High-risk pregnancy list: common conditions, warning signs and where to get checked

By Kanwar Nursing Home Info editors · Updated 4 November 2026

Medical information, not medical advice. This page explains general terms used in antenatal care in India. It cannot assess your pregnancy. If you are pregnant, follow the advice of your doctor, ANM or ASHA worker, and get emergency help immediately for the warning signs listed below.

Doctors call a pregnancy "high risk" when the mother or the baby has a higher than usual chance of a complication. The label does not mean something will go wrong. It means the pregnancy needs closer watching: more check-ups, certain tests and, sometimes, delivery at a hospital equipped for emergencies. Most women with a high-risk pregnancy go on to have a healthy baby when the risk is picked up early.

How high-risk pregnancies are identified in India

India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare runs the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), which offers a free antenatal check-up by a doctor on the 9th of every month at government health facilities. One of its stated aims is to find and follow up high-risk pregnancies. Your check-ups and test results are recorded on the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card, which you should carry to every visit.

The World Health Organization recommends at least eight antenatal care contacts during pregnancy, so that problems can be caught and managed in time.

Common high-risk pregnancy conditions

The list below brings together conditions that health authorities, including the WHO, India's MoHFW and the UK's NHS, commonly treat as raising the risk in pregnancy. It is not complete, and your doctor may add or remove items based on your history.

Related to the mother's age and body

Pregnancy at a very young age (teenage pregnancy) or after about 35 years.
Very low or very high body weight before pregnancy.
Short height, which can make a difficult labour more likely.

Health conditions before or during pregnancy

Anaemia, especially severe anaemia, which is common in India and treatable when found early.
High blood pressure, including pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure with signs such as protein in the urine) and eclampsia (fits).
Diabetes, either existing before pregnancy or gestational diabetes that starts during pregnancy.
Thyroid disorders.
Heart, kidney or liver disease, epilepsy, asthma and other long-term illnesses.
Infections such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and malaria or tuberculosis.
Rh-negative blood group in the mother, which needs monitoring and sometimes an injection.

From previous pregnancies

Previous caesarean section or other surgery on the uterus.
Previous miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm birth or a baby with low birth weight.
Previous pre-eclampsia, heavy bleeding after delivery, or a difficult labour.
Many previous births.

In the current pregnancy

Twins or more.
Bleeding during pregnancy, or a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia).
The baby lying in an unusual position near term, such as breech.
The baby growing too slowly, or too much or too little fluid around the baby.
Pregnancy after fertility treatment such as IVF, which more often involves twins or older mothers.

Warning signs: get help straight away

Go to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance (108 in most states; 102 is used for free maternity transport in many states) if you notice:

Bleeding from the vagina at any stage of pregnancy.
A severe headache, blurred vision or swelling of the face and hands.
Fits or loss of consciousness.
Fever, or foul-smelling discharge.
Severe pain in the abdomen.
The baby moving much less than usual, or not at all, later in pregnancy.
Leaking fluid from the vagina before labour.
Difficulty breathing, or a fast heartbeat at rest.

Do not wait for the next scheduled check-up if any of these happen.

What extra care usually involves

If a pregnancy is classed as high risk, care may include more frequent check-ups, extra blood tests or ultrasound scans, blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring, medicines such as iron, calcium or treatment for a specific condition, and advice to deliver in a hospital with an operating theatre, blood bank and newborn care. The details depend entirely on the condition, so they should be agreed with your doctor.

Free services you are entitled to

PMSMA: free check-up by a doctor on the 9th of each month at designated government facilities.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): free delivery, including caesarean section, with free medicines, tests, food and transport for pregnant women in public health facilities.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: eligible families can use their card for cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals. See our guide to checking which hospitals in Raipur accept the Ayushman card.

Questions to ask at your check-up

Is my pregnancy considered high risk, and why?
Which tests do I need, and how often?
Which warning signs should send me to hospital?
Where should I plan to deliver, and how do I get there in an emergency?

Frequently asked questions

What makes a pregnancy high risk?

Factors such as the mother's age, existing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or anaemia, problems in previous pregnancies, or issues in the current pregnancy such as twins or bleeding. Your doctor decides based on your history and tests.

Is age 35 a high-risk pregnancy?

Pregnancy after about 35 is commonly treated as a higher-risk factor, but many women over 35 have healthy pregnancies with regular care.

Where can I get a free antenatal check-up in India?

Under PMSMA, government health facilities offer a free check-up by a doctor on the 9th of every month. Sub-centres and primary health centres also offer routine antenatal care.

Can a high-risk pregnancy have a normal delivery?

Often, yes. The mode of delivery depends on the specific condition and how the pregnancy progresses, and should be decided with your doctor.