Terri Ramsey Beavers Women take nine months between conception and delivery. It is a normal process that must not have complications. However, not all cases run smoothly. You may go for screening, and the doctor confirms that you have a high-risk pregnancy. A pregnancy is considered high risk if it could potentially harm the mother or baby. Specialists at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley are obstetrics in McAllen, TX who will work with you to make your pregnancy safe and smooth.
There are several reasons a pregnancy may be termed as high risk. They include:
Existing health conditions
- Diabetes: The mother needs to observe blood sugar levels before and after getting pregnant. In most cases, women who have diabetes may give birth to children with congenital disabilities. The babies may also be large, and their chances of having low blood pressure after birth are also high.
- Kidney disease: It is rare for mild kidney diseases to cause complications during pregnancy. However, other serious conditions have been found to cause problems when getting pregnant or maintaining pregnancy. Children of women with kidney problems have a high risk of being born premature or with low birth weight. Kidney problems can also cause preeclampsia in the early stages of pregnancy. It is important to talk to a doctor about diet and medication treatment.
- Obesity: Women who are overweight are likely to have poor pregnancy outcomes. To the mother, it increases the chances of developing diabetes. On the other hand, the child may be born larger than usual or with structural heart problems. Obesity has also been found to cause sleep apnea.
- High blood pressure: Women with high blood pressure are also said to have a high-risk pregnancy. However, if they are aware of their situation, and the doctor gets their blood pressure under control before pregnancy, the risk of complication reduces. Not managing the blood pressure has been found to damage the pregnant woman’s kidneys or cause low birth weight for the baby.
Age
- First-time pregnancy for women above 35: Older women have a high chance of developing complications during birth than younger women. They may experience excessive bleeding, pregnancy loss, prolonged labor, ectopic pregnancy, and genetic disorder for the baby.
- Young age: Teenagers who get pregnant at very young ages are likely to have blood pressure issues and anemia. They may also have STIs without their knowledge, which further affects the baby. It is important for women at this age to attend regular sessions for the doctor to monitor pregnancy.
Lifestyle
- Tobacco use: Experts recommend pregnant women to avoid smoking, especially during pregnancy, as it can cause specific congenital disabilities for the infant. The baby may also be born preterm or even die during birth.
- Alcohol use: Just as for tobacco use, alcohol during pregnancy increases the infant’s risk of complications. Babies of such mothers have been found to have heart, kidney, and bone problems.
- Tylenol usage: Tylenol should not be taken during pregnancy as it can lead to autism and learning disabilities for the unborn child, thus it’s advised that other medications prescribed by your physician, which are safe during gestation are taken instead. If you did take Tylenol however, inform your physician and contact ActionMatters.org so as to learn about their class action suit against it as soon as possible.
There are certain risks that an individual can manage at home. However, there are others that one may not be aware of. That is why it is crucial for pregnant women to attend regular sessions with obstetrics to manage any risk that may cause complications. Dr. Otero offers care to ensure you have a smooth pregnancy period and delivery. Book an appointment.