After decades of knee pain, a left knee replacement at Ascension Saint Alexius in Hoffman Estates helped a retired barber get back to golf with care from orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Paul S. Nourbash.
Maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Ascension Illinois specialize in managing potential risks for you and your baby.
High-risk pregnancy care in Chicagoland
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Ascension Illinois specialize in managing potential risks for you and your baby.
Why choose Ascension Illinois for high-risk pregnancy care
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you want the right care team on your side. Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists or perinatologists — OB-GYNs with special training in managing high-risk pregnancies — at the Ascension Illinois High-Risk Pregnancy Center start by listening to understand you. Our experienced care teams provide personalized care during your pregnancy, delivery and postpartum, offering advanced testing, monitoring and treatment for complex pregnancies and coordinating care with your primary OB-GYN.
Understand high-risk pregnancy
A pregnancy may be considered high risk when you or your baby need extra monitoring or specialized care. This may be due to a medical condition, a complication that develops during pregnancy or certain factors, like carrying multiples (twins or triplets).
If your pregnancy becomes high risk, you may have questions, expectations and some worries. That’s why the MFM specialists at Ascension Illinois High-Risk Pregnancy Center listen to understand your concerns.
Symptoms of high-risk pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you have any of these signs during your pregnancy:
- Bleeding or leaking fluid from the vagina
- Blurry or impaired vision
- Unusual or severe stomach pain or backaches
- Frequent, severe, or constant headaches
- Contractions, where your stomach muscles tighten, before 34 weeks that happen every 10 minutes or more often
- Decrease in baby's movements after 28 weeks
- Dizziness
- Excessive vomiting and diarrhea
- Fever or chills
- Pain or burning with urination
- Swelling of face, fingers, and feet
- Inability to tolerate foods or liquids
- Muscular convulsions
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
How we diagnose high-risk pregnancy conditions
No two care plans are the same. But you can generally expect your care plan to include advanced prenatal testing and monitoring. Our MFM specialists use detailed imaging, screenings and evaluations to understand your health and your baby’s development. Together, you and your doctor will choose the testing and care that is right for you.
Prenatal diagnostic tests may include:
Amniocentesis is a procedure used to take a small sample of the amniotic fluid for testing. This is the clear, pale yellow fluid that surrounds your baby in pregnancy. Amniotic fluid:
- Protects the baby from injury
- Protects against infection
- Allows the baby to move and develop properly
- Helps control the baby’s temperature
A biophysical profile is a test sometimes used during the third trimester of pregnancy. It’s often done if there is a question about the baby’s health. This may be because of other test results or certain pregnancy symptoms, or because your pregnancy is high risk.
A cervical cerclage is a stitch placed in the cervix during pregnancy to help keep it closed and support the pregnancy until the baby is ready to be born.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test used to test for chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic concerns. During the test, a tissue sample is taken from the placenta and sent to a lab for analysis. The placenta is a structure in the uterus that provides blood and nutrients from mother to baby.
Doppler flow is a type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to measure the flow of blood through blood vessels. The results are shown on a computer screen in lines called waveforms. This test is sometimes called a Doppler velocimetry. A Doppler flow study may be used during pregnancy to check the health of your baby, checking blood flow in:
- The umbilical vein and arteries
- The baby’s brain
- The baby’s heart
- Other organs in the baby
A fetal ultrasound is a test used during pregnancy. It creates an image of your baby in the womb. Ultrasounds are a safe way to check the health of an unborn baby. During a fetal ultrasound, the baby’s heart, head and spine are evaluated, along with other parts of the baby. The test may be done either on the abdomen (transabdominal) or inside the vagina (transvaginal).
Fetal echocardiography (echo) uses sound waves to check the heart of your developing baby. This test can help find heart defects before birth.
First trimester screening combines fetal ultrasound and blood tests for the mother and is during weeks 1 to 12 or 13. This test can help identify the risk of your baby having certain birth defects, including chromosome defects, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), or trisomy 18 or 13.
Intensive care for newborns
Not every pregnancy requires advanced care, but if you do, have the peace of mind knowing that you’re connected to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care at Ascension Illinois.
Level III birthing centers — the highest designation in the state of Illinois — have a NICU and antepartum unit, which offer the highest level of perinatal care for babies and mothers with highly complex needs requiring different types of specialized care.
- Chicago (Lincoln Park): Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago
- Hoffman Estates: Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital
Financial assistance for new parents
We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Talk with our financial assistant as a first step, if you have questions.
Our locations in Chicagoland
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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