A high-risk pregnancy puts you and the fetus at increased risk of health issues before, during, and after delivery. Although it can be distressing to hear you have a high-risk Jackson Heights pregnancy, remember that there is a high chance of giving birth to a healthy baby. However, for that to happen, you need to get comprehensive pregnancy care from a doctor trained to handle high-risk pregnancies.
Some signs of a high-risk pregnancy may include labored breathing, severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, extreme fatigue, inflammation of the hands and face, and blurry vision.
Certain test results such as blood type testing, blood pressure testing, and group B strep testing may help your doctor know if you have a high-risk pregnancy. For instance, group B strep testing involves taking a swab of the inside of your vagina and rectum to check if you or your infant has a GBS bacterial infection.
Consequently, below are factors that may make you have a high-risk pregnancy.
- Existing health problems
High blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune disease, thyroid disease, obesity, HIV/AIDS, or Zika infection may threaten your life or your fetus.
For instance, if you have diabetes, its poor control may increase the risk of developing congenital disabilities and other issues for your baby. The baby may be large and have low blood glucose soon after birth.
If you have chronic kidney disease, you may be susceptible to different complications, including restricted fetal growth, preeclampsia, and premature birth. Therefore, you may require a cesarean delivery.
Multiple sclerosis and lupus are common autoimmune diseases that may put your pregnancy in danger. For example, lupus is a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks and damages healthy tissues and organs. If you have lupus and are pregnant, you are at higher risk of premature birth and stillbirth.
Being overweight or obese makes you more susceptible to diabetes, which may make delivery difficult. Obesity can also make your fetus have an abnormal weight, affect the heart structure of the fetus and increase your risk of sleep apnea.
- Age
After age 35, you become susceptible to pregnancy-related complications that may require you to undergo a C-section delivery. You are also at high risk of gestational hypertension and diabetes, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, or prolonged labor.
Moreover, your baby becomes at higher risk of genetic disorders like Down syndrome.
If you get pregnant when below 20 years, you are also at higher risk of severe medical complications.
- Lifestyle factors
Certain unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use may harm your pregnancy.
Studies show that the use of drugs like marijuana can affect the health of your infant and increase the risk of stillbirth. Smoking marijuana can also affect the brain development of the fetus.
On the other hand, tobacco use increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), congenital disabilities, stillbirth, fetal death, or the infant developing a weakened immune system.
Contact Raveco Medical today to schedule an appointment with a specialist in pregnancy care.