High Risk Pregnancy

Up to ten percent of all pregnancies are considered high risk pregnancies. In other words, the health of the mother or child may be at risked due to any number of factors. Among the factors that may qualify a pregnancy as high risk are:

• Blood disorders
• Diabetes
• Kidney Disease
• Preelcampsia and eclampsia
• Clotting disorders
• Placenta problems
• Preterm labor
• Multiple fetuses
• Mother is over 35-years-old
• High blood pressure
• Fetus abnormalities
• Mother who smokes

Common Causes of High Risk Pregnancy

The most common among these qualifying factors are hypertension and pregnancy induced hypertension, also called in preeclampsia/eclampsia, gestational diabetes, infections, preterm labor and birth and blood clots.

Hypertension in Pregnancy and Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)

(Preeclampsia and eclampsia) are conditions in which the mother develops high blood pressure, excessive swelling, and high amounts of protein in the urine. Hyptertension can exist before pregnancy, and women are usually on medications to keep their blood pressure in a normal range. PIH develops later in the pregnancy, and did not exist before the pregnancy developed. Your OB provider will watch your blood pressure and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. You can help avoid these problems through a healhty high protein and high fiber diet, drinking lots of water and decreasing stress during your pregnacy. If these conditions develop and get serious, your OB provider might will encourage you to have your baby early. Once you have your baby, these conditions usually go away.

If PIH diagnosed, many women are put on bed rest until their expected birthing dates. In more severe cases, a early birth might be recommended to assure the safety of both the mother and child.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is another condition that can develop during pregnancy. Increased sugar levels in the blood, and excessive insulin can result in very large babies and higher blood sugar levels. Women who are at higher risk of developing GDM include: At risk would be: Women who develop gestational diabetes during previous pregnancies, or Women who weigh over 200 # Women who have had > 9 # babies Women with PCOS Women with a family history of diabetes

Over 50 percent of women who have GDM can develop diabetes later in their pregnancy,and need to be tested after their babies birth for Type II Diabetes. Careful attention to diet and exercise can help prevent the development of Type II Diabetes.

Common Infections in Pregnancy

Common infections, such as a cold, may not present any significant risk to a pregnant woman or her fetus, but other infections, such as Parvo B19, CMV, and toxoplasmosis can affect the development of the fetus and give you a high risk pregnancy. This is why it is important for pregnant women to avoid the following:

• Eating raw meat or fish
• Drinking unpasteurized drinks
• Eating soft, unpasteurized cheeses
• Changing cat litter
• Gardening without gloves
• Respiratory infections

Blood Clots

Blood clots during pregnancy can create life-threatening conditions for both the mother and fetus. Blood clots move through blood vessels and can end up in the lungs. If this happens, the life of both mother and the fetus can be endangered. Family or personal history can be indicators of a woman’s chance of a high-risk pregnancy due to blood clotting issues. Symptoms of blood clotting problems include pain or swelling in the legs, shortness of breath, or chest pains.

Preterm Labor

Preterm labor is when your baby is trying to be born before it has completed its development. A baby born before 37 weeks is considered preterm. Lung maturity is a major concern with a preterm birth, but feeding problems and neurological problems can develop if a baby is born too early. There are many things you can do to prevent preterm birth. Cutting back on your activities, decreasing stress, eating a healthy diet, avoding smoking, infections and other risky behaviors. There are screening tools that can detect possible preterm birth that your OB provider might suggest. There are also medications and treatments that can help prevent preterm birth.

All of the above issues can be discussed with your OB care provider, should they appear in your pregnancy.

How to Determine if your Pregnancy is High Risk:

The best way to determine if your pregnancy is high risk is to schedule an appointment with your OB provider. Your medical provider will ask questions about your personal and family history, and run a series of tests over the course of your pregnancy to ensure you and your baby have the best possible chance at a healthy birth. Remember, conditions creating a high risk pregnancy can develop any time over the course of your pregnancy. Follow up visits with your health care provider are essential to making sure you and your child remain healthy.

In Conclusion:

If you receive a high risk diagnosis, this does not necessarily mean you will lose your baby or the baby will be born with health problems. More than ninety percent of all high risk pregnancies result in the birth of healthy children. What a high risk pregnancy diagnosis does means it is even more important that you adhere to the advice of your OB provider and adhere to a schedule of regular obstetric exams throughout your entire pregnancy. The precautions you take today may mean a world of difference.

• Natural Ways to Induce Labor
• How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test
• How to Conceive a Boy
• How to Conceive a Girl
• Early Pregnancy Symptoms

• Ways to Manage High Risk Pregnancy
• High Risk Pregnancy and Lupus
• Getting Fired Because of High Risk Pregnancy
• Teenagers and High Risk Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Related Problems

• Maternity Workout Clothes
• Hip Maternity Clothes for Cheap
• Artistic Maternity Photos
• Teen Pregnancy Quiz
• Pregnancy Gender Quiz