“Doctor, what makes a pregnancy high-risk?”
This is among the common queries that many couples ask when they visit us.
Having a high risk pregnancy or a medically complicated pregnancy means that extra care is a must to ensure safe health of both mother and the baby. Age, existing health conditions, lifestyle choices, or pregnancy complications can increase risks. While not all high-risk pregnancies lead to problems, proper monitoring and timely medical care make a huge difference.
Being aware of understanding the factors, warning signs and necessary precautions prepare you to deal with any ups and downs of a risky pregnancy.
Factors that contribute to a high risk pregnancy
- Maternal age: Getting pregnant when younger than 17 or above 35 years of age is considered a bit more prone to potential health complications.
- Medical history: Previous complications of recurrent miscarriages, critical pregnancy, or stillbirths can be major alarming factors.
- Daily habits: Not following proper nutrition, improper prenatal care, and any substance addictions can also lead to high-risk pregnancies.
- Genetic factors: Family history of genetic disorders or illnesses significantly influence pregnancy risk.
Other secondary factors that may collectively make a pregnancy risky
- High blood pressure and diabetes
- Autoimmune disorders
- Fibroids, PCOS and other reproductive organ related disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- PCOS
- Thyroid disease
- Blood clotting diseases
- Being obese
- Mental health conditions like clinical depression or severe anxiety
Signs and symptoms of complicated pregnancy
Following are the common symptoms of medically complex pregnancy which require timely medical intervention.
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Chest pain and dizziness
- Consistent fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Nauseous feeling and episodes of vomiting worse than morning sickness
- Stubborn headaches that don’t easily subside
- Redness, pain or swelling in limbs or face
- Difficulty in breathing at times
- Vaginal bleeding or more than normal vaginal discharge
Speak to your doctor to be safe and secure on your pregnancy journey
What are the major complications associated with high risk pregnancies?
A high-risk pregnancy without proper supervision of an expert doctor can lead to serious health problems for both you and your baby. This implies you may need extra care and monitoring to experience a safe pregnancy and delivery.
Some of the major complications related to high risk pregnancy:
- Problems related to high blood pressure: Conditions like preeclampsia and gestational hypertension can be dangerous.
- Premature birth: Infants born too early are more prone to health challenges
- Cesarean delivery: Some high-risk pregnancies require a cesarean birth
- Heavy bleeding: Severe blood loss may happen during or after delivery
- Birth defects – Issues with the heart, brain, or other organs can develop.
- NICU care for the baby – Some newborns need special medical support.
- ICU care for the mother – In serious cases, intensive care may be required.
If your pregnancy is high-risk, don’t skip your regular visits to the doctor. Discuss openly all your concerns and any added queries.
Diagnosing and monitoring high risk pregnancy
Timely and proper prenatal care is of utmost importance during pregnancy. It enables you to be aware of and manage critical pregnancies. Let your gynecologist know your history and previous pregnancies. Because if your pregnancy shows high-risk, it implies you should get special monitoring throughout the gestation period.
An array of tests allows the doctor to monitor the well being of the mother and the fetus. Blood and urine tests help in determining potential genetic risks. With ultrasounds, doctors monitor fetal development in high-risk pregnancies. In some cases, if needed, additional tests like biophysical profiles and nonstress tests assess placental and fetal health.
How to treat a high risk pregnancy
Managing a high-risk pregnancy means extra care to keep you and your baby safe. Your doctor may advise frequent checkups, added ultrasounds, and close tracking of your baby’s growth. You might also need to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or other doctors if you have existing health conditions. Tracking your blood pressure at home and adjusting medications may be part of your care plan.
Your doctor might advise an early delivery if any issues develop. To safeguard you and your unborn child, this may entail bringing on labor or planning a C-section earlier than anticipated. The best result can be achieved by keeping yourself informed and heeding your doctor’s recommendations. For those undergoing IVF or other fertility treatments, it is best to stick to the treatment plan created by your fertility specialist.
Is there any way to prevent high-risk pregnancy?
There is no sure-shot way to completely prevent high-risk pregnancy. However, the following things can minimize the risk of complicated pregnancy:
- Identify potential health problems before conceiving. Speak to your doctor regarding your own or family medical history
- Keep an optimum body weight that can support your healthy pregnancy
- Properly managing preexisting health problems that you may have
- Confirm with your doctor that the long-term medications are safe to consume during pregnancy
- Quit smoking
- Safe sex practices lower your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
You deserve extra care and compassion during pregnancy, if you’ve conceive via IVF treatment and are diagnosed with a complex pregnancy, consult experienced specialists.
Don’t get into the loop of neglect and negative emptions which may overpower your will. Simply make the well informed decision with the help of a specialist. To book an appointment log onto https://ferticity.com/