhelming-but it also means patients receive a higher level of specialized care and monitoring. Pregnant women can talk to their care provider about whether MFM services would be appropriate for them. The team at Valley Health Maternal Fetal Medicine is here to help.

The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine offers fact sheets, advocacy clinical guidance, and other resources related to high-risk pregnancy.