{"id":1884,"date":"2023-08-15T13:19:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T13:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/?p=1884"},"modified":"2026-02-02T04:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T04:33:36","slug":"what-is-a-high-risk-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/what-is-a-high-risk-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A High-Risk Pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>What Is a High-Risk Pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most certainly, all pregnancies carry a certain amount of risk. Still, high-risk pregnancies are usually used to describe those cases that cause even more health risks for either the fetus, mother, or both. A high-risk pregnancy may need increased care before giving birth, but during and after as well, to reduce any complication possibilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, high-risk pregnancies don\u2019t mean that the woman or the baby will have problems. <\/span><a href=\"\/myobgynoffice\/high-risk-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With high-risk pregnancy care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, many women have healthy pregnancies and won\u2019t face any problems during labor and delivery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As such, in this article, we\u2019ll talk about high-risk pregnancies, discuss the most prominent high-risk pregnancy symptoms, and what experts usually do to ensure both the mother\u2019s and the baby\u2019s safety in these cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Common Are High-Risk Pregnancies?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the US, around 50,000 people experience high-risk pregnancies each year, with the Afro-American population having a three times higher likelihood of dealing with severe pregnancy-related complications.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>High-Risk Pregnancy Symptoms and Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman.jpg\" alt=\"In the Hospital, Close-up Shot of the Doctor Does Ultrasound Sonogram Procedure to a Pregnant Woman.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/In-the-Hospital-Close-up-Shot-of-the-Doctor-Does-Ultrasound-Sonogram-Procedure-to-a-Pregnant-Woman.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When exploring the causes of these cases, usually, experts point out the following factors that may make a pregnancy high-risk:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific lifestyle factors such as alcohol abuse, drug addiction, exposure to certain toxins, and smoking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy-related health conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being under 17 or over 35 while pregnant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preexisting health conditions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health conditions related to the pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When looking at the most prevalent medical risk factors, the following preexisting medical conditions may increase the risks for high-risk pregnancy as well. These conditions may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HIV\/Aids<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fibroids<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autoimmune diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kidney disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertension<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity or being underweight<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression and other mental health problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thyroid disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood clotting problems\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, the pregnancy-related health conditions that may lead to increased pregnancy risks include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gestational diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific genetic conditions or congenital disabilities in the fetus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eclampsia and preeclampsia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor fetal growth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple gestation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previous cases of preterm birth or labor and various compilations in pregnancies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As hinted above, in the case of first-time pregnancies over the age of 35 are more likely to have high-risk complications during pregnancy. So far, research shows that they are simply more likely to have more pregnancy troubles than younger people, and these may include pregnancy-related conditions like gestational diabetes or even pregnancy loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, younger expecting mothers under 17 are also at an increased risk as they are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More likely to be anemic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less likely to attend prenatal care consultations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More likely to undergo premature birth or labor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May be unaware of existing STIs or sexually transmitted infections.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>High-Risk Pregnancies: Potential Complications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some cases may be potentially life-threatening both for the fetus and the mother. The most severe complications may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preterm delivery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C-section<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eclampsia and preeclampsia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birth defects<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High or low birth weight<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive bleeding while being in labor, during delivery, or after birth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fetal brain development issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stillbirth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Miscarriage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intensive care unit admission for the mother<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neonatal intensive care unit admission for the infant.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing a High-Risk Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Receiving timely and comprehensive prenatal care is of utmost importance. It is the most effective means of identifying and addressing the potential risks associated with pregnancy. Make sure to inform your healthcare provider about your medical background and previous pregnancies. If your pregnancy is deemed high-risk, you may require specialized monitoring throughout the gestational period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The different tests that experts use to monitor the health of the fetus and the mother may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Urine and blood testing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to check for specific congenital or genetic conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Biophysical profile<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to monitor whether the fetus is getting enough oxygen, breathes, and moves, using an ultrasound, and non-stress tests, which monitor fetal heart rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Ultrasonography <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creates images of the fetus using sound waves.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Treating and Managing High-risk Pregnancies\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatment and management for these cases will depend on the specific risk factors. That said, a high-risk pregnancy care plan may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Blood pressure monitoring at home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More frequent obstetrical follow-ups<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consultation with other medical experts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carefully monitoring the medications that the mother uses to manage preexisting medical conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Closer fetal evaluation and more ultrasounds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases where the mother\u2019s or the baby\u2019s health is in imminent danger, the healthcare provider may even recommend a C-section or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/treatments\/17698-labor-induction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">labor induction<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can High-Risk Pregnancies Be Prevented?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor Measuring Blood Pressure of Her Pregnant Patient. High Quality Photo\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2023\/09\/Doctor-Measuring-Blood-Pressure-of-Her-Pregnant-Patient-High-Quality-Photo.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women may be able to reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying potential health problems before actually getting pregnant. Women who are planning to be pregnant should tell everything about their personal and familial medical history.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing preexisting conditions before pregnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a healthy body weight before getting pregnant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring that any long-term medical compounds are safe to take while pregnant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning your pregnancies either over 18 or before you reach 34.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing safe sex.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, it\u2019s vital to understand that many women who are diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies ultimately experience no major problems and deliver healthy infants. And while that\u2019s good news, the same women may be at a slightly higher risk for other health issues, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postpartum depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complications in future pregnancies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, some high-risk pregnancies may increase the infant\u2019s risk for various medical problems, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastrointestinal diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathing problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behavioral issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental and growth delays<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes and obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neurological problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dental, hearing, or vision problems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, Complications related to pregnancy can manifest up to six weeks after the pregnancy has concluded. It&#8217;s crucial to be vigilant about your well-being during this period. If you observe any unusual symptoms or changes, promptly inform your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Opt for Expert Help and Support<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A high-risk pregnancy refers to a situation where various factors increase the likelihood of complications during pregnancy. These factors encompass age and specific preexisting health conditions. In the event of a high-risk pregnancy, additional medical attention may be necessary before, during, and after childbirth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is crucial to prioritize comprehensive prenatal care and maintain open and regular communication with your healthcare provider to minimize the potential risks associated with pregnancy complications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On that note, it\u2019s also essential to find the right experts. Compassionate care, experience, and professionalism can go a long way in ensuring that women experience no issues during their pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are looking for excellent care, feel free to learn more <\/span><a href=\"\/myobgynoffice\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about Women&#8217;s Health Partners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by scheduling an appointment with us today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is a High-Risk Pregnancy? Most certainly, all pregnancies carry a certain amount of risk. Still, high-risk pregnancies are usually<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[172,174,173,171],"class_list":["post-1884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-high-risk-pregnancy","tag-high-risk-pregnancy-symptoms","tag-pregnancy-risk","tag-what-is-a-high-risk-pregnancy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1884\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/myobgynoffice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}