Women's Services
High-Risk Pregnancy Factors and Symptoms
A woman may be referred to maternal-fetal services when considered at risk in her pregnancy for any of the following reasons:
- Younger than 18 or older than 35
- Underweight or overweight
- Anemia (low red blood cell count and poor nutrition status)
- Previously given birth more than four times
- Previously delivered a very large or very small baby
- Previous miscarriage
- Family history of genetic disease or a previous baby with a birth defect
- Weak cervix
- Pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart, lung or kidney disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or epilepsy
- History of blood clots
- Use of infertility medications or treatments (more likely to result in multiple births)
- Use of cigarettes, illicit drugs or alcohol to excess
