An Overview of High-Risk Pregnancy
An Overview of High-Risk Pregnancy
A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy that has a greater chance of encountering problems before, during, or after delivery. It necessitates more careful monitoring than a typical pregnancy.
But, even though there is the potential for complications, with early and regular care a high-risk pregnancy can still be healthy and lead to a healthy delivery and baby.
Screening is a way to gather information to see if someone is at risk for a situation. Screening tests do not give a diagnosis, but they can help healthcare providers recognize who may have or develop an issue.
- Pregnancy history
- Physical examination
- Measurements such as weight and blood pressure
- Ultrasound
- Blood and urine tests
During any pregnancy, you should be on the lookout for signs that mean you need to seek medical care as soon as possible. It’s even more so when your pregnancy is high risk. So, be vigilant and watch out for:
- A headache
- Blurry vision
- Feeling faint or very dizzy
- A fever
- Bleeding
- A change in type or odor of vaginal discharge
- A gush of fluid
- Cramps
- Contractions
- A UTI — burning or pain when you pee
- A change in the baby’s movements
Care Tips
There are things you should do to try to be as healthy as you can during any pregnancy, but it’s especially essential during a high-risk pregnancy. If your pregnancy is a high risk, here’s what you can do to manage it and stay as healthy as possible.
Prepare for pregnancy: Make an appointment with your OB/GYN when you begin thinking about starting your family, especially if you have a health situation such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Go to all your doctor appointments: High-risk pregnancies need more monitoring, care, and treatment than a pregnancy that isn’t high risk. So, it might take up a lot of your time, and you may feel like you are always going to an office or a lab, but make it a point to get to all your prenatal testing and checkups. It’s really essential.
Nourish your body: Eat well and drink plenty of fluids. If you have special dietary needs because you’re on a special diet, you have diabetes, or you have an eating disorder, then your doctor may recommend you see a nutritionist or a dietician be sure you’re getting the proper nutrition you need during your pregnancy.