Prior Pregnancy Complications

When you have had a complication in a prior pregnancy, or other issues in that pregnancy, discussing the change they could recur (happen again) can be helpful to get you answers, and to help you have the healthiest future pregnancy possible.

Sometimes there are options and treatments before pregnancy to reduce risk. Other complications may be unlikely to recur. Sometimes testing can help determine a patient’s and families risk for complications and if there are other ways to improve the changes of a healthy pregnancy.

Some of the more common prior pregnancy complications we see to review and discuss planning for the next pregnancy include:

• Recurrent miscarriage or pregnancy loss
• Cervical insufficiency or a weakened cervix
• Prior pre-term birth
• Multiple pregnancy, especially with complications
• Abruption - a placental complication where the placenta becomes prematurely detached from the uterine wall
• Previa - a placental complication where the placenta is attached too close to the cervix
• Accreta - placenta growth into the uterine wall
• Maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes
• Poor fetal growth
• High blood pressure including conditions called preeclampsia or eclampsia
• Complications with prior pregnancies such as early delivery that need additional monitoring