min. read
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy in which you or your baby are more likely than average to have health problems during your pregnancy or after delivery. Your pregnancy might be considered high risk due to a variety of factors, such as:
- a history of complications during a previous pregnancy, such a premature delivery
- current pregnancy complications
- existing health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease
- pregnancy with two or more fetuses (multiples)
- your age
What age is considered a high-risk pregnancy?
Pregnancy risks can vary based on age. Pregnant people who are younger than 20 or older than 35 tend to have higher than average risks for pregnancy complications and are considered high risk.
High-risk pregnancy: What to expect
Just because your pregnancy is considered high risk doesn’t mean you or your baby will suffer health problems. Many women have healthy pregnancies and normal deliveries despite being high risk.
Due to the increased risk, you’ll likely be referred to a specialist called a maternal-fetal medicine doctor (or MFM for short). You may need extra appointments or specialized tests during your pregnancy to ensure you’re healthy and your baby is growing and developing as expected. That way, if you experience any health concerns, they can be identified and treated as quickly as possible.
High-risk pregnancy: Maternal Fetal Medicine Center
The Maternal Fetal Medicine Center at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women in Houston, Texas, is the main hub for care for high-risk pregnancies at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Our facility is designed to optimally provide care for pregnant women needing access to a high-risk maternal-fetal medicine specialist and other subspecialty partners to co-manage such pregnancies. Not only do our doctors have years of specialized training and experience in high-risk pregnancy care, but our specialists also conduct research and train the next generation of maternal-fetal medicine doctors, staying at the forefront of high-risk pregnancy care. We also offer the most advanced fetal ultrasound and MRI techniques to identify potential health problems early.
Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women for high-risk pregnancy
The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center is located within Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, which is dedicated to caring for women in all stages of their lives and for children from preconception to long after birth.
With a team of specialized maternal-fetal medicine experts, advanced neonatal care units and access to the latest medical technology, the Pavilion for Women supports both mothers and babies through complex pregnancies. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to handle various high-risk conditions, such as preterm labor, gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancies and more. Mothers can receive personalized care plans, extensive monitoring and direct access to neonatal specialists, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both mother and child.
We commit to treat, respect and embrace you within our care team and will advocate with a spirit of hope and perseverance to provide you, your baby (or babies) and family with the highest level of care. We’ll take the time to inform you and to listen to your needs and wishes. We’ll include you as the key member in your pregnancy care. Those who entrust their pregnancy care to us typically don’t want to leave us once their care with our team is completed!
Why choose Texas Children’s for high-risk pregnancy?
You’ll find many benefits in choosing a specialized hospital for high-risk pregnancy:
- Personalized care for you and your baby. Our team approach brings together specialists from multiple fields for fetal imaging, genetic counseling and care for multiple pregnancies, heart disease, infectious disease and other conditions. No matter what care you need, we have it here for you.
- Advanced fetal imaging and testing. We use the latest diagnostic tests to evaluate your baby’s health. Many techniques are noninvasive or minimally invasive, with little discomfort.
- Access to world-renowned pediatric care before and after birth. As part of one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, we offer your family seamless, timely access to critical services for babies who need extra care and monitoring with more than 40 pediatric specialties.
Available services for high-risk pregnancy
Our comprehensive care is truly exceptional. See all the programs and services offered at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women.
Find a high-risk pregnancy OB/Gyn and specialists
Find an expert provider who’s right for you.
How to access high-risk pregnancy care
If you’ve been identified as having a high-risk pregnancy, accessing specialized care is essential for ensuring the best outcomes for you and your baby. To start, talk with your obstetrician, who can refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Depending on your and your baby’s health needs, you may come to us just for evaluation and testing, occasional visits or total obstetric care throughout your pregnancy.
At Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, expectant mothers can receive comprehensive care tailored to complex pregnancies. We offer coordinated services from diagnosis through delivery, including consultations with maternal-fetal specialists, access to advanced fetal monitoring and resources like genetic counseling and specialized neonatal care. Call us directly at 832-826-4636 to schedule an appointment or learn more about high-risk pregnancy services.
Each referral is screened on an individual basis, and care planning and scheduling is customized to meet the requests of the referring provider and your specific needs. Our center has access to Texas Children’s pediatric subspecialists when needed.
Find a maternal-fetal medicine location near you
Many of the same services provided in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center in Houston are also available at our community locations. In addition to our primary location in the Texas Medical Center, we offer multiple maternal-fetal medicine clinics in the Houston and North Austin area to provide easy access to the highest-quality care for your high-risk pregnancy. Locations include:
- Clear Lake
- Baytown
- Katy
- North Austin
- Northwest
- Sugar Land
- The Woodlands
- West Houston
Frequently asked questions
We provide support before, during and after your pregnancy, with comprehensive, specialized programs to meet the needs of you and your baby. See all the programs and services offered at the Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women.
Most high-risk pregnancy patients at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center in Houston are referred by their primary obstetrician or current maternal-fetal medicine doctor and include pregnant women who:
- are pregnant with multiples (complex twins, triplets, quadruplets, +)
- have a history of pregnancy complications or obstetrical problems
- have preexisting medical problems
- have new maternal problems in their current pregnancy
- have fetal problems or abnormalities in their current pregnancy
- need advanced imaging (ultrasound and/or MRI) diagnostics in pregnancy
We also provide pre-conception counseling for non-pregnant women who have medical problems or a history of problems in previous pregnancies and want to become pregnant.
Services offered in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center in Houston include:
- Obstetrical imaging: ultrasound and fetal and maternal MRI.
- Genetic counseling and screening through our Prenatal Genetics Clinic.
- Consultative and total obstetrical care.
- Maternal Heart Program for pregnant women with heart disease.
- Fetal echocardiography through Texas Children’s Fetal Center.
- Nutritional consultation by certified diabetes educators.
- Program for Multiples for those who are pregnant with 2 or more babies.
- Social work and child life consultation.
- Palliative care counseling.
- Placenta Accreta Spectrum Center for rare, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect the placenta.
We pride ourselves in providing a “one stop,” comprehensive, coordinated nature of care designed for optimal clinical timing, as well as the convenience and comfort of our patients and families.
Maternal Fetal Medicine Center pregnancy specialists include:
- Maternal-fetal medicine doctors and nurse practitioners
- Adult subspecialists
- Pediatric cardiologists
- Pediatric radiologists
- Pediatric subspecialists and surgeons
- Antenatal testing center registered nurses
- Certified diabetes educators
- Certified prenatal genetic counselors
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Maternal and fetal nurse coordinators
- Palliative care specialists
- Social workers
Most of our high-risk pregnancy patients are from the Greater Houston area. They are referred from community obstetricians and those who practice at the Pavilion for Women. However, many patients travel from across the state, country and world to access the expertise within our Maternal Fetal Medicine Center. Our high-risk pregnancy patients may also have children who are or were patients at Texas Children’s Hospital.
We have several satellite maternal-fetal medicine and fetal echocardiology clinics located in Houston’s surrounding communities and North Austin. Our goal is to keep as much of your care close to home as possible. See our locations
Related Stories
63906
Wellness
article