Expert Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
Certain health conditions, lifestyle factors, and maternal age can make a pregnancy more complicated or high-risk. A high-risk pregnancy is one that involves increased health risks for the mother, fetus, or both. Someone with a high-risk pregnancy may require extra care before, during, or after birth. Maternal-fetal medicine is a sub-specialty within obstetrics and gynecology that provides specialty care for patients with high-risk pregnancies. A maternal fetal medicine doctor can help treat and manage a high-risk pregnancy to support the health of both parent and baby through every stage of pregnancy.
St. Joseph’s Health is a leader in maternal-fetal medicine, providing patients experiencing high-risk pregnancies with expert care before, during, and after pregnancy. We are designated a Level III Regional Perinatal Center by the New Jersey Department of Health. This designation recognizes our expertise in delivering the highest level of prenatal and newborn care for high-risk mothers and acutely ill newborns.
Our board-certified maternal-fetal specialists are trained in complications that affect both the mother and fetus and use the most advanced screening and testing technology. Because every pregnancy is different, we provide a wide range of care, including preconception counseling, prenatal ultrasound and genetic counseling, as well as delivery and postpartum care of high-risk pregnancies. Our maternal fetal medicine experts work alongside your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) and midwives to develop an individualized pregnancy management plan based on your individual needs and medical history. We also collaborate with neonatal colleagues, genetic counselors, internal medicine specialists, and pediatric subspecialists to help achieve the best possible outcome. If necessary, after delivery, babies can receive the high-quality care and monitoring they need at our Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
When You May Need to See a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
Some patients may be considered at an increased risk for complications during pregnancy, or, have a high-risk pregnancy, if they:
- Are older than age 35
- Have high blood pressure, diabetes or other medical conditions
- If they are carrying more than one fetus (multiples)
- Experience preterm labor
- Have a history of pregnancy-related complications, including a previous pregnancy loss (miscarriage), C-section or placenta conditions; incompetent cervix
- Have a family history of genetic disorders and/or medical conditions
- Have fetal growth concerns
- Fetal birth defects, genetic conditions
Services for High-Risk Pregnancies
We offer a wide range of services for women who are high-risk, including:
- Advanced fetal imaging
- Fetal echocardiography
- Management of maternal medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, lupus, and cardiac disease
- Management of complications of pregnancy such as preterm premature rupture of the membranes, preterm labor, preeclampsia, and placenta previa and accreta
- Specialty working with patients of advanced maternal age (geriatric pregnancy)
- Preconception care
- Genetic testing
- Diagnostic procedures such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS)
- Procedures for incompetent cervix such as cerclage
Contact Us
St. Joseph’s Health
OB-GYN Maternal Fetal Medicine
11 Getty Avenue
Paterson, NJ 07503
973-754-2717
