High-Risk Pregnancy
Having a baby is, for the most part, a natural procedure. Women who have carried a full-term pregnancy to term usually go into labor around the time of Baby delivery and have a healthy baby. After a few days in the hospital, they go home to start a new chapter in their lives with a growing family. However, not many pregnancies go without hiccups. Doctors classify certain pregnancies as high-risk pregnancies.
In High-risk pregnancies, a woman, a baby, or both are at risk due to possible problems. An expert needs to handle high-risk pregnancies to guarantee the best result for both the mother and baby.
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Everything You Need To Know About High-Risk Pregnancy
What is a High-risk Pregnancy?
High-risk pregnancies involve risk for a mother, baby or both. It is difficult to tell which pregnancies are high risk since there are no specific standards in place. Certain factors may increase the risk of a miscarriage for either the mother or the fetus.
These obstetric problems may occur in three types: before conception, during conception, and those affecting the developing fetus after the mother is pregnant.
When to See a Doctor?
You should visit a doctor if you have a pre-existing medical issue, developed a medical condition during pregnancy, or are experiencing difficulties after delivery. Specialist doctors that manage high-risk pregnancies are called perinatologists/maternal-fetal medicine experts.
A maternal-fetal medicine expert will work with a pediatric care team to manage your health during and after pregnancy.
Medical Conditions that can lead to High-risk Pregnancy
Some medical conditions before and during pregnancy can make it a high-risk pregnancy. However, not all women with these illnesses come at a risk. Some of these health problems are:
Diabetes
During pre-conception counseling your doctor asks you about any medical problems. If you have diabetes before pregnancy, you will require proper care, checkups and medications.
However, in some cases, diabetes occurs during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Here, your doctor will take care of your condition and prescribe medications. Moreover, he will monitor your baby’s development and well-being while also managing your health via dietary counseling, glucose monitoring, and potentially medicines.
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease marked by elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine, and edoema (swelling of the skin). Pre-eclampsia may be accompanied by liver or platelet problems in some women. If your condition is severe, your doctor may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine expert.
Pre-eclampsia can only be treated by giving birth to your child. In other words, this is a situation in which careful monitoring is required to strike a balance between the risks of maternal problems and the benefits of an early delivery.
If you’re expecting more than one child
your doctor will do extra ultrasounds to keep an eye on your progress. The expert in maternal-fetal medicine will provide recommendations on how and when to deliver your children. So long as everything is going well, you may keep seeing your Ob/Gyn or opt for multiple clinics if everything is good and without issues.
Hypertension
There may be an increased chance of complications if you have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant. Certain hypertension medicines are safe to use outside of pregnancy but severe when taken during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before taking any medicines.
Obesity
Obese women are more likely to suffer from gestational diabetes, hypertension, and pre-eclampsia. A woman’s weight is one of the few health problems that need to be addressed before pregnancy. For this reason, medical experts urge expectant mothers to make healthy lifestyle changes such as cutting down on sugar and fat intake, etc.
Multiples
Complications are more likely in pregnancies that include twins or higher-order multiples. Pre-eclampsia and premature labor are more common in women who have had multiple pregnancies. Familial abnormalities and growth issues are more common in twin pregnancies, particularly if the placenta is shared.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Some women may have an STD or develop it during pregnancy. Medical professionals who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine will take extra care of your unborn child. HIV drug regimens are so complicated, most women with HIV get care from maternal-fetal medicine experts.
When to See a Doctor?
You should visit a doctor if you have a pre-existing medical issue, developed a medical condition during pregnancy, or are experiencing difficulties after delivery. Specialist doctors that manage high-risk pregnancies are called perinatologists/maternal-fetal medicine experts.
A maternal-fetal medicine expert will work with a pediatric care team to manage your health during and after pregnancy.
Conclusion
Consult a perinatologist if your pregnancy is deemed high-risk. To provide the best possible care for you and your baby, he will collaborate with your other physicians, nurses, and other health care providers as needed.
If you have any such medical issues during pregnancy, consult a specialist. You can book an appointment to talk to our experts.