High-Risk Pregnancy
Having a baby is an important milestone in couple’s life. For some , this milestone comes with utter happiness, joy, and comfort whereas for others the journey may not be the same. We are talking about high-risk pregnancy in women.
Usually, in a full-term pregnancy, a woman goes into labor (on or around her expected due date), gives birth to a healthy baby and leaves the hospital a day or two later to start resume her normal day-to-day lifebut not all women are lucky enough to go through this smooth journey of Motherhood. A few women experience what the doctors refer to as a high-risk pregnancy.
What is a High-risk Pregnancy?
A pregnancy is referred to as high-risk when there is a potential complication associated with the baby or the mother before, during or after the delivery. In such a case the mother or the baby may develop a serious health problem if appropriate treatment is not provided in time.
What are the risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy?
Factors that contribute to a high-risk pregnancy are:
- The mother’s age
Women in their 30’s should be extra careful during their pregnancy since older mothers may be at a higher risk for certain issues like miscarriage, congenital disabilities, twins, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, difficult labor, etc.
- Health condition of the mother before the pregnancy
If pregnancy is in your mind and you have a medical condition, it is essential to consult with your healthcare specialist before you try to conceive to avoid or minimise the potential risk. Your doctor will adjust the medications, run down a few tests and give you advises on measures to optimise your health and the health of the baby.
Medical condition that can increase pregnancy risks are:
- Chronic hypertension
- Diabetes
- Lung, kidney or heart problems
- Breathing problems like asthma
- Blood-clotting disorders like deep vein thrombosis
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- A history of miscarriage
- Medical condition of the mother during the pregnancy
No matter how healthy you are, there is always a possibility of developing problems during pregnancy that can affect you and your baby. The two most common complications that develop during the pregnancy are:
- Gestational diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It is commonly seen in pregnant women and following the right treatment plan from the health-care provider can help control the condition.
- Preeclampsia: is a condition characterised by high blood pressure, urinary protein and swelling. It can be potentially dangerous for the mother and the baby if the treatment is not given on time.
- Certain pregnancy-related Issues
Some conditions arise from the pregnancy itself and have little or nothing to do with the mother’s health, a few of them are:
- Multiple Births: Giving birth to twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc. can place women at higher risk of premature labor, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
- Premature/ Premature Labor: Premature labor is the labor that starts before the 37th week of pregnancy. This can often place women at higher risk.
- Placenta Previa: here, the placenta covers the cervix of the mother. If the condition continues close to delivery, then the doctor will go for a cesarean section to decrease the bleeding risks to the mother and baby growing inside.
- Fetal Problems: A family history of fetal problems like genetic or structural problems can often place the women and the baby at higher risk.
Why Motherhood?
With our experienced staff, state-of-the-art infrastructure and well-equipped laboratory services, we are sure that we will cater to all your needs and provide you a safe and effective comprehensive solution.
Our experts will recommend treatment options to you after careful examination and even collaborate with experts from other fields like urogynaecology, obstetrician and gynaecologist if required to ensure you and your little one receive the best multi- disciplinary care.
For more information, you can call us or send us an inquiry!
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) or simply gestational diabetes is a condition in which pregnant women develop high blood sugar. In gestational diabetes, women have normal blood sugar levels before pregnancy but the blood glucose levels rise during pregnancy (usually between 24th and 28th week). The blood sugar levels usually go down to normal after the birth of the baby.
Pregnancy Hypertension
High blood pressure or hypertension, is a condition in which the blood exerts a high amount of force or pressure on the walls of the artery. It is a very common health problem and affects millions of people all over the world. It can lead to serious complications and heart diseases which may have fatal consequences.
Thyroid
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland situated in the neck. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones which are extremely important as they influence almost all the metabolic activities in the body. Hence, abnormal production of thyroid hormones causes various health issues and ailments.
Thyroid problems can range from harmless issues like goiter to serious conditions like thyroid cancer. However, most common of the thyroid problems are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism which are caused due to over secretion and under secretion of thyroid hormones respectively.
Elderly Primigravida
The process of conceiving is a very complex. For a pregnancy to be successful, various factors need to fall in place like the time of ovulation, health of semen, quality of egg etc. With age, the fertility potential of both men and women keeps falling. Moreover in contemporary society, the average age of conception or couples trying to get pregnant is increasing, resulting in an increased number of complications.
