The risk factors for a high risk pregnancy are as follows:
• Age of the mother -- being over 35 yrs or too young.
• Previous problem pregnancies
• Body weight, such as obese or underweight
• Having more than one baby
• Pre-existing health conditions which include:
High blood pressure – Though, several pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies without serious problems but still high blood pressure is quite dangerous for both mother-to-be and unborn baby.
Women with pre-existing, or chronic, high blood pressure are more likely to have certain complications during pregnancy such as premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption), stillbirth, pre-eclampsia than women with normal blood pressure.
Many expecting women develop high blood pressure after the twentieth week of pregnancy known as gestational hypertension. Due to this condition, blood flow to organs such as the placenta, kidneys, brain and liver may be affected. A regular prenatal care will usually catch gestational hypertension early, reducing the chances of complications.
Autoimmune disorders -- It is a medical condition in which the human body makes antibodies against one's own normal body chemicals. There are some autoimmune diseases which have no or less effect on pregnancy but on the other hand many can greatly increase the risks for pregnancy loss and maternal and fetal illness. In the same way, pregnancy can affect some autoimmune diseases, but not others. Doctors recommend clinical care for such pregnant women.
HIV/AIDS -- HIV stands for human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, which causes AIDS. The virus damages the cells of the body immune system, progressively destroying the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.
A woman can pass on her HIV infection to her baby during pregnancy, while giving birth, or through breastfeeding.
Still, there are many ways in which mother to infant transmission of HIV can be prevented such as taking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy or birth by cesarean section.
Genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection can be transmitted to a baby during a vaginal delivery and baby born with this condition faces a life-threatening brain infection called herpes encephalitis.
Kidney problems -- If a woman has kidney disease than both the mother and baby are subjected to serious health risks. Due to extra fluid retention, expecting women may have higher blood pressure and more waste products in their blood and this will adversely affect the baby’s growth as he/she will not receive enough blood through the placenta.
If blood pressure gets very high, the mother is at risk of preeclampsia. Mostly women with kidney problems are advised to postpone their pregnancy until their kidney disease is under control or till they have kidney dialysis.
Heart disease –- Many times woman with some types of heart defects (Primary pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger's syndrome) are advised by doctors not to plan a baby as it can perk up their death risk.
Females who have cardiac disease such as heart valve disorders and some birth defects of the heart can cause a major complication of pregnancy. The normal physical changes during pregnancy may cause problems for would-be-mothers with heart disease.
If a woman develops heart disease during pregnancy then it can affect the unborn baby as the fetus may be born prematurely. Females who have birth defects of the heart are more likely to have children with similar birth defects. But, prenatal care and close monitoring of the pregnant woman is essential for healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Cancer -– Women who have cancer before or during pregnancy are advised by doctors to terminate their pregnancies but many women are able to undergo effective treatment such as biopsies, surgery and chemotherapy for their cancer and deliver a healthy baby. But many times these treatments may harm the fetus.
Some other conditions which can make pregnancy risky can happen while you are pregnant such as:
Gestational diabetes -– Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Usually it goes away after the birth of the baby. Nearly 9 percent of expecting women will develop gestational diabetes around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy.
But not to worry as many females with the gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies as their health care provider makes them follow a treatment plan.
Preeclampsia and eclampsia -– A large number of women suffer from pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Generally it happens during the second half of pregnancy, and can even occur some days after delivery. The women also develops certain other complications including headaches, abdominal pain and disturbances in her vision.
Preeclampsia affects the mother’s kidneys, lungs, brain, liver as well as the uterus, thereby putting the baby also at risk. The health care providers recommend monitoring of the woman's blood pressure and urine throughout pregnancy. If preeclampsia is left untreated than it can have adverse effect on mothers’ and baby's health. It is much more common in first pregnancies and in women who are overweight.
Preeclampsia in its severe form develops into eclampsia, a situation where the mother has seizures.
Regular prenatal care ensure a healthier pregnancy for a woman and her baby.
If you have any chronic condition you must talk to your doctor before planning a baby about the various steps you can take to minimize the risk. If you are at high risk pregnancy than you after conceiving a baby you may need a health care provider to monitor your pregnancy.
The health care provider may ask for additional tests, specific treatments, extra visits to specialized clinics, blood tests to check the levels of medication, amniocentesis, serial ultrasound examination, daily home monitoring or hospitalization. Your care giving team will explain to you what model of care is best for you and why.
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