High Risk Pregnancy

What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?

High-risk pregnancies are pregnancies in which the mother or the child’s life or health is threatened. If there is a medical condition present before pregnancy, or a medical condition develops during pregnancy for either you or your baby, your pregnancy may become high-risk. Prenatal screening, ultrasounds, and diagnostic screenings such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can help you understand the condition your baby is in. There are several factors which can contribute to a high-risk pregnancy.

Maternal age:

Mothers over the age of 35 may experience complications with their pregnancy.

Maternal health condition:

Mothers who are obese, have sickle-cell disease, kidney disease (preeclampsia), high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, lupus, thyroid disease, or Type 1/Type 2 diabetes, are considered high-risk pregnancies.

Lifestyle habits:

Excessive alcohol and drug consumption during pregnancy contribute to high-risk pregnancies, potentially causing birth defects.

Multiple Pregnancy:

The majority of multiples are delivered healthy. However, they are considered high-risk pregnancy. If serious complications occur, multiples are delivered prematurely which may result in health issues.

How We Care for High-Risk Pregnancies

PMC provides you with quality prenatal care, screening, and diagnostics. If you are in a high-risk pregnancy, we provide the testing and diagnosis necessary to determine your child’s condition throughout each term. With our specialized focus, full range of services, and state-of-the-art facilities, our goal is to provide everything you need to achieve the healthiest possible pregnancy, and everything your baby needs for the healthiest possible start to life. We are known for expertly addressing the needs of mothers and babies throughout complex pregnancies, and for the outcomes we achieve. PMC strives to optimize the outcome for high risk pregnancies by working alongside Obstetricians caring for their at-risk pregnant patients.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

For newborns requiring additional medical care, the NICU at Piedmont is a South Carolina Level III neonatal intensive care unit, allowing us to provide advanced medical treatments for babies born as early or in need of additional medical treatment. This nursery is equipped to provide special care for premature infants and those who are sick or have complications. Infant care is managed and performed by a combination of skilled staff, including board-certified neonatologists, registered nurses and respiratory therapists.