A high-risk pregnancy means the mother, fetus, or both require extra care due to an existing medical condition or a health issue that crops up during pregnancy. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a complication, but to mitigate the risk, a high-risk pregnancy doctor in Thane will watch your and your baby’s health closely. Here are a few conditions that can make your pregnancy high-risk.
Common High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions
If you have existing medical issues, your gynecologist will monitor you closely.
a) Hypertension:
High blood pressure can cause preeclampsia, a life-threatening medical condition that causes a sudden spike in blood pressure, increasing the woman’s risk of organ failure.
b) Diabetes:
Women with type 1 or 2 diabetes are also at an increased risk of preeclampsia. If the blood sugar levels are not stabilized, it may pose health risk to the fetus as well.
c) Advanced Maternal Age:
A woman’s fertility decreases with age. The risk of complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, stillbirth, miscarriage, and gestational diabetes also increase.
Pregnancy-Related Complications
i) Gestational Diabetes:
Women can develop diabetes during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes often resolves after delivery, but can increase the risk of preterm birth or large babies.
ii) Preeclampsia:
High blood pressure with excess protein in urine can cause organ damage. If not addressed promptly, preeclampsia can turn into eclampsia, a serious medical issue that can lead to seizures and coma.
iii) Placenta Previa:
With a placenta covering the cervix, it’s impossible to attempt a vaginal delivery, as it carries a significant risk of bleeding and maternal death. The doctor might recommend c-section to ensure safe delivery.
Lifestyle Factors and Their Impact
Certain lifestyle factors can also increase a woman’s risk of developing pregnancy complications.
1) Smoking and Substance Use
Smoking carries a significant risk of preterm labor, low-birth weight baby, miscarriage, and other pregnancy-related complications. It’s advisable to avoid smoking, alcohol, and substance use before planning pregnancy.
You must also discuss your existing medication or supplements (if you are taking any) with your healthcare provider.
2) Obesity
Obesity can cause gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and high chances of c-section birth. Eat a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy, exercise regularly, and live an active lifestyle to prevent obesity.
3) Stress
High levels of stress can lead to a high-risk pregnancy. It raises your risk of developing high blood pressure. Moreover, chronic stress can lead to low birth weight and preterm labor. It can indirectly contribute to poor nutrition (as women with stress tend to lose their appetite). This, in turn, can negatively affect the mother’s and the baby’s health.
Multiple Pregnancies
Advanced maternal age or women who have gone through fertility treatments might get pregnant with multiples (more than one fetus). Pregnancy with multiples can cause gestational diabetes and high blood pressure in the mother. It may also increase the risk for a c-section delivery. It’s important to visit a high-risk pregnancy hospital in Thane to manage your condition and ensure safe delivery.
Conclusion
As beautiful as pregnancy may sound, not every woman has a smooth pregnancy and delivery experience. This is particularly true for women with high-risk pregnancy. But with medication and prompt care, high-risk pregnancy is manageable.
