High-Risk Tests Performed During Pregnancy In addition to the
routine history, the doctor will check for any unusual or
serious medical conditions that the patient may have or that
could be genetically related. For example, if you have a history
of diabetes, sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis, blood clots, high
blood pressure, previous abdominal or surgical history, or
anything that might show up as a warning signal, your doctor
will be paying closer attention to these areas. Ultrasound can
be a routine test, but it can also be a high risk test when the
doctor is evaluating a specific high-risk issue, such as pre-
eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, placenta previa, and
so forth. Sometimes, diabetic patients will have cardiac
anomalies affecting their fetus, and this can also be monitored
with ultrasound. You'll find lots of controversy among doctors
about the frequency of doing a routine pelvic or obstetrical
ultrasound. Many women seem to take it for granted and would be
happy to have one at every visi