Risk Factors for High-Risk Pregnancy
Medical conditions present before conception result in high-risk pregnancy. Every pregnancy carries some risk in one way or another. Prenatal care helps to reduce those risks. The cause factors of high-risk pregnancies include:
Maternal age: Women under the age of 20 show severe complications during pregnancy. Teenage mothers tend to deliver prematurely and suffer from preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is the condition of hypertension and the presence of protein in urine during gestation or after delivery. The underdeveloped pelvis is another risk factor linked with young age. Teenage mother’s body is growing and continuously changing. An underdeveloped pelvis gives rise to childbirth difficulties. Advanced maternal age also causes high-risk pregnancies. Women of age 35 and above are prone to maternal health problems, miscarriage, and gestational diabetes. The women of this age group experience a decline in their fertility level.
Reproductive abnormalities such as the defective structure of the cervix, placenta, or uterus can lead to abnormal positioning of the fetus. These problems increase the chances of high-risk conceptions.
Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, illegal drug usage, and cigarette smoking also contribute to the probability of complicated pregnancies.
Multiple gestations: Women carrying twins, triplets, or more are susceptible to increased risk of pregnancy. Twins and triplets are predominantly delivered through cesarean section and are smaller in size. Multiple pregnancies often increase the risk of premature birth.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension, thyroid problems, diabetes, kidney disease, uterine fibroids, and polycystic ovarian syndrome form the predominant factor behind high-risk pregnancies. Women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome have higher chances of premature delivery, preeclampsia, and miscarriage. A cesarean delivery might be required when uterine fibroids often block the birth canal. Congenital abnormalities can arise from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
A history of complicated pregnancies such as multiple miscarriages, pre-term labor, cesarean section, or a child with congenital abnormalities is a risk factor for high-risk pregnancies.
Managing a High-Risk Pregnancy
Performing Sonography
One should refer to a perinatologist for proper guidance on complicated pregnancies. A new treatment plan or diet method will be advised, depending on the circumstances. Correct prenatal care and guidance help to overcome the complications. It includes:
400 mg to 800 mg of folic acid supplements, dietary supplements, and other prescription drugs should be taken strictly as per the doctor’s prescription note helps to overcome the high-risk pregnancy.
Seek additional prenatal appointments, monitoring, or ultrasounds. Targeted ultrasound helps to detect abnormal development of the fetus. An ultrasound for cervical length helps to determine the risk of pre-term labor.
Avoid risky lifestyle routines such as alcohol consumption, drugs, and smoking, exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals. Use pregnancy-friendly cosmetics and skincare commodities.
A biophysical profile is a prenatal ultrasound test used to check fetal well-being. It is a stress-free test to monitor the fetal heart rate. However, invasive genetic screening tests carry a small risk of pregnancy loss.
