High-Risk Pregnancy Therapy

A High-Risk Pregnancy Is a Highly Medicalized Experience 

In our offices in Lower Manhattan, as well as in our virtual therapy offerings, we talk with women about all aspects of the extremely medicalized experience of high-risk pregnancy. A high-risk pregnancy can include:

Maternal:

Gestational diabetes 

High blood pressure

Thyroid condition 

Any maternal cardiac anomaly 

History of blood clots

Any type of known condition like Crohn’s disease

Sickle cell anemia

History of late miscarriage (after second trimester or preterm birth)

Most autoimmune disorders, including conditions such as certain antibodies that could attack fetal cells, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

History of gastric bypass surgery or gastric sleeve for weight loss

Physical handicaps such as paraplegic

Obesity

Fetal:

Any fetal cardiac anomaly 

Fetal development still compatible with life, such as cardiac as noted above, or other malformations that will make transition through birth critical (these are usually esophageal in location)

Spina bifida

Placental:

Location such as over the cervix

Extra amniotic layer that can create a rubber band-like effect and impair fetal growth

Placental blood clot

Placental window (literally a hole in the placenta)

Cord insertion limiting blood flow to baby: may be minor or severe

While increased medical intervention is appropriate, you likely have a range of thoughts and feelings about the medical procedures, frequent doctor’s appointments, and having to scale back activities like sex or exercise. 

We’re aware that you may not be able to come into our offices in Tribeca during a high-risk pregnancy. As with all our therapy offerings, we also provide remote therapy options via phone and video chat.

You Didn’t Get to Write the Script of How Your Pregnancy Would Go

To some degree with high-risk pregnancies, you just have to follow the medical advice, and it may feel as if you were robbed of some parts of your pregnancy. In therapy, we provide the opportunity to unpack the experience you had, as well as the one you wished you had.  

Bed Rest Can Be Isolating—You Need Connection

Whether you’re in a New York City apartment or being monitored in a hospital, you can’t socialize, work, or live in the way you used to during bed rest. This restricted new way of life can be isolating, which makes connection during bed rest extremely important. At Tribeca Maternity, we’ll talk about your experience of bed rest, and come up with a creative plan to get you through this time. We also help couples navigate bed rest, as well as the role it’s playing in the relationship.

Your Experience of High-Risk Pregnancy Doesn’t Go Away Once the Baby is Born

A potentially difficult experience with high-risk pregnancy doesn’t just disappear after the baby is born. At Tribeca Maternity, we understand that dealing with a high-risk pregnancy often means you may not be able to see us until afterward, and that’s okay. In therapy, we’ll unpack this experience in its aftermath, including: 

• What it brought up for you now that the baby is here
• How to readjust after being on bed rest for an extended time
• How to connect with your baby after the fear, frustration, or anxiety of the high-risk pregnancy
• What it means in your relationship with your partner