There is no fixed definition for a high-risk pregnancy, however, many conditions related to the mother or the fetus, or even pregnancy itself can lead to a high risk condition. At which point, it becomes essential to visit your gynecologist.
The purpose behind identifying a high-risk pregnancy is to put preventive care into practice, rather than increase anxiety in the expecting mother. Read on to find what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy and ways to deal with it.
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What conditions are associated with a high risk pregnancy?
Chronic conditions in the mother can lead to high risk pregnancy. These include maternal diabetes, hypertension, increased age, blood-clotting disorders, poorly controlled asthma, heart diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Even obesity can cause a high-risk pregnancy.
Mothers with an abnormal obstetrical history like premature birth, stillbirth, multiple miscarriages, extremely small birth weight babies, history of preeclampsia are also at risk. Moreover, there are other conditions pertaining to the placenta that can make the pregnancy high risk, e.g. placenta previa, placental abruption.
Multiple fetuses also constitute a high risk pregnancy, for instance, twins, triplets or quadruplets, all come under high risk pregnancy. Maternal lifestyle choices also play a role in high risk pregnancy, like smoking cigarettes, using illegal drugs and alcohol intake.
How to deal with high risk pregnancy?
If your pregnancy is considered a high risk one, then you can take preventive measures to manage your condition. It is better to stick to the basics and prevent complications from occurring in the first place.
Get a pre-conception consultation:
Before you consider getting pregnant, consult your gynaecologist to get a physical, and take steps to reduce the risk of certain anomalies. For example, your doctor may recommend getting at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily to prevent the risk of a condition known as spina bifida.
Similarly, stopping certain medications is also important before conception, like those containing vitamin A and its derivatives that are contained in certain acne medication.
Regular prenatal care is important:
Regular check-ups are advised during the gestational period of high-risk babies. Make sure to follow through these appointments and update your gynaecologist regarding any changes during this period.
Specialized ultrasound:
Specialized ultrasound can be used to detect any abnormal condition in the baby and rule out suspected conditions.
Red flags:
Make sure to talk thoroughly about your condition with your doctor and gain adequate information about your condition. Your healthcare provider should explain to you about certain red flags to look out for in case something goes wrong.
Different conditions can present with different signs, for example, preeclampsia can present with headache and very high blood pressure; in such a scenario, urgent healthcare should be provided to the patient. Therefore, it is important to stay alert and keep a look out for red flags.
Treatment:
The treatment in cases of high risk pregnancies depends on the underlying conditions, and the treatment is tailored to suit the needs of the mother. For instance, in maternal diabetes, frequent ultrasounds are generally performed to gauge the size of the baby, as there is a risk of the baby being large.
Similarly, in blood disorders like excessive clotting, anti-platelets and other blood thinners can be given to the mother to prevent an episode.
Apart from physical care, mental and emotional care is also essential for expecting mothers at this time.
If you are dealing with a high risk pregnancy, then book an appointment with top gynecologist in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
