Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
This chapter covers ICD-10-CM codes in the range O00-O9A for pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. Covers conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium including complications of pregnancy and delivery.
Chapter Overview
Key Statistics
- •Contains 9 categories and 67 total codes
- •Includes 23 billable codes and 44 non-billable codes
- •Chapter range: O00-O9A
Clinical Relevance
Essential for obstetric care covering pregnancy complications, delivery, and postpartum conditions. Critical for maternal-fetal medicine.
Documentation Requirements
Requires gestational age, trimester, fetal presentation, and delivery method. Complications need severity and timing documentation.
Special Considerations
Outcome of delivery codes required for delivery encounters. Multiple gestations need individual fetal documentation.
Categories in this Chapter
Pregnancy with abortive outcome
Supervision of high risk pregnancy
Edema, proteinuria and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy
Maternal care related to the fetus and amniotic cavity and possible delivery problems
Complications of labor and delivery
Encounter for delivery
Complications predominantly related to the puerperium
Other obstetric conditions, not elsewhere classified
Chapter-Specific Coding Guidelines
General Guidelines for Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium:
- Follow standard ICD-10-CM coding principles for pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- Document the most specific diagnosis supported by the medical record
- Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, or associated conditions
- Ensure proper sequencing based on the reason for the encounter
Documentation Requirements:
- •Specific condition or disease process
- •Acute versus chronic status when applicable
- •Severity or stage when documented
- •Associated symptoms or complications
- •Treatment response and current status
Sequencing Rules:
- Principal diagnosis should reflect the main reason for the encounter
- Sequence complications according to treatment focus
- Use appropriate combination codes when available
- Follow chapter-specific sequencing guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓For conditions classified in the O00-O9A range
- ✓When the condition is the primary focus of care
- ✓During active treatment or monitoring
- ✓For documented complications of the condition
When NOT to Use:
- ✗For personal history without current manifestations
- ✗During screening encounters without findings
- ✗For conditions better classified elsewhere
- ✗When condition is ruled out or suspected only
Special Considerations:
- ⚠Review chapter-specific coding guidelines
- ⚠Consider combination codes before multiple codes
- ⚠Document functional impact when relevant
- ⚠Use external cause codes when applicable
Version Updates
The 2025 ICD-10-CM updates include refinements to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium coding for improved specificity and clinical relevance.
Recent Updates:
Enhanced Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium Specificity
Updated codes within O00-O9A for improved clinical documentation
Impact: Better alignment with clinical practice and quality reporting
Implementation Guidance:
- •Review all pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium coding practices
- •Update documentation templates as needed
- •Train coding staff on any new requirements
- •Implement quality checks for accuracy
Upcoming Changes:
- →Potential enhancements to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium codes in future updates
- →Continued alignment with clinical practice evolution
Related Resources
Key resources for pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium coding and clinical documentation.
Official Documentation:
Related Chapters:
Tools and References:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key considerations when coding pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium?
Focus on specific diagnosis documentation, proper sequencing, and use of additional codes for complications or manifestations related to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
How do I determine the most appropriate code within this chapter?
Review the medical documentation for the most specific diagnosis, check for combination codes, and follow the ICD-10-CM guidelines for this chapter.
When should I use additional codes?
Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, external causes, or other conditions that affect patient care during the encounter.