Pregnancies that could cause potential danger to the mother or baby or both are considered high-risk pregnancies. These require effective management by a specialist to ensure best possible outcome for the mother and the baby.
Risk factors may either be present before pregnancy or develop during the course of pregnancy. The following are some of the factors that may contribute to a high-risk pregnancy
Here are some tips to make sure you are on the right track!
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you might consider various tests or procedures in addition to routine prenatal screening tests. Depending on the circumstances, your health care provider might recommend:
This type of fetal ultrasound — an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of a baby in the uterus — targets a suspected problem, such as abnormal development.
During this procedure, a sample of the fluid that surrounds and protects a baby during pregnancy (amniotic fluid) is withdrawn from the uterus. Typically done after week 15 of pregnancy, amniocentesis can identify certain genetic conditions, as well as neural tube defects — serious abnormalities of the brain or spinal cord.
During this procedure, a sample of cells is removed from the placenta. Typically done between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy, CVS can identify certain genetic conditions.
Also known as percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, this is a diagnostic prenatal test in which a sample of the baby’s blood is removed from the umbilical cord for testing. The test can identify certain genetic disorders, blood conditions and infections.
Your health care provider might use an ultrasound to measure the length of your cervix at prenatal appointments to determine if you’re at risk of preterm labor.
Your health care provider will test your urine for urinary tract infections and screen you for infectious diseases such as HIV and syphilis.
This prenatal test is used to check on a baby’s well-being. It might involve only an ultrasound to evaluate fetal well-being or, depending on the results of the ultrasound, also fetal heart rate monitoring (nonstress test).
Some prenatal diagnostic tests — such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling — carry a small risk of pregnancy loss. The decision to pursue prenatal testing is up to you and your partner. Discuss the risks and benefits with your health care provider.
It’s often difficult to predict which pregnancies will become high risk or when a high-risk condition might occur. That’s why planned home births typically aren’t recommended
It is not uncommon to have certain amount of anxiety especially if you are a first-time mom or if you have a high-risk pregnancy. However, severe anxiety can affect both you and the baby. Consult your doctor about healthy ways to relax and stay calm. Studies have shown that techniques such as thinking about pleasant objects or experiences or listening to music can reduce anxiety and help relieve stress during pregnancy.
Watch out for red flags-
If you experience any of these signs or symptoms you should promptly seek emergency care from your health care provider!
