All Posts tagged What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?

No couple wants to hear the term “high-risk” associated with their pregnancy. An OBGYN may tell either first-time moms or couples expanding their families that their pregnancy is high-risk for a variety of reasons, but it doesn’t mean that without proper care and close collaboration with your OBGYN that you can’t deliver a full-term, healthy and beautiful baby. Whether you just found out you are pregnant, or you are hoping to become pregnant, it’s critical to understand the factors that may make a pregnancy high-risk.

The term “high-risk” may be used to describe any pregnancy in which there are potential complications that could impact either the mother, or the baby, or both. Factors that could result in a high-risk pregnancy include:

• Preexisting Conditions. If you are managing a chronic condition before you become pregnant, your OBGYN will want to monitor your pregnancy closely. Such conditions include high blood pressure; lung, kidney, or heart problems; diabetes; autoimmune disease; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or chronic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Maternal Age. Women under 17 or over 35 are at a higher risk of a complication, making any pregnancy high-risk. After age 40, women face a higher risk of miscarriage or giving birth to a child with genetic defects.
• Previous Pregnancy Complications. Women who have experienced complications with a previous pregnancy, or have had a miscarriage, are at a higher risk for future complications.
• Family History. If you have a family history of genetic disorders, your baby could be at higher risk of also being born with an inherited medical condition, such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, or Huntington’s Disease.
• Medical Complications During Pregnancy. Your pregnancy may become high-risk if you develop a medical condition such as preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure) or gestational diabetes (a condition in which women develop high blood glucose levels during pregnancy).
• Fetal Development Problems. Babies that develop with a minor or major structural problem are considered high-risk. If there is a history of fetal development issues in your family, you may be at a higher risk of experiencing an issue with your baby.
• Multiple Births. The conception of twins, triplets, quadruplets, and more multiples has increased as more couples are utilizing infertility treatments to become pregnant. Carrying multiples increases the risk of premature labor, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
• Premature Labor. Even after several months of a seemingly healthy pregnancy, premature labor can put you and your baby in a high-risk scenario. A premature labor is considered one that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Women at a higher risk of premature labor include those with a shortened cervix or who have experienced previous preterm births.
• Placental Previa. A pregnancy condition in which the placenta covers the cervix and can cause bleeding, particularly during contractions. It may require a cesarean section to reduce bleeding risks to mother and baby.

A high-risk pregnancy doesn’t have to mean dire consequences. Whether you know going into your pregnancy that you will be at higher risk, or a pregnancy complication develops unexpectedly, the best thing you can do is work closely with your OBGYN and follow the treatment plan that he or she prescribes to keep both you and your baby safe throughout your pregnancy.