High Risk Pregnancy

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, it’s important to know what to expect and that you receive expert prenatal care. Schubert Atiga, MD, FACOG is a board-certified OB/GYN at Lifetime Women’s Healthcare with more than 30 years’ experience working with women having high-risk pregnancies. If you’re in the San Diego area, call Lifetime Women’s Healthcare in Chula Vista, California or schedule an appointment online today to learn more.

High Risk Pregnancy Q & A

Why is prenatal care important?

Receiving high-quality prenatal care during your pregnancy helps protect the health of you and your baby.

At Lifetime Women’s Healthcare, Dr. Atiga and his team of nurse midwives and nurse practitioners work together to monitor your health and track the development of your baby to encourage a full-term delivery.

Dr. Atiga and his experienced team also provide specialized care for women who may want a vaginal birth after previously having a cesarean, and those who may be having high-risk pregnancies.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

A pregnancy is high-risk if you or your baby are susceptible to developing health complications before, during, or after delivery. Factors that might create a high-risk pregnancy include:

  • Carrying multiple babies
  • Being 35 years of age or older
  • Smoking, drinking, or using illegal drugs
  • A history of preterm delivery or miscarriages
  • Pregnancy complications associated with the placenta or fetus
  • Having a chronic condition like hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes

 

Your pregnancy might also be high risk if you’ve had uterine or abdominal surgeries in the past.

Which special tests are performed for high-risk pregnancies?

Depending on the unique circumstances of your high-risk pregnancy, Dr. Atiga might recommend a variety of tests, such as:

  • Amniocentesis: samples amniotic fluid to test for genetic conditions or abnormalities
  • Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): assesses placenta cells for genetic conditions
  • Specialized ultrasound: imaging to evaluate suspected issues or abnormal development
  • Cordocentesis: tests umbilical blood for genetic disorders, infections, and blood conditions

Dr. Atiga also performs lab tests to screen your overall health and to check for infectious diseases.

How can I ensure a healthy high-risk pregnancy?

Dr. Atiga has more than 30 years’ experience caring for women with high-risk pregnancies. To help you have a healthy pregnancy, he works closely with you to prepare against and prevent as many risks as possible. This might include:

  • Pregnancy counseling to evaluate your risk before conception
  • Dietary recommendations to make sure your nutritional needs are met
  • Regular health care appointments to monitor your health during pregnancy
  • Guidance on healthy weight gain and exercise to maintain your physical health

The team at Lifetime Women’s Healthcare also works closely with perinatologists who are specialists in high-risk pregnancies. If your condition becomes too complicated, Dr. Atiga coordinates your care with the expert perinatologist team at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego.

Call Lifetime Women’s Healthcare or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about high-risk pregnancy care.