A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy in which there is an increased health risk to the pregnant woman, the fetus, or both. Certain health conditions and your age (over 35 or under 17 if pregnant) can make a pregnancy higher risk. These pregnancies require close monitoring to reduce the chance of complications. For more information visit the clinic of Dr. Ila Gupta the best gynecologist doctor in east delhi.
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
All pregnancies carry risks. The definition of a "high-risk" pregnancy is any pregnancy that poses increased health risks to the pregnant person, the fetus, or both. Those with high-risk pregnancies may need extra care before, during and after giving birth. This helps reduce the chances of complications.
However, having a high-risk pregnancy doesn't necessarily mean that you or your fetus will have problems. Many people experience a healthy pregnancy and a normal labor and delivery, despite special health needs.
How common is high-risk pregnancy?
About 50,000 people in the US experience serious pregnancy complications each year. Overall, black people are almost three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white people.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the causes of high risk pregnancy?
Factors that make a pregnancy high risk include:
Pre-existing health conditions.
Health conditions related to pregnancy.
Lifestyle factors (including smoking, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and exposure to certain toxins).
Age (more than 35 years or less than 17 years if pregnant).
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What are common medical risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy?
People with several pre-existing conditions are at increased health risk during pregnancy. Some of these conditions include:
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or multiple sclerosis (MS).
- COVID-19.
- diabetes.
- Fibroids.
- high blood pressure.
- HIV / AIDS.
- Kidney disease.
- Low body weight (BMI less than 18.5).
- Mental health disorders, such as depression.
- obesity.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Thyroid disease.
- Blood clotting disorders.
Pregnancy-related health conditions that may pose a risk to a pregnant person and fetus include:
- Birth defects or genetic conditions in the fetus.
- Poor growth in the fetus.
- gestational diabetes.
- Multiple pregnancies (pregnancies with more than one fetus, such as twins or triplets).
- Preeclampsia and Eclampsia.
- Previous preterm labor or birth, or other complications with previous pregnancies.
What are the signs and symptoms of a high-risk pregnancy?
If you experience any of the following symptoms during pregnancy, whether or not your pregnancy is considered high risk, talk to the best gynecologist doctor in east delhi:
- Stomach pain that doesn't go away.
- Pain in chest.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Excessive fatigue.
- Stallion or slowing of fetal movement.
- Fever over 100.4°F.
- heart palpitation.
- Nausea and vomiting that is worse than typical morning sickness.
- Severe headache that does not get better or gets worse.
- Swelling, redness or pain in your face or limbs.
- Thoughts of harming herself or the fetus.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Bleeding or discharge from the vagina.
At what age is pregnancy considered high risk?
People who get pregnant for the first time after the age of 35 have a high-risk pregnancy. Research suggests that they are more likely to have complications than younger people. These can include early pregnancy loss and pregnancy-related health conditions such as gestational diabetes. Contact the best gynecologist doctor in east delhi.
Young people under the age of 17 also have high-risk pregnancies because they may:
suffering from anemia.
Less likely to get complete antenatal care.
Higher chance of preterm labor or birth.
Unbeknownst to them, they have sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs and STIs).
What are the possible complications of a high-risk pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy can be life-threatening for the pregnant woman or the fetus. Serious complications may include:
Preeclampsia (high blood pressure from pregnancy).
Eclampsia (seizure from pregnancy).
preterm delivery.
Cesarean delivery (C-section).
Excessive bleeding during labor and delivery or after birth.
low or high birth weight.
Birth defect.
Problems with fetal brain development.
Admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for your baby.
Admission to the Intensive Care Unit for you.
Miscarriage.
Stillbirth.
diagnosis and testing
How is a high-risk pregnancy diagnosed and monitored?
Getting early and thorough prenatal care is important. This is the best way to detect and diagnose a high-risk pregnancy. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about your health history and previous pregnancies. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may need special monitoring from the best gynecologist doctor in east delhi
Tests to monitor your health and the health of the fetus may include:
Blood and urine tests to check for genetic conditions or certain congenital conditions (birth defects).
Ultrasonography, which uses sound waves to create images of the fetus to check for congenital conditions.