Your Pregnancy Care Plan
Understanding Your High-Risk Monitoring
This guide explains why you're receiving specialized care and what to expect during your pregnancy.
Good News: Your current ultrasound shows your baby is growing well and your cervix is healthy.
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Advanced Maternal Age
What is this?
Advanced maternal age means being 35 years or older when pregnant.
This is a medical term, not a judgment about your health or ability to have a healthy pregnancy.
Why does it matter?
Women 35 and older have slightly higher chances of certain pregnancy complications.
Your doctor watches more closely for things like:
- High blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- Chromosome differences in the baby
Important: Most women over 35 have completely healthy pregnancies and babies.
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History of Preterm Delivery
What is this?
Preterm delivery means having a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
In your previous pregnancy, you delivered at 36 weeks after your water broke early.
Why does it matter?
Having one preterm delivery increases the chance of it happening again.
However, many women who had one preterm delivery go on to have full-term pregnancies.
What we're watching for:
- Changes in your cervix (the opening to the uterus)
- Signs of early labor
- Your water breaking early
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Your Pregnancy Today
What we found at your ultrasound:
✓ Cervical length: 4.71 cm - This is completely normal and healthy
✓ Baby's weight: 1 pound 2 ounces - Growing right on track (38th percentile)
✓ Amniotic fluid: Normal amount
✓ Baby's heart rate: 140 beats per minute - Healthy and strong
✓ No structural problems detected
What this means:
Your cervix is staying closed and firm.
There are no signs of early labor or problems with this pregnancy right now.
Bottom line: While you're labeled "high-risk," you're actually on the lower end of that category. Things look good.
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Understanding Your Cramping
What you experienced:
You've had two episodes of cramping after being active (walking, grocery shopping).
Both times, the cramping stopped after you:
- Went to the bathroom
- Drank water
- Rested and lay down
What this means:
These symptoms are common and normal in pregnancy.
Your uterus is growing and sometimes tightens (contracts) after activity.
Since your cervix is normal and the cramping stops with rest, this is not a sign of preterm labor.
Reassuring signs:
- No vaginal bleeding
- Cramping stops with rest
- Normal cervical length
- Not happening constantly
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Your Monitoring Plan
What happens next?
You will return to the Maternal-Fetal Medicine clinic in 3 weeks.
At your next visit, we will:
- Measure your cervical length again
- Check your baby's growth
- Look at the amniotic fluid
- Listen to your baby's heartbeat
- Ask about any symptoms
Between now and then:
- Continue your regular prenatal appointments with your obstetrician
- Keep taking your medications (prenatal vitamins, vitamin B6, Zoloft, citalopram)
- Continue normal activities but listen to your body
We're a team: Your obstetrician handles routine care. We provide extra monitoring because of your history. Together, we're watching out for you and your baby.
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Taking Care of Yourself
What you can do:
When you have cramping:
- Empty your bladder
- Drink a glass of water
- Lie down on your left side
- Rest for 30-60 minutes
Call your doctor right away if you have:
- Vaginal bleeding (more than light spotting)
- Cramping that doesn't stop with rest
- Fluid leaking from your vagina (your water breaking)
- More than 4-6 contractions in an hour
- Pelvic pressure or feeling like the baby is pushing down
General tips:
- Stay hydrated - drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Take breaks when you're active
- Don't ignore your body's signals to rest
- Keep all your prenatal appointments
Remember: You're doing everything right. Continue taking care of yourself, attend your appointments, and reach out with any concerns.
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