What is a high risk pregnancy?

Every pregnancy can have some risks, but there are more dangers to your health and the health of your baby with a high risk pregnancy. The causes can be conditions you already have or conditions you develop. They also include being pregnant with more than one baby, previous problem pregnancies, or being over age 35.

If you have a chronic condition, you should talk to your obstetrician about how to minimize your risk before you get pregnant. Once you are pregnant, you may need a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor your pregnancy. Examples of common conditions that can complicate a pregnancy include:

• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Kidney Problems
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Diabetes
• Cancer

Other conditions, such as gestational diabetes, can happen during your pregnancy. Good prenatal care can help detect and treat these conditions.

Many women seek consultation from or care by a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) sub-specialist because they are considered to be a “high risk” pregnancy. MFM sup-specialists are complementary to obstetricians in providing consultations, co-management or direct care for high risk patients before and during pregnancy.  

 What is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Sub-Specialist?

A Maternal-Fetal Medicine sub-specialist (MFM) is an individual who has completed two to three years of Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship after completing four years of Obstetrics and Gynecology residency upon graduation from Medical School. Fellowship training provides additional education and practical experience to gain special competence in various obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy. By virtue of this training and technical proficiency, the MFM sub-specialist provides care or consultation for both mother and baby in a high-risk pregnancy.

Dr. Antonio González- Ruíz, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Sub-specialist


Brookwood Medical Center is pleased to have Dr. Antonio González- Ruíz join the medical staff as a Maternal-Fetal Medicine sub-specialist. Dr. González is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology with a sub-specialty in maternal-fetal medicine. He has 20 years of experience in this specialty. He comes to Brookwood from The Toledo Hospital where he served as the Director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Services department and Women’s Obstetrical Services. He also served as coordinator of the Perinatal Outreach Program.  Dr. González attended medical school at the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic. He did his internship and residency at the Mayaguez Medical Center in Puerto Rico and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Tennessee, Memphis.

If you think you may be a candidate for high risk pregnancy, please talk to your health care provider. He or she can then refer you to our MFM sub-specialist for consultative high risk pregnancy care.

If you are in need of a health care provider, please use our web based Physician Finder  or call 205-877-8800 for a physician referral.

 Patient Care areas for the High Risk Patient

In addition to Dr. Gonzalez’s expertise in the field of maternal-fetal medicine, Brookwood Women’s Medical Center offers expectant mothers specialized services for the care of high risk pregnancies. Before during and after labor, we’ll help you meet the biggest obstacles and do everything we can to make your entire pregnancy an experience you’ll cherish.

In 1988, we built Alabama’s first hospital for women. We recognized that women’s health care needs change throughout their lives. Our facility offers an array of services dedicated to our high risk patients including perinatal, labor and delivery, and neonatal intensive care.

High Risk Patient Care Unit (Perinatal)
Brookwood offers a unit dedicated to the care of the expectant mother who must be hospitalized during her high-risk pregnancy. The unit is fully staffed around the clock with nurses that have specialized training in caring for high risk obstetric patients and are cross trained in labor and delivery. Private patient rooms are equipped with cable television and have Wi-Fi access.

Labor and Delivery
Spacious, private suites provide a soothing and comfortable environment for labor and delivery. One-on-one nursing care, advanced fetal monitoring capabilities and 24-hour anesthesia coverage help promote quality care for the high risk mother and baby. Each suite features a flat screen television, private bathroom and shower, seating for family and Wi-fi access.

To accommodate caesarean section births, three dedicated surgery suites are located within Labor and Delivery. In addition to the attending obstetrician, a team of nurses, an anesthesiologist and neonatal intensive care unit staff are present at every caesarean section delivery.

BabyCam Part of Interactive Caesarean Birth
Patients undergoing Caesarean deliveries now have a new way to stay connected to their babies. Brookwood Medical Center has installed cameras and high-resolution monitors in each of its three Caesarean delivery rooms. The Brookwood “BabyCam” is part of the hospital's way to make the Caesarian birth experience more family-oriented.

Mothers having Caesarean deliveries have traditionally missed important bonding moments with their child right after birth. Now the mother can share in the first 15 to 20 minutes of her baby’s life. After the Caesarean birth, the baby is warmed and evaluated by pediatric staff, thus separating the new mother from her baby while the Caesarean procedure is completed. Now, the mother can watch her baby on a monitor positioned next to her head, as the newborn is examined, measured, and weighed.

The Brookwood BabyCam may also encourage a more positive physical response. Patients can be less anxious and more comfortable during the procedure when they are not immediately separated from their baby.

This is an innovative step forward in the birth experience for mothers having a Caesarean delivery. Our goal is the keep the mother and infant connected as much as possible in the early minutes after birth.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Adjacent to Labor and Delivery is Brookwood’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU provides 24-hour care to newborns with special needs. The NICU is staffed with board certified neonatologists, neonatal respiratory therapists and registered nurses that provide care to infants requiring intensive care and observation. Our staff is certified in infant CPR, drug intervention, and advanced life support. Through our neonatal transport program, other hospitals in the state transfer their NICU babies to us for care. 

Mother –Baby Unit (Post-partum)
The mother-baby unit is for patients after delivery. Our private rooms and suites provide a home-like environment with a focus on mom and new baby care. Nurses are specially trained to teach new mothers about the care of their newborns. Lactation consultants are available to help moms learn breastfeeding techniques. And there is a fully staffed well-baby nursery.

The well-baby nursery is an important piece of our care at Brookwood. We know that new moms need their rest. They can rest easy, knowing that their baby is being well cared for by a nursing staff who specializes in newborn care.

The family-centered unit offers amenities that include: 

• Flat screen television
• Personal Refrigerator
• Private Bathroom
• Wi-fi Access
• Dining on Call
• Recliner and sleeper sofa

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