High Risk Pregnancy

High risk pregnancies are those that are complicated by maternal illness or a defect in the fetus. Ms. Beck's pregnancy was considered high risk from the beginning because of her undiagnosed autoimmune disorder that often caused her to become dehydrated due to extreme nausea and vomiting. Ms. Beck would often find herself at the University Health Services receiving IV fluids in order to counteract her dehydration.

Ms. Beck struggled with this pregnancy from the beginning because of her illness. When she learned of Adam's Down syndrome, it really had no impact on her overall pregnancy. What had the largest impact on Ms. Beck's pregnancy other than her nausea and vomiting was the placental abruption she suffered in the fifth month. Normally when the placenta begins to separate from the wall of the uterus, there is little that can be done to save the pregnancy. In fact...