Why Your Pregnancy May Be Considered High Risk
Pregnancy is a significant period in a woman's life, filled with excitement and anticipation. However, for some, this journey may come with additional concerns and challenges. A pregnancy is deemed high-risk when there are potential complications that could affect the mother, the baby, or both.
Understanding these potential complications and who can be affected by them, can help in managing the pregnancy more effectively and ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Understanding reasons for high-risk pregnancies
High-risk pregnancy conditions are more common than you may think. The reasons for high-risk pregnancy conditions can be down to a number of factors, with many of them treatable, allowing the expectant mother to be more confident in her pregnancy. Here are some of the reasons a pregnancy would be deemed as high-risk, giving you an understanding of why high-risk pregnancies occur in the first place:
Maternal age: Women from the age of 40yrs are at higher risk for complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and chromosomal abnormalities. Particularly if this is their first pregnancy.
Pre-existing health conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, hypertension, thyroid disorders, or autoimmune diseases can complicate pregnancies. Here is some useful information about high blood pressure during pregnancy and the treatment that is available.
Multiple pregnancies: Carrying twins, triplets, or more increases the risk of preterm labour, preeclampsia, and other complications.
Pregnancy-related issues: Previous preterm births, recurrent or second-trimester miscarriages, or pregnancies with complications can elevate risk in subsequent pregnancies.
Lifestyle factors: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use can severely impact the health of both mothers and babies.
Infections: Certain infections during pregnancy, like Hepatitis, HIV, or syphilis, can cause severe health issues for the developing baby.
Placental issues: Problems with the placenta, such as placental-mediated growth restriction, placenta previa or placental abruption, can pose significant risks.
Neonatal factors: Neonatal refers to factors affecting a newborn baby. During a high-risk pregnancy, potential neonatal conditions are explored and factored into the management.
Management of high-risk pregnancies
Effective management of high-risk pregnancies involves a comprehensive and proactive approach. These are some of the actions you can take to safely navigate through a high-risk pregnancy:
Regular antenatal visits: Increased frequency of antenatal visits helps in close monitoring and timely intervention if complications arise. Obstetricians are specialists who can determine how regularly your pregnancy needs to be monitored.
Specialised care: Consulting with a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist who is trained to handle high-risk pregnancies can provide additional support and expertise.
Lifestyle modifications: Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful substances, can improve outcomes.
Medications and treatments: Following prescribed treatments and medications to manage existing health conditions is crucial.
Monitoring and testing: Regular ultrasounds, blood tests, blood pressure checks, and other diagnostic procedures help monitor the baby's development and the mother’s health closely.
Role of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) and obstetric care
Some expectant mothers often have worries and questions about pre-existing medical conditions, blood clots, late miscarriages, neonatal factors, and advanced-age pregnancies. Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists play a pivotal role in managing these worries during high-risk pregnancies. They collaborate with Obstetricians and midwives to provide comprehensive care tailored to the specific needs of the mother and baby. MFM specialists offer advanced diagnostic testing, detailed fetal monitoring, and specialised treatments that are critical in managing complex pregnancies.
As MFM specialists, we want expectant mothers, partners, and families to feel safe and at ease during their pregnancy, and we do this with our full wrap-around obstetric care.
Being informed about what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy and the reasons behind it can empower expectant mothers to take proactive steps in managing their health and their baby's well-being. With the right care, support from healthcare providers, and lifestyle adjustments, many women with high-risk pregnancies still experience positive outcomes and enjoy the journey of bringing new life into the world.
Find out more about our MFM specialists at Wellington Obstetrics and how we navigate high-risk pregnancies.
We're here to support you through every step of this incredible journey. Find out more about our practitioners here.