How to identify a high-risk pregnancy? Do I need special care? These and other questions will be answered in this article. Check it out!
High-risk pregnancies increase the chances of health problems for a woman and her baby before, during or after childbirth. Usually, you need to take special care during pregnancy. Find out what the risk factors are and what you can do to take good care of yourself and your baby.
How to identify a high-risk pregnancy
A high-risk pregnancy occurs when the mother and/or baby may experience health complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The most common factors are usually:
- Advanced maternal age: mothers over 35 years old.
- Bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs.
- Health issues: high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid disease, heart problems and infections.
- Pregnancy complications: unusual position of the placenta, abnormal fetal growth, and Rh factor sensitization, which can occur when the mother’s blood group is Rh negative and the baby’s is Rh positive.
- Multiple Pregnancy: Risks of pregnancy are higher for women who are carrying more than one fetus.
- Complications in the previous pregnancy: it is good to talk to the doctor about your pregnancy history, as cases such as hypertension and premature birth can be repeated.
High-risk pregnancy symptoms
Prenatal care and testing during pregnancy are essential to prevent pregnancy complications. However, with the rush of everyday life, many women can ignore some symptoms. Try to observe continuous signs and discomforts, such as:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Color and smell changes in vaginal discharge
- Severe headaches
- Pelvic pain
- Decreased fetal activity
- Abdominal pain
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Vision changes, including blurred vision
- Sudden swelling in the face, hands or fingers
- Fever or chills
- Vomiting or persistent nausea
- Dizziness
In the presence of these signs, talk to your obstetrician urgently so that he can guide you in the best way.
Care during pregnancy
If you know you have a high-risk pregnancy or simply want to do what you can to avoid complications, it’s important to take some precautions:
- Schedule a preconception appointment: If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, see a specialist. He may advise you to take a daily prenatal vitamin and reach a healthy weight before you become pregnant. If you have a medical condition, your treatment may be adjusted in preparation for pregnancy.
- Have an adequate diet: the first preventive measure is the diet, which includes supplements such as folic acid and others that may be necessary depending on your state of health. The ideal is to have the evaluation and guidance of a specialized nutritionist.
- Seek regular prenatal care: Prenatal visits can help your doctor monitor your health and your baby’s health. Ideally, you should be guided by an expert.
- Take care of your health: if you smoke, stop. Alcohol and illegal drugs should also be avoided. Talk to your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking.
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Also, read our article on how to prepare for a baby.
