High-Risk Pregnancy
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What is a Complicated Pregnancy?
A complicated pregnancy, or high-risk pregnancy, occurs when the pregnancy poses a threat to the health of the mother or fetus due to previous health issues or complications that arise during pregnancy. A complicated pregnancy requires intensive monitoring before, during, and after childbirth.
What are the Symptoms of a Complicated Pregnancy?
- You should consult your doctor during pregnancy, and if you experience any of the following symptoms, which indicate a high-risk pregnancy:
- Persistent abdominal pain.
- Chest pain.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Severe fatigue.
- Decreased or stopped fetal movement.
- Fever.
- Heart palpitations.
- Severe vomiting and nausea that cannot be compared to morning sickness.
- Persistent severe headache.
- Severe swelling, redness, or pain in the face and limbs.
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming the fetus.
- Breathing problems.
Vaginal bleeding.
What are the Causes of a Complicated Pregnancy?
- A woman is more susceptible to a complicated pregnancy when:
- She has pre-existing health issues before pregnancy, such as diabetes, epilepsy, uterine fibroids, cancer, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, kidney diseases, glandular disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, and many other conditions.
- She is pregnant at an age younger than 17 or older than 35.
- She is underweight or overweight before pregnancy.
- There are lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy.
There are multiple pregnancies.
How is it diagnosed?
- The doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, and may request additional procedures as needed, such as:
- Blood tests.
- Urine sample analysis.
Ultrasound of the uterus and fetus.
- If the medical history, clinical examination, and previous tests suggest advanced diseases or issues, further tests may include:
- Additional blood tests specific to the suspected health issue.
- A swab from the vagina or cervix is taken if a sexually transmitted disease is suspected.
- Biophysical profile of the fetus (such as fetal heartbeats).
- Prenatal DNA testing through sampling of the placenta or amniotic fluid.
Comprehensive genetic screening.
How is a Complicated Pregnancy Treated?
- The treatment for a complicated pregnancy depends on the illness and its severity. Treatment involves several procedures, or as the situation requires, and may include:
- Continuous follow-up with an obstetrician-gynecologist.
- Advanced monitoring with ultrasound technology during pregnancy.
- Home monitoring of blood pressure.
Taking necessary medications to treat complications.
When the pregnancy poses a threat to your health or the fetus’s health, the doctor may suggest a cesarean delivery or labor induction.
How to Prevent a Complicated Pregnancy?
- Often, we cannot prevent a complicated pregnancy, but some factors can be avoided and controlled before planning for pregnancy, such as:
- Maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy.
- Abstaining from smoking.
- Knowing the potential risks before pregnancy by consulting a doctor.
- Treating existing diseases before pregnancy.
Following preventive measures against infections, such as abstaining from eating raw meat, ensuring hand hygiene, and taking vaccinations recommended by the doctor.
What are the Complications of a Complicated Pregnancy?
- The most common complications of a complicated pregnancy for the mother include:
- Gestational diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Preeclampsia.
- Preterm birth.
- Postpartum depression.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
Stroke.
- For the child:
- Behavioral disorders.
- Growth retardation.
- Neurological, auditory, and visual problems and disorders.
Congenital abnormalities.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you are planning to get pregnant, you should consult a doctor for appropriate advice.
- Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I avoid complications of a complicated pregnancy?
