High risk pregnancy affects both the mother and baby. It means that they are at a higher risk of getting health issues before, after, and during delivery. It’s essential to receive early maternal and prenatal care for these pregnancies.
High risk pregnancies doesn’t necessarily mean that the pregnancy will be more challenging than low risk pregnancies. However, sometimes it does mean that you will need to consult a specialist. You must also undergo more monitoring than someone with a low risk pregnancy.
Close monitoring will help in reducing the complications. Let’s see what are the other factors that someone needs to know if having high risk pregnancies.
Definition High Risk Pregnancy
What is high risk pregnancy? High risk pregnancies are any pregnancy that carries increased risks. It includes the pregnant woman, fetus, or both. Any person with high risk pregnancies might need extra medical care. This also helps to reduce the possibility of complications.
However, it doesn’t mean that both the woman and the fetus will have health issues. There are many women who experience healthy pregnancies despite having special health needs leading up to the birth.
It’s common to panic when hearing that your pregnancy is at a higher risk. But, it doesn’t mean that your pregnancy will be difficult. It may mean that your doctor will monitor you more closely. There are many people who have high risk pregnancies and have healthy babies. A routine prenatal care can ensure that your pregnancy is safe even if it is at higher risk.
What Makes a Pregnancy High Risk?
A high-risk pregnancy means that you have more than average risk of pregnancy complications. There are some pregnancies which begin as high risk. However, there are some which become risky at some point during pregnancy.
High risk pregnancy reasons or factors include the following:
Age & Lifestyle Factors
Pregnancy risks are higher for pregnant people who are younger than 20 years or who are older than 35 years. Some lifestyle factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, consuming drugs, or other tobacco products.
Health issues
Some medical conditions in a pregnant person can raise pregnancy risks, including:
- Obesity
- Epilepsy
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Poorly controlled asthma
- Blood or heart disorders
Pregnancy with Multiples
There is a higher risk to a pregnant woman and the fetuses when a pregnancy includes more than a single fetus. The chances are higher in people who have gone through infertility treatments to conceive. Those treatments are also called ART. One common type of ART is IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).
Pregnancy Complications
Some health issues that develop during pregnancy can cause problems. Some examples include:
- Very low fetal growth.
- Unusual location of the placenta.
- Rh sensitization. This happens when a pregnant woman’s blood group is Rh negative and the blood group of the fetus is Rh positive.
Pregnancy History
Medical issues that happened during a previous pregnancy. The issues might also raise the risk of having the same issues again. Some examples include:
- Conditions during pregnancy related to high blood pressure, such as preeclampsia.
- Having a baby born with a genetic condition.
- Having a stillbirth or miscarriage.
- Giving birth at an early stage, called preterm delivery.
Note: It’s important to tell your doctor about any medical problems that you had during other pregnancies. You can also contact the best gynecologist, Dr. Rita Bakshi at RiSaa IVF.
Symptoms of High Risk Pregnancy
There are common symptoms of a high-risk pregnancy. These signs can indicate potential pregnancy complications or underlying health condition, which may include the following:
- Extreme fatigue.
- Abdominal pain that doesn’t go easily.
- Chest pain.
- Fainting or dizziness.
- Heart palpitations.
- The fetus’s movement slows or stops.
- Redness, pain, or swelling in the limbs or face.
- Trouble in breathing.
- Increased vaginal discharge or bleeding.
- Vomiting and nausea that is worse than the usual morning sickness.
- Extreme headache that doesn’t go away or gets worse.
Note: Talk to your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms during pregnancy, regardless of if your pregnancy is low risk or high risk.
Risks of Pregnancy
A high-risk pregnancy can be risky for the pregnant person or fetus. Some of the most common complications include the following:
- Preeclampsia-spectrum disorders. It includes gestational hypertension, eclampsia, and preeclampsia.
- Cesarean delivery.
- Preterm delivery.
- Excessive bleeding during delivery and labor, or after birth.
- Low birth weight.
- Intensive care unit (ICU) admission for the woman.
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects, meaning problems with the development of a baby’s organs.
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission for your baby.
- Miscarriage.
- Stillbirth.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about your risks for these complications. Ask them any additional questions you have. With proper monitoring, you and your doctor may be able to reduce your risk of having complications.
Diagnosis of High Risk Pregnancy
Getting thorough and early prenatal care at the earliest of your pregnancy is important. It’s the best way to determine and manage a high-risk pregnancy. Also, ensure that your doctor knows about your past pregnancies and health history. If you do have a chance of high-risk pregnancy, you might need special care.
Tests to monitor your and the fetus’s health during pregnancy may include the following:
- Ultrasound: It uses sound waves to create images of the fetus. It helps to ensure that the fetus is developing in a healthy and appropriate way. Usually, people with high risk pregnancies have more frequent ultrasounds.
- Urine and Blood tests: It will help to check your health and fetus’s risk for any genetic conditions.
- Other Ultrasounds and Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Tests: This helps to check the overall health of the placenta and fetus. It is also called a biophysical profile and non-stress test.
Treatment of High Risk Pregnancy
High risk pregnancy management will depend on your specific risk profile. Your treatment may include the following:
- Medication: Medications can help manage conditions like hypertension and gestational diabetes.
- Regular check-ups: Regular check-ups with your doctor allow for close monitoring of the pregnancy.
- Observing the Fetal movement: Monitoring the fetal movement closely will help you to report any concerns to your doctor.
- Medical intervention: If necessary, your doctor may recommend C-section or labor induction.
How to prevent a high-risk pregnancy?
A person can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications by doing the following:
- Identifying potential health risks before getting or trying to get pregnant.
- Avoiding beverages that contain alcohol.
- Avoid any nonprescription medications or drugs.
- Managing any preexisting health conditions you might have.
- Maintaining a body weight that is healthy for you before pregnancy.
- Practicing safe sex to help reduce your risk for STIs.
- Ensure any long-term medications are safe to consume during pregnancy.
- Quit smoking.
Outlook
People with high risk pregnancies successfully deliver healthy babies with proper monitoring and care. However, they may face higher risks for future health issues. It includes postpartum depression, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, babies born from increased risk pregnancy may need specialized neonatal care.
Final Line
Hearing the words “high risk pregnancy” can be worrying. However, it doesn’t always mean you or your baby are in danger. Factors like existing health conditions or new challenges during pregnancy can make it high-risk. Stay calm and talk to your doctor for accurate information. Most high-risk pregnancies result in healthy babies.
Special care may include extra ultrasounds, frequent checkups, and treatments. It will help to keep you and your baby safe. Regular prenatal care is also essential. Stay in close contact with your healthcare team, ask questions, and also follow their advice to reduce complications and ensure a healthy pregnancy.