Obstetrics And High Risk Pregnancies

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What is a high-risk pregnancy?

All pregnancies carry risks. The definition of a “high-risk” pregnancy is any pregnancy that carries increased health risks for the pregnant person, fetus (unborn baby) or both. People with high-risk pregnancies may need extra care before, during and after they give birth. This helps to reduce the possibility of complications.

However, having a pregnancy that’s considered high risk doesn’t mean you or your unborn baby will have problems. Many people experience healthy pregnancies and normal labor and delivery despite having special health needs.

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How common is high-risk pregnancy?

Factors that make a pregnancy high risk include:

  • Preexisting health conditions.

  • Pregnancy-related health conditions.

  • Lifestyle factors (including smoking, drug addiction, alcohol abuse and exposure to certain toxins).

  • Age (being over 35 or under 17 when pregnant).

What are the signs and symptoms of high-risk pregnancy?

    Talk to your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms during pregnancy, whether or not your pregnancy is considered high-risk:

  • Oedema

  • Swelling

  • Abdominal pain that doesn’t go away.

  • Chest pain.

  • Dizziness or fainting.

  • Extreme fatigue.

  • Your unborn baby's movement stopping or slowing.

  • Fever over 100.4°F.

  • Heart palpitations.

  • Nausea and vomiting that’s worse than normal morning sickness.

  • Severe headache that won’t go away or gets worse.

  • Swelling, redness or pain in your face or limbs.

  • Thoughts about harming yourself or your unborn baby.