The following circumstances are used to determine which mothers may be at high-risk for complications in pregnancy:
- Maternal age of 35 or older
- Previous child with chromosomal abnormality
- Previous child with structural birth defect
- Family history of neural tube defects
- Abnormal maternal serum screen
- Abnormality or suspected abnormality on ultrasound exam
- Recurrent unexplained pregnancy loss
- Family history of genetic or metabolic disease