5 Risk Factors for a High-Risk Pregnancy
Nearly anyone can have a high-risk pregnancy. However, there are some women with certain circumstances that put them at a greater risk of having this type of experience.
1. Your Age
A 2019 study confirmed what many have been saying for years: Women over the age of 35 are at a greater risk of having a high-risk pregnancy. Plano OB/GYNs will work closely with mothers over this age threshold, especially if it’s their first pregnancy, to help ensure healthy fetal development and labor.
Women in this age group have a higher risk of:
- Delivering a baby with a genetic disorder
- Prolonged labor
- C-section delivery
- Delivery complications
Conversely, women who are very young (as in adolescent mothers between the ages of 10 and 19 years) fall into a higher risk category as well. They’re more likely to:
- Develop high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Go into preterm delivery
- Deliver a low-weight baby
- Deliver a baby with severe neonatal conditions
- Experience eclampsia (seizures during delivery)
- Face systemic infections
- Develop puerperal endometritis (postpartum fever accompanied by uterine tenderness)
2. Certain Medical Conditions
Women with preexisting health conditions can have a high-risk pregnancy in Plano, too. Common medical conditions that can adversely impact a pregnancy include:
- Anxiety disorder
- Clinical depression
- Lupus
- Sickle cell anemia
- Kidney disease
- Epilepsy
- Thyroid disease
Other common pre-existing medical conditions that will concern your Plano OB/GYN include the following.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can contribute to:
- Slow fetal development
- Preterm delivery
- Placental abruption (A complication in which the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery. It’s potentially life-threatening.)
Obesity
A higher-than-average body mass index (30+) can be a precursor to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, obstructive sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. Obesity can also impact your baby. In some cases, it can result in:
- Birth defects
- Macrosomia (larger-than-normal fetus, which can increase risk of injury during delivery)
- Preterm labor
- Stillbirth
A 2012 study (first published in 2015) also found that obese women were nearly two times more likely to need a C-section delivery.
Diabetes
Mismanaged diabetes puts you and your baby in danger. You might develop gestational hypertension. You might go into preterm labor. Your baby might be born with birth defects, low blood sugar levels, and even breathing issues.
3. Pregnancy Complications
A high-risk pregnancy in Plano can also occur partway through what started out as a normal pregnancy. Sometimes, at certain points during the pregnancy, complications arise, including:
- High blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- Placental issues
- Other significant health issues develop in the mother during pregnancy (cancer, MS, etc.)
Preeclampsia can also develop during the second half of the pregnancy. The signs of preeclampsia include high blood pressure, proteins in the urine, and swelling of the hands and feet. Left unchecked, this condition can result in heart and organ damage. It can even slow fetal growth and development.
Additionally, a history of infections – such as chickenpox and herpes – can result in complications. Your Plano OB/GYN will encourage careful fetal monitoring to evaluate for and reduce the risk of certain birth defects.
4. History of Complications
If you’ve had any of the following, you might be at an increased risk of developing a high-risk pregnancy.
- Previous high-risk pregnancy
- History of miscarriage(s)
- Previous C-section delivery
- Previous preterm labor
5. Multiple Fetuses
Risks for complications are higher if you have multiple babies. Carrying more than one baby at a time puts extra stress on your body. The fetuses can develop complications and are also often born preterm.