When my doctor says my pregnancy is high risk?

Your pregnancy might be considered high risk if  you:

• are age 17 or younger
• are age 35 or older
• Were underweight or overweight before becoming pregnant
• are pregnant with twins, triplets orother multiples
• Have high BP, Diabetes,depression, thyroid disease, obesity, heart diseases or other health problems
• Had problems with previous pregnancy, i.e. premature labor, child with birth defects or genetic disorders

Contact your obstetrician if you have: 

• Vaginal bleeding or watery vaginal discharge
• Severe headache
• Pain or cramping in the lower abdomen
• Decreased fetal activity
• Pain or burning during micturition
• Change in vision including blurring of vision
• Sudden swelling of face, hands or fingers
• Fever or chills
• Vomiting or persistant nausea
• Dizziness
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Will My Prenatal Care Be Different With a High-Risk?

Generally speaking, a high-risk pregnancy will more than likely require more frequent prenatal visits and closer monitoring for your care and treatment.

The exact care you will receive is dependent on your particular condition and circumstances. This doctor will more than likely continue to work to ensure that both you and the baby are healthy as the pregnancy progresses.

Does a High-Risk Pregnancy Affect Labor? 

It is possible that a high-risk pregnancy could result in problems during labor. A hospital is usually the best option and often the only one available because the proper equipment and personnel are there to closely monitor the birth process and step in if something goes wrong.

Furthermore, If you’re having multiples, you’re more likely to go into labor early, especially in a high-risk pregnancy. Preterm labor is common in high-risk pregnancies. Early labor may be caused by having too much amniotic fluid around the baby or having other medical conditions that cause early labor. Anything is possible. Your doctor may even have your labor induced to prevent or reduce the likelihood of other health problems arising for you and your baby.

There may also be situations that make a vaginal birth too risky and you may need to have a c-section as a result. This is why it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor regarding what you may need to prepare for during labor so that you will be mentally prepared and know what to expect.

Is My Baby Going To Be Okay? 

It’s natural for a high-risk pregnancy to cause anxiety over the health and wellness of the baby. Good prenatal care makes it possible to still have a healthy baby even if the pregnancy is high-risk. Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor and talk to him or her about your concerns and anything you can do to keep yourself and your baby as healthy as possible. This means discussing any drugs you may be taking and allowing your doctor to change your medications if they are not safe for the baby.

• Don’t stop taking any medication without consulting your obstetrician first.

If complications occur as a result of some drug interaction or a health problem, the results could be early childbirth, which could result in difficulty breathing and feeding, not to mention a whole host of other complications. If this happens, the baby may have to spend more time in the hospital to stabilize and get well, in addition to requiring more care and attention. When this happens, newborn babies are often placed in theneonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

How to Reduce High-Risk Pregnancy Complications 

If you fall into the high-risk category during your pregnancy there are things you can do to increase the health and wellness of both your unborn child and yourself and avoid pregnancy complications:

• Schedule a preconception visit with your doctor
• Find out all you can do about your condition
• Go to all your prenatal appointments
• Have a healthy lifestyle, gain the right amount of weight and stay active if you’re able
• Ask your partner, family, and friends for support
• Look after your emotional well-being