What Are Common Reasons for Risking Out of Care? Understanding When Higher-Level Support Is Needed
At Austin Area Birthing Center, we believe that pregnancy and birth are powerful, transformative experiences. With the right support, most pregnancies can unfold beautifully in an out-of-hospital setting.
But part of our commitment to safe, loving care means knowing when to transition to a higher level of medical support. This is something we call “risking out of care.” It’s never about fear, it’s about safety, wisdom, and doing what’s best for you and your baby.
Let’s walk through what “risking out” means and some of the most common reasons it may happen.
What Does It Mean to ‘Risk Out’?
We screen clients to confirm they are low-risk before offering them care here. We review charts before acceptance to check age, general health status, and chronic conditions.
Risking out means that, based on your health or circumstances, continuing care in a birth center may no longer be the safest option for you or your baby. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It doesn’t mean your birth won’t be beautiful. It simply means your journey may need more medical oversight than we can provide in a birth center setting.
In many cases, we continue to support families emotionally and through postpartum care, even after a transfer.
Potential reasons for risking out of care?
These conditions may require continuous monitoring, medications, or emergency resources that are more accessible in a hospital setting. This is not an exhaustive list as it is very individual to each person.
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
- Chronic hypertension
- Insulin-dependent diabetes
- Heart or kidney disease
- Certain autoimmune conditions
Pregnancy-Related Complications
- Preeclampsia or gestational hypertension
- Gestational diabetes not managed by diet/lifestyle
- Placenta previa or placental abruption
- Severe anemia or other blood disorders
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- Multiple Gestation (Twins or More)
Labor & Birth Considerations
- Breech position at term
- Preterm labor (before 37 weeks)
- Postdates beyond 42 weeks
Risking out doesn’t mean your birth plan is over, it just means it’s evolving. Our job as your care team is to make sure your journey is safe, informed, and supported from beginning to end. That means knowing when to walk with you into a hospital setting if that’s what’s needed, and continuing to offer our care in whatever way we can.
Whether you stay with us through birth or transition to a hospital, you’re never alone. You’re always part of our community, and we’re here to lift you up every step of the way.
If you have questions about your eligibility for birth center care, or if you’ve been told you’re high-risk and want a second opinion, we’d love to chat. We’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions about your pregnancy and birth.