High Risk Pregnancy Factors

August 6, 2007

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Preparing for the arrival of a new baby is more than designing the nursery. For some women, their pregnancy can bring with it a higher than normal chance of complications. Here are some of the factors that can put your pregnancy in the high risk category.

A pregnancy is considered ‘high risk’ if conditions cause potential danger to the mother, the fetus, or both of them. These factors can be introduced through the mother or the baby. If they are introduced through the mother, monitoring and treatment are warranted.

There are physical factors that contribute to a woman’s risk for complications. Women who are over thirty-five have a greater chance of fetal complications than younger women. Obesity plays a part as well. Obese women are at greater risk for hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, all of which can affect the fetus during pregnancy. A height less than five feet is also a sign of possible pregnancy complications.

Pre-existing illnesses pose a high risk to pregnant women. Chronic conditions like Chrohn’s disease, sickle cell anemia, kidney disease, autoimmune disease, and STD’s need to be disclosed to the obstetrician. Certain disease processes can still be treated during pregnancy with no adverse reactions to the developing fetus. But, there are some conditions where the medications needed to treat are dangerous to the fetus.

Problems with fetal development can pose risks to the pregnancy. Women who get pregnant at a later age are at increased risk for birth defects. Constant monitoring and testing can reveal problems with the baby’s development. In these cases, the progress of the pregnancy is closely monitored for changes that could lead to fetal death.

The world of medicine has developed the technology to treat some fetal defects in utero. The surgery is delicate and dangerous, but comes with the hope of saving the life of the unborn child. Heart defects have been corrected through such surgeries with the result being a healthy live birth.

A visit to an obstetrician before getting pregnant allows prospective parents to ask questions. An examination and thorough medical history can reveal if your pregnancy qualifies as being “high risk”. The doctor can advise if pregnancy is a wise choice at that moment. They may suggest ways to reduce your risk before deciding to get pregnant.

If you suspect that you may exhibit a risk factor that could cause complications during pregnancy, check with your doctor. Those listed above are a few of the more common ones. If you are already pregnant, consult your physician about monitoring and possible treatment to ensure the health of you and your baby.

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Posted by admin | Filed Under Pregnancy 

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