What Is Considered a High-Risk Pregnancy?
Being pregnant means a lot of changes in your body over a nine month period. It always comes with some level of risk but when does a pregnancy become high risk, and what can be done about it?
What Lifestyle Choices Can I Make to Support My High-Risk Pregnancy?
All pregnancies can lead to complications, and if you have a high-risk pregnancy, all of these remarkable changes may come with problems that threaten your health and the health of your unborn child. Luckily, there are ways you can mitigate possible problems even during a high-risk pregnancy.
If you live in the Las Vegas, Nevada area and you’re struggling with a high-risk pregnancy, the award-winning practice of Dr. Staci McHale and her dedicated team at New Beginnings OB-GYN can help.
High-risk pregnancy basics
About 15% of pregnancies globally qualify as high risk, meaning the chances of complications have increased at any point during pregnancy, and special care is needed to ensure a safe birth.
An estimated 50,000 people struggle with this annually and it is more common in Black women. It is also important to note that despite the possible risks involved in these kinds of pregnancies, they usually result in healthy parents and newborns.
Factors that cause high-risk pregnancy
Age is a well-known cause for a high risk-pregnancy but there are a lot of different factors involved, including:
- Health conditions: mothers struggling with conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, obesity, thyroid problems, heart problems, and blood disorders are at higher risk
- Lifestyle choices: illegal drug use, smoking, and drinking can all affect you and your child during a pregnancy
- History of problems during pregnancy: previous issues trying to give birth, like preeclampsia or hypertension, can affect future attempts at having kids
- Multiple births: the risk of complications also increases with having two or more children in a single pregnancy
Other problems that can affect giving birth include anemia, preterm labor, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), genetic disorders, ectopic pregnancies, and prolonged labor.
Lifestyle changes to manage the risks
Here are some ways you can lower risks during this type of pregnancy:
Immunizations
Being up to date on your vaccines can help to be sure you and your child are healthy during this important time. Check with your doctor to determine what shots you may need based on your medical history.
Vitamins and supplements
You’ll need more nutrients for you and your child during this time, so prenatal vitamins such as folate, iron, vitamin D, magnesium, and choline are just some things you can take to help maintain health while pregnant.
Lifestyle changes
Since they are already risk factors for this condition, avoiding smoking, drinking, and illegal drugs improves your chances of a healthy birth. If you’re having sex during this time, use protection and get checked for STDs if you encounter any symptoms.
Regular exercise
While weight gain is normal during pregnancy, a healthy weight and regular exercise are important too. Doctor-recommended routines can help you stay in shape while having your baby.
Routine doctor visits
Regular trips to check up on your health help us monitor how well you and the baby are doing, as well as manage problems as they come.
High-risk pregnancies can be scary, but you can get through it and we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. McHale and her team at New Beginnings OB-GYN today to get through this as a healthy mother and newborn child.
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