Sometimes, complications with your health or the health of your baby arise during pregnancy. You may experience gestational diabetes, multiple gestation (twins, triplets or more) or high blood pressure (hypertension) and develop preeclampsia. Your baby could develop a genetic condition, medical condition or birth anomaly.

Some existing medical conditions can cause a high-risk pregnancy. These include autoimmune diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid disorders.

There is a higher risk for complications if your first pregnancy occurs when you are 35 or older. Possible complications include Cesarean delivery, genetic disorders like Down syndrome, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

Pregnancy during teenage years can also increase your risk. Teenagers who are pregnant face a higher risk for anemia, high blood pressure and preterm births.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have been linked to alcohol use during pregnancy.

Using marijuana or illegal drugs during pregnancy increases the risk of a stillborn birth. Drug use can also cause issues with your baby’s brain development.

Obesity is linked to complications including gestational diabetes, larger birth weight and fetal heart conditions. You also have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea during pregnancy.

You are at a higher risk of repeat preterm birth if you previously delivered a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Smoking increases the risk of birth anomalies, preterm birth, slowing down of the baby’s growth before birth and SIDS.

This monitors you for preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). Normal blood pressure in pregnancy should be below 140/90. Preeclampsia can lead to life-threatening complications like eclampsia, which can cause seizures and coma.

Your provider may recommend an ultrasound or amniocentesis during your pregnancy. These tests check for health conditions like Down syndrome and spina bifida.

This checks to see if you develop high blood sugar during your pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can lead to complications like high blood pressure and preterm birth.

This set of blood tests checks for conditions that can affect your pregnancy, like rubella, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and anemia.

This test determines if you are Rh positive or negative and if you have antibodies against other blood groups. If you are Rh positive and your first baby is born with a different Rh factor, you will need medication for Rh incompatibility (Rhogam). Rh incompatibility can affect future pregnancies.

You may need continued diagnostic tests like ultrasounds to monitor your baby’s growth and development throughout your pregnancy.

If you have a condition that may affect your baby’s health, your provider may recommend nonstress tests during your pregnancy. During this test, a monitor is attached to your belly to track your baby’s heartbeat.

Your provider may prescribe medications to treat infections or manage thyroid or blood sugar levels.

A vaginal delivery is always preferred but you may need a surgical delivery (Cesarean section) if vaginal delivery is not possible.