If your doctor says you are at a high-risk pregnancy, several questions are likely to come up in your mind. Will your prenatal care be very different from others who don’t have such a problem? Will your baby have any potential issues? Read on to find out more on the subject.

If you have been diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy case, the risk of you or your baby having health problems before, during, or after delivery may be high. You need to be monitored closely and cared for throughout your pregnancy. Therefore, you must clearly understand the risk factors involved and what you need to do to take good care of yourself and your baby. It is, therefore, highly recommended that you visit the top maternity hospital in Chennai to have more clarity.

High-risk Pregnancy: What are the Different Risk Factors?

Sometimes, the presence of a health or medical condition before the pregnancy may be the reason for the high-risk pregnancy in your case. In other situations, it could be due to the development of a medical condition during pregnancy, either for you or your baby. Some of the factors that can lead to a high-risk pregnancy are:

Advanced maternal age: The risks related to pregnancy are higher for would-be mothers who are older than 35 years.

Maternal health problems: These include high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity, thyroid disease, heart/blood disorders, poorly managed asthma, and infections.

Lifestyle choices: Smoking cigarettes, consumption of alcohol, and use of illegal drugs can result in high-risk pregnancies.

Pregnancy complications: The complications that can develop during pregnancy increases the risk. A few examples are:

• Unusual placenta position.
• Fetal growth restriction (less than the 10th percentile for gestational age) and rhesus (Rh) sensitization. It is potentially a severe condition that often occurs if your blood group and your baby are Rh-negative and Rh-positive, respectively.

Multiple pregnancies: The risk of pregnancy increases in women who carry more than one fetus.

Pregnancy history: A history of hypertension disorders like preeclampsia related to pregnancy increases the risk during subsequent pregnancies. Suppose you delivered the baby prematurely in the last pregnancy, or there have been multiple premature deliveries, then you are on the verge of a high-risk pregnancy. Talk to your gynecologist in Chrompet as regards your obstetric history.

Steps You Can Take to Have a Healthy Pregnancy

Whether you already know that you will have a high-risk pregnancy or want to prevent one, it pays to stick to certain basics. For instance:

Fix up a preconception appointment: Consult with your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant. Your doctor might ask you to have a prenatal vitamin tablet containing folic acid daily and get to a healthy weight before becoming pregnant. If you have any medical condition, your doctor might treat you with a suitable solution to prepare you for pregnancy. Your doctor might also discuss the risk of delivering a baby with a genetic condition.

Seek prenatal care at regular intervals: Prenatal visits help your doctor monitor your health and that of your baby. Your doctor might even refer you to a doctor specializing in maternal-foetal medicine, paediatrics, genetics, or other areas as required.

Avoid consuming alcohol and other risky substances: If you are in the habit of smoking, it is a good idea to quit. Also, avoid using alcohol and other illegal drugs. You can also talk to your doctor about the medications and supplements you are currently taking.

Depending on your current situation, your doctor might recommend:

Targeted or specialized ultrasound imaging technique:  This fetal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of the baby in your uterus. It helps eliminate a suspected problem, such as atypical development.

Prenatal cell-free DNA screening:  In this procedure, the mother’s and fetus’ DNA is extracted from the maternal blood sample. The fetal DNA is then screened to determine if there is an increase in the possibility of developing specific chromosome problems.

Invasive genetic screening:  Your doctor might recommend chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Amniocentesis involves collecting a sample of the amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds and protects the baby during pregnancy) from your uterus. Typically, amniocentesis is done after the 15th week. Amniocentesis helps to identify a few genetic conditions and severe problems of the spinal cord and brain (neural tube defects). During chorionic villus sampling, a sample of placenta cells is collected. It is typically done between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. It helps in identifying certain genetic conditions.

Cervical length using ultrasound: Measuring the size of your cervix during prenatal appointments helps your doctor determine whether there is a risk of preterm labour.

Laboratory tests: You may also have to give your urine for testing to determine whether you have urinary tract infections. Besides, your urine is screened for infectious diseases like HIV, syphilis, etc.

Biophysical profile: This prenatal ultrasound scan is used to determine how well your baby is doing. In addition to evaluating foetal well-being, your doctor may ask for a foetal heart rate monitoring (a non-stress test) test.

Some other prenatal diagnostic tests: The other diagnostic tests for prenatal include chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. These tests carry a small risk of loss of pregnancy. You may consult with a prenatal pediatrician in Chromepet before deciding whether to pursue these tests or not.

High-risk Pregnancy – Other Things You Need to Know

It would be best if you have discussed with your gynaecologist how to manage any medical conditions that you may have during pregnancy and their impact on your health, labour and delivery. You must contact the doctor you are consulting if you have:

• Watery vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding
• Bouts of severe headache
• Cramps or pain in your lower abdomen
• Decreased fetal activity
• Burning sensation or pain during urination
• Changes in vision, such as blurred vision
• Swelling in the hands, fingers, or face
• Fever or chills
• Dizziness
• Persistent nausea or vomiting

There may be ups and downs in the case of a high-risk pregnancy. You need to do your best to stay positive and take the necessary steps to ensure that it is a healthy pregnancy.

Sugam Hospital

Sugam Hospital offers ultramodern facilities, including a well-equipped operation theatre that is capable of handling complex surgeries in all specialities. The laminar flow type of air conditioning system and the HEPA filter system in the operation theatre complex help to maintain sterility at a high level. Furthermore, we implement an infection control policy to improve patient safety and prevent cross-infection. Clinical laboratory, ambulance, and pharmacy services are made available 24/7. The radiology department and the best blood bank in Chennai available at Sugam also work round the clock.

As one of the top maternity centres in Chennai, Sugam Hospital offers complete prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal services. We firmly believe that every conception is nothing short of a miracle, and we will do what it takes to make you enjoy every minute of your pregnancy. Even in the case of high-risk pregnancies, the extra effort and care we take will ensure complete peace of mind for you, which is essential for your baby’s well-being.