A high-risk pregnancy may require closer monitoring, additional testing, and a more individualized prenatal care plan. At Katie Ostrom MD, LLC, we provide high-risk pregnancy care designed to monitor both maternal health and fetal development throughout pregnancy. Our goal is to give patients access to attentive local care while identifying concerns as early as possible.

What Makes a Pregnancy High Risk?

A pregnancy may be considered high risk when a health condition or pregnancy-related complication increases potential risks for the mother, baby, or both. Some pregnancies are considered high risk from the beginning, while others develop complications later.

Factors that may require closer monitoring include:

•          Pregnancy with twins, triplets, or other multiples

•          Diabetes or other chronic medical conditions

•          Heart disease

•          Maternal age over 35

•          Previous pregnancy or delivery complications

•          Concerns identified during prenatal testing or ultrasound

Having a high-risk pregnancy does not necessarily mean complications will occur. It means more careful prenatal monitoring may be recommended so changes can be recognized and managed promptly.

Local Monitoring Throughout Your Pregnancy

Regular appointments are especially important when managing a high-risk pregnancy. During prenatal visits, we monitor your health, your baby's growth, and any symptoms or changes that may require additional attention.

Our obstetric services include diagnostic testing and fetal monitoring such as Level 2 ultrasounds, 3D and 4D ultrasounds, and non-stress test fetal surveillance. These services allow us to evaluate fetal development and gather important information about the pregnancy without requiring patients to travel for every aspect of their care. We may also monitor factors such as blood pressure, weight, bloodwork, and chronic health conditions as part of an individualized prenatal care plan.

When Perinatology Care May Be Recommended

Perinatology focuses on pregnancies that need additional evaluation because of maternal health conditions, fetal concerns, or pregnancy complications. We offer perinatology consultations for patients experiencing high-risk or complicated pregnancies and can recommend additional fetal testing when appropriate.

The type and frequency of monitoring depend on your individual circumstances. Some patients may need additional ultrasounds or fetal surveillance, while others may require closer management of an existing medical condition.

Planning for Labor and Delivery

High-risk pregnancy care also includes preparing for delivery. As your pregnancy progresses, we help develop a labor and delivery plan based on your health, your baby's development, and any pregnancy-related concerns.

Continuity of care can be particularly valuable during a complicated pregnancy. By following your progress through prenatal visits, testing, and delivery planning, we can adjust your care as your needs change.

If you need high-risk pregnancy monitoring or a perinatology consultation, schedule an appointment with Katie Ostrom MD, LLC to get started. Contact our office in Homer, Soldotna, or Anchorage, Alaska, by calling (907) 435-0555 to book an appointment.