“Up to 40 percent of women have some high-risk aspect to their pregnancy. A woman can be “high-risk” due to having chronic medical conditions such diabetes or high blood pressure, having advanced maternal age, having twins or triplets, or having complications in a prior pregnancy,” explains Sean Blackwell, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine physician affiliated with Memorial Hermann Cypress.
Open on Mondays, the Center offers a variety of advanced tests to monitor fetal development, including biophysical profiles, amniocentesis, and noninvasive prenatal testing. A woman would need a referral from her OBGYN to schedule maternal-fetal medicine services.
“We partner with a woman’s OB/GYN to identify potential complications earlier and make sure that both mother and baby remain healthy through the duration of the pregnancy and delivery. Some women may visit once, while others may receive collaborative care throughout their pregnancy,” added Dr. Blackwell, who is also the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth. “We are really excited to be in Cypress so a woman can have high-risk pregnancy care close to home without having to drive miles and miles to see us.”
Should serious complications arise, a woman can easily be transferred to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, which offers a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and serves as the home base for the UTHealth high-risk pregnancy team.
Learn more about the High-Risk Pregnancy Center at Memorial Hermann Cypress. Memorial Hermann Cypress and its affiliated physicians offer a full range of services for women in all stages of life. Those interested in learning more about The Birthing Center at Memorial Hermann Cypress, childbirth preparation, and newborn care classes can call 713-222-CARE.