A pregnancy is considered high-risk when there are potential complications that could affect the mother, the baby, or both. High-risk pregnancies require management by a specialist to help ensure the best outcome.
Your pregnancy can be classified as high risk due to one or more of the following reasons.
Age: One of the most common reasons for a high-risk pregnancy is the age of the mother-to-be. Women aged below 17 or over 35 years of age are at greater risk of complications than those between their late teens and early 30s. The risk of miscarriage and genetic defects further increases after age 40.
Pre existing medical conditions: If you suffer from high blood pressure, lung/ kidney or heart problems, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, sexually transmitted diseases or chronic infections like HIV, these could all present risks for the mother and/or her unborn baby.
History of miscarriage: Problems with a previous pregnancy or pregnancies, or a family history of genetic disorders are also risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy.
If you have a medical condition, it’s important to consult your doctor before you decide to become pregnant. Your doctor may run tests, adjust medications, or advise you of precautions you need to take to optimize the health of you and your baby.
Even if you are healthy when you become pregnant, it is possible to develop or be diagnosed with problems during pregnancy that can affect you and your baby. Two of the more common pregnancy-related problems are Preeclampsia (high blood pressure, urinary protein, and swelling) and.
Gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy which usually resolves after giving birth). However, with proper management, most women who develop these symptoms are able to have healthy babies with careful monitoring by a trained specialist.