Specialties & Services

High-Risk Pregnancy

A high-risk pregnancy can be stressful, and you want to know you’re in the best possible hands. We specialize in diagnosing and treating pregnancy complications and fetal conditions. You’ll find guidance, compassion, support, and a level of expertise that’s unmatched in the region.

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Why choose us for high-risk pregnancy?

BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine deliver expert high-risk pregnancy care. Your pregnancy may be considered high-risk if a medical condition—preexisting or one that develops during your pregnancy—affects your health or the health of your baby, you are pregnant with multiples, or you’re over the age of 35. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, it's important to get the right care. At BJC HealthCare, you’ll find:    

  • Specialized maternal expertise: BJC HealthCare is home to WashU Medicine board-certified and fellowship-trained maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Also called high-risk OB-GYNs or perinatologists, these experts specialize in the needs of women with high-risk pregnancies and work in partnership with your OB-GYN.
  • Advanced diagnostic testing: Our diagnostic experts at BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine perform thousands of ultrasounds and genetic amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) procedures each year. We also offer fetal echocardiogram, fetal MRI, and other specialized prenatal tests to diagnose complex conditions quickly and accurately. 
  • Collaborative team: Many providers work together to ensure you and your baby receive complete care. Your team may include high-risk pregnancy providers, sonographers (providers specializing in ultrasounds), genetic counselors, specialized nurses, midwives, and neonatologists (doctors specializing in newborn care).  
  • Care for complex fetal conditions: At the Fetal Care Center, a collaboration among Barnes-Jewish Hospital, WashU Medicine, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, teams provide integrated maternal and fetal care—including complex fetal surgeries and interventions for rare fetal conditions—in one location.  
  • Care for complex newborn conditions: We have multiple St. Louis Children’s Hospital newborn intensive care units (NICUs) across our hospitals, including St. Louis’ only Level IV NICU connected to labor and delivery.  
  • Support for families: We help you face the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of a high-risk pregnancy or a baby with a fetal condition. Services include perinatal behavioral health counselors, a perinatal hospice program, chaplains, and other resources to help you and your family cope and heal.   

High-risk pregnancy specialties and services 

WashU Medicine physicians specialized in high-risk pregnancy care provide advanced expertise, close monitoring, and coordinated services for complex maternal and fetal conditions. 

Maternal fetal medicine

 Expert care for high-risk pregnancies, advanced prenatal testing, and compassionate support for mothers and babies before, during, and after delivery.

Fetal monitoring

 Fetal monitoring tracks your baby’s heart rate and well-being during pregnancy and labor to help ensure a safe, healthy delivery.

Fetal surgery

 Fetal surgery provides specialized treatment before birth for certain conditions, helping improve outcomes for babies while supporting the health of mother and child.

Maternal fetal medicine conditions

Gestational diabetes

 Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from using insulin effectively during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is characterized by pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling due to fluid retention.

Multiples pregnancy

 Expert care for twin and multiple pregnancies, with specialized monitoring, treatment, and support for healthier outcomes.

Advanced monitoring for high-risk pregnancy

Certain chronic health conditions can increase pregnancy risks. Nationally recognized WashU Medicine maternal-fetal medicine specialists provide advanced monitoring and coordinated care to support safer outcomes for mother and baby.  

Talk with your provider about a referral to maternal-fetal medicine. 

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