Medical Professionals

“High Risk” Not as Scary as it Sounds!

Written by SALVATORE A. CARFAGNO DO and RACHEL GRENCAVICH CNM

You may hear the words,“high risk”. It sounds scary, but actually it just means a bit more surveillance of you and your baby. Our Obstetrical team, including Perinatoligist and genetic counselors are there for you and your baby. There are many reasons why a woman would be considered a high risk obstetrical patient, throughout this article we will go through some characteristics that help doctors diagnose their patients. But remember every woman is different and so is every pregnancy.

Early detection within the first and second trimester of genetic disorders will help calm both your nerves and help your doctors take better care of you. When you first meet with your genetic counselors they will ask you many questions that involve you and your partners’ family history. Your family history plays an important part in detecting genetic disorders and having an idea of the history is a great source of information for you, the counselors, and your doctor.

Detailed diagnoses are needed for the genetic counselor to gauge your own high risk and the recurrence of the specific diagnoses and malformations which may be hereditary.

History of the mother and fathers pregnancies and medical conditions are equally as important to your pregnancy. After looking over some of these factors your counselors may inform you whether some aspects are hereditary, what is the rate of recurrence and which testing may be available to help you. Your obstetrician can help you understand this information better and order the appropriate testing.

Age can play a part in how high risk you may be considered. If you are over the age of 35 you will also be given a referral for a genetic consultation which is related to an increased risk of conceiving a child with genetic abnormalities or malformations. You may also run the risk of early trimester miscarriages. But with early detection and keeping your scheduled appointments your risks may be lowered. Patients under the age of 17 are also considered high risk. This doesn’t mean that these problems will occur with your pregnancy, your doctors just want you to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. There are other medical conditions that are more common in women, which would make them a high risk, such as diabetes, hypertension, abnormal thyroid function, asthma, and auto immune disorders. There are special considerations for monitoring these conditions including how they may impact your health and the health of your baby. Your doctors along with your other specialists will work together to find the medical plan that is best for you.

Preterm birth is a major concern for any pregnant patient; a patient who is not considered high risk may still run the risk of preterm labor. But if you have had a previous history of preterm birth, make sure to let both your doctor and prenatal counselors know about this history. Your doctor will most likely give you modifications for your daily activities including types of monitoring for contractions.

Even after your visits with your doctor and the counselors you may still have concerns about some of the information they have given you, don’t be afraid to ask and talk about the concerns that you may have. With the right treatment and counseling you and your baby will receive the best care through your pregnancy.

Salavatore A. Carfagno, Jr., DO received his medical training, internship and residency at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently Board Certified by the American College of Osteopathic in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is presently on staff at AtlanticareRegional Medical Center and Shore Memorial Hospital and averages 300 deliveries per year, this in addition to an extensive gynecological surgical caseload.
Dr. Carfagno practices obstetrics and gynecology at The Courtyard Suite D-4, 707 White Horse Pike, Absecon, NJ 08201.
This article was previously published in the Atlantic County Woman in New Jersey.