Compassionate Low & High-Risk Pregnancy Care
Promote a healthy delivery experience by starting with a healthy pregnancy. The gynecologists, specialists, and medical staff at Carolina OB/GYN provide compassionate prenatal care for both low and high-risk pregnancies. Starting your prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant – and if possible while you are trying to conceive – helps ensure the most beneficial outcome for mother and child. Regardless of what you face during your journey, feel confident that you have a skilled and knowledgeable team to support you along the way.
The Importance of Prenatal Visits
Prenatal visits are just as much about monitoring the health of your developing baby as they are about making sure you, the mother-to-be, remain healthy. These checkups are integral to prevent complications and remain informed throughout your pregnancy. During these visits, we keep track of your weight, heart rate, and respiration. We also listen to the heart rate of your baby. You can expect us to conduct routine tests to determine if there are any potential problems that need to be addressed, such as checking your blood glucose level to determine if you are at risk for gestational diabetes. We will also discuss other do’s and don’ts regarding lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors.
Low-Risk Pregnancy
Most pregnancies are low risk. This means that no complications arise during the pregnancy and there are no red flags prior to becoming pregnant that need to be closely monitored. This is great news because it means that mother and baby are healthy, and the process of labor and delivery should go smoothly. With that in mind, feel confident that you are receiving individualized and in-depth care throughout your pregnancy. A typical prenatal schedule for low-risk pregnancies in mothers between the ages of 18 and 35 may look like:
- First 32 Weeks – Every 4 to 6 weeks
- 32nd through 37th Weeks – Every 2 to 3 Weeks
- 37th Week – Once a Week Until Delivery
High-Risk Pregnancy
This term simply means that one or more factors are present that could lead to health problems, complications, or preterm birth throughout the pregnancy. Age is an important determinant, with women younger than 17 and older than 35 being more at risk for certain complications. Additional risk factors include:
- Weight – being underweight or overweight before becoming pregnant.
- Multiples – Being pregnant with more than one baby.
- Pre-existing Medical Condition – This might include high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Previous Complications – Women who have previously suffered a miscarriage or had other complications with previous pregnancies will experience more involved prenatal care throughout their pregnancy.
Any high-risk pregnancy will require additional prenatal checkups to allow for closer monitoring of the health of mother and baby.
Schedule Your Appointment
To all of the women who are trying to get pregnant or have just learned they are pregnant, we congratulate you on this exciting time in your life! Contact us to schedule an appointment with a member of our caring staff to begin your prenatal care. We will guide you every step of the way with the goal of a healthy and fulfilling experience.