Pregnancy is a special leading stage in a woman’s life, which is characterized by joy and expectation. However, for some women, this journey can be more challenging and may fall under what is called ‘high-risk pregnancy’. This does not necessarily mean that it is a bad thing but understanding what leads to a high-risk pregnancy can help any pregnant woman go through the process with even more care and confidence.
What is meant by high-risk pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy can therefore be defined as a pregnancy in which the mother, the baby, or both are at a greater risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy, during birth or even after birth. Such complications vary in severity, but they may call for precautions, medicines or procedures to protect the woman and the baby’s wellbeing.
Factors Responsible For High-Risk Pregnancy
Maternal Age
The age of the mother is one of the most important causes that lead to high-risk pregnancy. Technically, young women under the age of 17 and older women over the age of 35 fall more often under complications during pregnancy. Younger mothers can experience issues such as the body organs not being fully developed to support the pregnancy while older mothers can experience complications such as chromosomal abnormalities with the baby, gestational Diabetes and hypertensive disorders.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Conditions, that have been there before pregnancy, can make the pregnancy to be more complicated. Some of them include hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune illnesses, and heart illnesses among others
Pregnancy-Related Conditions
In some cases, factors that occur during pregnancy may lead to a high-risk pregnancy. Some examples of such complications include gestational diabetes which is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and preeclampsia which is characterised by high blood pressure and signs of Johnson’s damage to another organ for example the kidneys.
Multiple Pregnancies
Of course, when a woman is pregnant with more than one child at once – including twins, triplets, and the like – she is automatically exposed to a higher risk factor. Twin and higher-order pregnancies are very likely to cause premature delivery, low birth weight, and problems in the course of delivery.
Lifestyle Factors
There are various actions that the woman can take that increase her likelihood of experiencing various complications while pregnant. Tobacco smoking, alcohol and drug taking are among the factors that increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. It causes developmental problems in the unborn child including low birth weight, preterm labour and in extreme cases even death of the mother and/or unborn child.
One measure that should be taken to minimize this risk is proper living standards in expectant mothers such as proper nutrition, exercise and no smoking or alcohol intake. Obesity is yet another relevant factor of a high-risk pregnancy out of the lifestyle causes. Obesity has been also known to increase the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension and complications during the time of delivery.
Genetic Factors
A high-risk pregnancy can also result from a family history or the presence of certain genetic disorders. These pregnancy complications can be caused by certain conditions that are genetically inherited for example Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anaemia among others. During planning of pregnancy or at the initial stages of pregnancy, it is possible to evaluate possible complications and prepare for them.
Environmental Factors
Other causes of high-risk pregnancy include exposure to some chemicals, radiation, or infections during pregnancy. For instance, lead mercury or pesticides endanger the lives of both the mother and her baby. Some comparatively minor infections like Zika virus, rubella or toxoplasmosis which can be contracted at the time of pregnancy lead to many complications like birth defects.
Conclusion
Even if the term ‘high-risk pregnancy’ sounds alarming, it is better to know what can lead to its occurrence and what measures any woman can take to control her situation and that of her baby. There are many risks of pregnancy but the good thing is that most of these risks can be prevented by going for regular checkups, eating a healthy diet, and sharing with the doctor any changes happening in the body.
The above-discussed risk factors should therefore be handled in the right manner and at the right time so that women can embrace their pregnancy knowing well that they are doing everything possible to have the best results for both themselves and their babies.
At Vansh Hospital in Lucknow, we know that no woman will wish to undergo a high-risk pregnancy. That is why a team of quality-driven professionals is always ready to take your case and guide you throughout the process.
If you or a close one is pregnant or expecting a high-risk pregnancy, don’t think twice—contact us right now for the care you require to make your pregnancy as safe and comfortable as possible for both you and your newborn. Altogether we can do this with confidence. Contact us at +91 740 841 5995.
