​High risk pregnancy follow-up

What is a high risk pregnancy?

A high risk pregnancy is where you or your baby are at increased risk of health challenges during or after delivery. Some of the circumstances that may increase your risk are:
  • Pregnancy history: history of conditions such as three or more pregnancy losses, preeclampsia, preterm birth or diabetes puts you at higher risk of the same diagnosis in future pregnancies
  • Complications in the current pregnancy: risks can emerge during pregnancy such as slowed growth of the fetus, rhesus blood group incompatibility or bleeding from a low-lying placenta  
  • Multiple pregnancies: carrying more than one baby is associated with unique challenges different from singleton pregnancies. For example, there is a higher risk of smaller-for-gestation babies, premature birth, high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • Maternal health problems: having medical conditions such as heart disease, thyroid, epilepsy, poorly controlled asthma or diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease increases likelihood of pregnancy complication. This may be from the effects of the condition itself or from medications used to manage it.
  • Lifestyle: Use of drugs such as tobacco, sheesha, cannabis, alcohol, heroin and cocaine all have a harmful effect on a pregnancy. Obesity and inactivity also can cause pregnancy complications
  • Genetic conditions: being affected or being a carrier of certain genetic conditions such as sickle cell, thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate deficiency may convey a risk of complications during pregnancy or a risk of passing the condition on to the baby.

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What care do we offer for high risk pregnancies?

Going through a high risk pregnancy has its ups and downs which can be draining physically, emotionally and financially. High risk pregnancies is will require special monitoring or care during pregnancy. This requires a coordinated approach by consultants and specialists in various fields. For example, an expectant lady with kidney disease requires her kidney specialist to work together with the obstetrician. This is called multidisciplinary care. It also require facilities for specialized care to be available if required. An example of such facilities is the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), adult intensive care units (ICU), and adult and newborn high dependency units (HDU).

Caring for high risk pregnancies may require:
  • Preconception assessment
  • Closer antenatal visits
  • Specialized screening e.g. performing genetic tests or specialized ultrasound scans
  • Interventions, for example, early delivery for severe high blood pressure
At Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi our team of specialists, who are also university lecturers, is among the most experienced in care of high risk pregnancies in the region. Besides referrals from facilities within Kenya we regularly receive referrals from the Eastern African region. 
Book an appointment with one of our specialists in case you have an existing medical concern and you are planning or are already pregnant.


​​Co​ntact us

​For more information please contact:

Antenatal Clinic
Telephone: +254 20 366 2001/2002/2010
​​​​​+254 20 366 2888​
or Email: patient.referral@aku.edu

To find a doctor, please click HER​E
To book an appointment, please click HERE

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