A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy that involves increased health risks for the pregnant person, unborn baby or both. Certain health conditions and your age (being over 35 or under 17 when pregnant) can make a pregnancy high risk. These pregnancies require close monitoring to reduce the chance of complications.
How can high-risk pregnancies be managed?
For all women who are diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, treatment options vary depending on the risk factors specific to the pregnancy and the woman’s medical history.
What causes high-risk pregnancy?
Preexisting health conditions.
Pregnancy-related health conditions.
Lifestyle factors (including smoking, drug addiction, alcohol abuse and exposure to certain toxins).
Age (being over 35 or under 17 when pregnant).
How can I prevent a high-risk pregnancy?
Avoiding drugs and alcohol.
Identifying potential health risks before getting pregnant. Tell your doctor about your familial and personal medical history.
Maintaining a healthy body weight before pregnancy.
Managing any preexisting health conditions you may have.
Making sure any long-term medications are safe to take during pregnancy.
Quitting smoking.
Planning pregnancies between the ages of 18 and 34.
High Blood Pressure
It is important to regulate blood pressure during pregnancy which can be done by making some changes in the high blood pressure medication. Certain diet and lifestyle changes may also be recommended to keep the blood pressure under control.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes, or developing diabetes during pregnancy, increases the risk of pregnancy complications. Often times the woman is diabetes only during pregnancy and is normal after the delivery. Many women having gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy infants provided they follow a recommended diet and treatment plan.
