High-risk pregnancy: What you need to know | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

High-risk pregnancy: What you need to know | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine





High-risk pregnancy is when a woman or her unborn baby is at greater risk of problems during pregnancy or delivery. What causes it? Many factors can make a pregnancy high risk. They include: Age. Pregnancy in teenagers and women over age 35. Lifestyle. Activities like smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use. When a woman smokes, drinks alcohol, or uses drugs during pregnancy, the baby may also show the effects after birth.