High-risk pregnancy doctors in Denver

High-risk pregnancies often require the assistance of a specially trained doctor. At HealthONE hospitals, we have maternal-fetal health specialists who will collaborate with your OB/GYN to provide coordinated care throughout your pregnancy. Our specialists offer a variety of services and deliver personalized care to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

For more information about HealthONE's high-risk pregnancy services, please call (303) 575-0055.

What makes a pregnancy high risk?

A pregnancy may be considered high risk based on conditions that affect the mother (maternal conditions), the baby (fetal conditions) or both. Maternal conditions may preexist or arise during pregnancy. Fetal conditions may arise during pregnancy and be discovered through abnormal ultrasound findings.

The level of risk involved in each pregnancy is different, depending on the type and number of high-risk conditions present.

Doctors trained in high-risk pregnancies

When a pregnancy is classified as high risk, specialized care and additional monitoring from a perinatologist helps mom and her baby stay healthy.

A perinatologist is an OB/GYN with additional training in high-risk pregnancy and maternal-fetal care. Perinatologists are also called "maternal-fetal health doctors" and "high-risk OB/GYNs."

High-risk pregnancy conditions we treat

Listed below are a variety of maternal-fetal conditions our perinatologists treat that could classify a pregnancy as high risk.

Conditions affecting mom:

  • Being overweight or underweight
  • Clotting disorders
  • Family history of fetal birth abnormalities
  • HIV and/or AIDS
  • Later-age pregnancy (35 years old and older)
  • Personal history of preterm labor and delivery or pregnancy loss
  • Preexisting medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or renal disease
  • Thyroid disorders

Conditions that develop during pregnancy:

  • Amniotic fluid abnormalities (oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios)
  • Fetal growth restriction
  • Gestational diabetes
  • HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome
  • Incompetent cervix
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Multiple pregnancy losses
  • Placental conditions (placental abruption and placenta previa)
  • Preeclampsia
  • Preterm labor

Conditions affecting baby:

  • Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation
  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Gastroschisis
  • Giant neck mass
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Intraperitoneal intrauterine fetal transfusion
  • Lower urinary tract obstruction
  • Omphalocele
  • Sacrococcygeal teratoma
  • Spina bifida
  • Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence
  • Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

Maternal-fetal medicine services

From preconception to labor and delivery, we are committed to providing the best possible care throughout your pregnancy and childbirth experiences.

We offer a variety of services at our high-risk pregnancy clinics, including:

  • Amniocentesis
  • Cerclage
  • Chorionic villus sampling
  • Collaboration and co-management with your obstetrician for your pregnancy care plan
  • Counseling about exposure to medications, radiation and possible toxins
  • Detailed diagnostic ultrasound
  • Dilation and curettage
  • Fetal age
  • Fetal blood testing
  • Fetal echocardiography
  • Fetal heart monitoring
  • First trimester ultrasounds for congenital abnormalities
  • Genetic screening
  • Inpatient management of pregnancy complications
  • Placenta accreta treatment and care
  • Third trimester ultrasound for fetal lung development

Preconception planning

Patients with preexisting medical conditions or with predisposition to genetic disorders may benefit from consulting with a perinatologist before trying to get pregnant.

During a preconception visit with one of our perinatologists, we will discuss, diagnose and begin treating any preexisting conditions that could affect a future pregnancy. We will assess the patient's individual risk (including current conditions and medications) and make recommendations for any lifestyle changes. Additionally, we will discuss specific prenatal care strategies to promote a healthy pregnancy in the future.

Prenatal genetic counseling

Prenatal genetic testing identifies the likelihood of certain genetic diseases and disorders being passed to your child. If a woman elects to receive genetic counseling, it is recommended that she do so before she becomes pregnant to help assess her risk factors.

Neonatal intensive care

If mom experiences a high-risk pregnancy, it is possible baby may need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth.

Our hospitals provide advanced-level NICUs with expert neonatal doctors and nurses who care for ill and premature newborns. Additionally, HealthONE's children's hospital, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC), features the largest Level IV NICU in Colorado. Our hospitals' NICUs work closely with this hospital, and if a baby requires a higher level of care, we can rapidly transfer them to the NICU they need.