Understanding High-Risk Pregnancy – You’re Not Alone
If your doctor has told you that you need high risk pregnancy support, you might feel scared or worried. This is completely normal. Many women dealing with pregnancy situations face this same challenge every year. The good news is that having a high-risk pregnancy doesn’t mean you or your baby will have problems (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
A high-risk pregnancy simply means you need extra care and monitoring. Between 6% and 8% of pregnant women in the U.S. have high-risk pregnancies each year. That’s about 30,000 to 50,000 women (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). More women are having high-risk pregnancies than ever before, due to health conditions like obesity and more people having babies later in life (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2025).
What Makes a Pregnancy High-Risk?
Many different things can make a pregnancy high-risk. Some women start their pregnancy as high-risk, while others become high-risk later on. Here are some common reasons:
Age-Related Factors:
- Being over 35 years old when pregnant
- Being under 17 years old when pregnant
Anyone over 35 by default has a high-risk pregnancy and needs high-risk pregnancy support. If you are over 40, there’s a higher chance of having miscarriages or chromosome problems like Down syndrome (Healthgrades, 2020).
Health Conditions You Already Have:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Kidney problems
- Obesity
- Autoimmune disorders
Pregnancy-Related Conditions:
- Carrying twins or more babies
- Problems with the placenta
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia
- Birth defects in the baby
- Baby not growing normally
These pregnancy complications can develop even in healthy women. Your doctor will look at your whole health picture to decide if your pregnancy is in need of high risk pregnancy support. Sometimes the problem is with your health, and sometimes it’s detected in the baby through ultrasounds or tests (ACOG, 2025).
Finding the Right Care in Lorain County
Getting good prenatal care is the most important thing you can do for a high-risk pregnancy. In Lorain County, you have access to excellent OB-GYN Lorain County services and Lorain County pregnancy resources. The key is finding care that makes you feel supported and safe.
What to Look for in Lorain County Prenatal Care:
- Doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies
- Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists
- Regular check-ups and monitoring
- Access to special tests when needed
- Support staff who answer your questions
- Emergency care when you need it
Early and thorough prenatal care is critical. It’s the best way to detect and manage a high-risk pregnancy safely (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). MFM specialists have extra training beyond regular OB-GYN doctors. They are experts in dealing with high-risk pregnancies and can better understand and treat problems (Healthgrades, 2020).
What to Expect During Your Pregnancy
Having a high risk pregnancy means you’ll have more doctor visits than usual. You’ll get a lot of care from a lot of people. This might feel overwhelming, but remember that each visit helps keep you and your baby healthy.
Extra Care You Might Need:
- More frequent doctor visits
- More ultrasounds to track the baby’s growth
- Special blood tests
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Blood sugar checks
- Heart monitoring
- Regular fetal monitoring
Most women with low-risk pregnancies have two to three ultrasounds. If your pregnancy is high-risk, you’ll likely have more than three. Your doctor will tell you exactly how many you need (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Your Healthcare Team: You’ll probably visit multiple doctors. In addition to your regular OB-GYN, you might see:
- An MFM specialist
- A cardiologist, if you have heart problems
- An endocrinologist, if you have diabetes
- Other specialists based on your needs
If the problem is with your baby, you might also meet with pediatric specialists and the hospital’s NICU team (ACOG, 2025).
Warning Signs to Watch For: Call your doctor right away if you notice:
- Severe headaches
- Vision changes
- Chest pain or trouble breathing
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet
Taking Care of Yourself
You can do many things to help your high-risk pregnancy go smoothly. Taking care of yourself is one of the best gifts you can give your baby. Focusing on maternal health during pregnancy is especially important when you have a high-risk pregnancy.
Healthy Habits for High-Risk Pregnancy:
- Take your prenatal vitamins every day
- Eat healthy foods
- Get enough rest
- Exercise as your doctor recommends
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
- Avoid illegal drugs
- Go to all your doctor appointments
If you had health problems before pregnancy, like diabetes, keeping them well-controlled makes a big difference. A healthy mom is very beneficial for the baby (Healthgrades, 2020).
About Bed Rest: Many people think high-risk pregnancies mean bed rest. But doctors no longer recommend bed rest during pregnancy. It doesn’t prevent complications and can actually increase your risk of blood clots. Physical activity is an important part of a healthy pregnancy (ACOG, 2025).
Managing Stress and Worry: It’s normal to feel anxious about a high-risk pregnancy. Here are some ways to cope:
- Talk to your doctor about your concerns
- Join a support group
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Stay connected with family and friends
- Ask for help when you need it
If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, let your doctor know. You may need counseling or therapy (Healthgrades, 2020).
Your Delivery and Birth Plan
A high-risk pregnancy may affect your birth plan. Many women with high-risk pregnancies deliver before 39 weeks. This is to keep you and your baby safe before any health problems get worse.
What to Expect:
- You may need to be induced (have labor started by doctors)
- You might need a cesarean section
- You may deliver at a hospital with special care units
- Your baby might need extra care after birth
Your doctor will work with you to plan the safest delivery for you and your baby (ACOG, 2025).
Support Network in Lorain County
You don’t have to go through a high-risk pregnancy alone. Lorain County pregnancy resources are available to help you. Having a strong support network makes a big difference in how you feel and how well you cope.
Types of Support Available:
- Medical care from OB-GYN specialists
- Pregnancy support groups
- Educational classes
- Mental health counseling
- Financial assistance programs
- Community resources
At Cornerstone Women’s Health Center, we understand that pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s high-risk. We’re here to provide support, education, and resources to help you through this journey. Our team can connect you with the right care and Lorain County pregnancy resources.
Looking Forward – Hope for Healthy Outcomes
The most important thing to remember is that you can still have a successful pregnancy and birth if your pregnancy is high-risk. Most mothers with high-risk pregnancies do really well (Healthgrades, 2020).
Important Things to Remember:
- High-risk pregnancies exist on a spectrum – some are riskier than others
- Major advances have been made in treating high-risk pregnancies
- Most high-risk pregnancies end in healthy babies
- Your healthcare team is there to help you every step of the way
Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your high-risk pregnancy. If you find a doctor who cannot make time for you, consider finding another doctor. Good doctors will take the time you need to feel comfortable and informed (Healthgrades, 2020).
Future Pregnancies
Once you have a high-risk pregnancy, future pregnancies may also be high-risk. Your doctor will watch you closely to see if the same problems happen again. If they do, your healthcare team will know what to do to keep you and your baby safe (ACOG, 2025).
Getting Help When You Need It
If you’re dealing with a high-risk pregnancy in Lorain County, remember that help is available. Don’t hesitate to reach out for support, whether it’s medical care, emotional support, or practical help.
At Cornerstone Women’s Health Center, we’re committed to supporting women through all stages of pregnancy. We can help you find the right prenatal care and connect you with resources in Lorain County. Your health and your baby’s health are our top priority.
Contact us today to learn more about high-risk pregnancy support and resources available in Lorain County. You don’t have to face this journey alone.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025, March). So you have a high-risk pregnancy. Here’s what to expect. ACOG. www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/so-you-have-a-high-risk-pregnancy-heres-what-to-expect
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 12). What makes a pregnancy high risk? Cleveland Clinic. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22190-high-risk-pregnancy
Healthgrades. (2020, December 15). High-risk pregnancy: 9 things doctors want you to know. Healthgrades. resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/pregnancy/high-risk-pregnancy-9-things-doctors-want-you-to-know
