High risk pregnancy

High risk pregnancy care in Idaho Falls

Having a baby is a very exciting time. The term high-risk pregnancy is usually applied to any pregnancy with a higher than average chance of a condition requiring extra care. We know it can sound scary, but most often, having a high-risk pregnancy means only that you will need some extra care and monitoring.

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) is committed to ensuring a healthy pregnancy and relaxing birth experience. We have the region’s only perinatology (maternal-fetal medicine) specialists, and are equipped to provide neonatal care and labor and delivery services for routine and high-risk pregnancies.

For more information about our high-risk pregnancy services, call us at (208) 528-2925.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

For some women, preexisting health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or asthma, make their pregnancies risky from the start.

But even normal pregnancies can quickly become complicated when unforeseen conditions arise, like preterm birth, gestational diabetes or hypertension.

If you are concerned about high-risk pregnancy, our perinatologists work with your OB/GYN to bring you peace of mind. They allow you to remain close to home and your support system while receiving high-quality expertise and access to state-of-the-art procedures, if necessary.

Who may experience a high-risk pregnancy?

You may be classified as a high-risk pregnancy if:

• You are younger than 18 years old or older than 35 years old
• You are underweight or overweight for your height
• You have anemia (low red blood cell count and poor nutrition status)
• You have given birth more than four times
• You have had a previous preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation)
• You have had a previous birth of a very large or tiny baby
• You use substances (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs)
• You have preexisting medical conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy)
• You have a short (weak) cervix
• You have a history of blood clots
• You used infertility medications or treatments (more likely to result in multiple births)
• You are exposed to external risk factors such as high temperatures, radiations, pesticides, and high altitudes
• You are in a low socioeconomic status

High-risk pregnancy services

At EIRMC, we understand every pregnancy is unique. To meet the needs of your pregnancy, our comprehensive high-risk pregnancy care and labor and delivery services include the following:

• Consultations and recommendations
• Obstetric ultrasound for fetal screening and growth
• Specialized ultrasound to evaluate the fetus for birth abnormalities and chromosomal and genetic syndromes
• Genetic screening and counseling
• First-trimester nuchal translucency screening
• Prenatal testing for cystic fibrosis and rhesus genotyping
• Antenatal testing, including non-stress testing, biophysical profiles and amniotic fluid index
• Middle cerebral artery Doppler studies
• Monitoring for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and twin reversed arterial perfusion
• Diabetic counseling and management
• Co-management of maternal-fetal medicine conditions, such as preterm labor

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

If your newborn needs critical support, our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is equipped 24/7 with board-certified neonatologists and the latest technology. Our experienced NICU staff is an interdisciplinary team specializing in advanced neonatal care designed to provide compassionate and thorough care for your baby.