A high-risk pregnancy is when a woman begins pregnancy with an illness or when, after medical examinations, it is found that there is some likelihood of developing an illness in the mother or baby during pregnancy or at the time of birth.
Generally, high-risk pregnancies develop in women who, before becoming pregnant, already have risk factors or situations, such as having unhealthy habits or being overweight. However, the pregnancy may be developing naturally and problems may arise at any time during the pregnancy.
When a high-risk pregnancy is diagnosed, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions and attend all prenatal consultations and exams, which tend to be more frequent. Furthermore, it is important to pay attention to your diet, hydration and lifestyle habits.
Risky pregnancy symptoms
Some symptoms that may indicate a high-risk pregnancy include:
- Bleeding from the vagina;
- Uterine contractions ahead of time;
- Release of amniotic fluid ahead of time;
- Do not feel the baby moving for more than a day;
- Frequent dizziness and fainting;
- Pain when urinating;
- Sudden swelling of the body;
- Frequent headache;
- Severe pain in the arms or legs;
- Gain a lot of weight in a short time;
- Frequent feeling of thirst;
- Sudden acceleration of heartbeat;
- Difficulty walking.
When you experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be started to prevent complications for the woman and the baby.
How to know if the pregnancy is at risk
To find out if the pregnancy is at risk, it is essential that the obstetrician is consulted so that tests can be carried out to assess the general health of both the woman and the baby, taking into account all the signs and symptoms presented by the woman.
Thus, the doctor may recommend carrying out laboratory tests, such as measuring total cholesterol and fractions, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, oral glucose tolerance test and blood count, in addition to measuring blood pressure and imaging tests, such as ultrasound. . See more about the exams recommended in prenatal care.
If a high-risk pregnancy is confirmed, the doctor may recommend other tests, such as cardiotocography, ABPM, fetal biochemical profile and fetal echocardiogram, for example. Find out more about the tests recommended for high-risk pregnancies.
The probability of a high-risk pregnancy is greater when the woman is under 17 years old or over 35 years old, and the risk may also be influenced by diseases and habits.
Main causes
The main causes of high-risk pregnancies are:
1. High blood pressure and pre-eclampsia
High blood pressure during pregnancy is a common problem and occurs when it is higher than 140/90 mmHg after two measurements taken at least 6 hours apart.
High blood pressure during pregnancy can be caused by a diet rich in salt, a sedentary lifestyle or malformation of the placenta, increasing the chances of having pre-eclampsia, which is an increase in blood pressure and loss of proteins, which can lead to miscarriage, seizures, coma and even the death of mother and baby, when the situation is not properly controlled.
2. Diabetes
A woman who is diabetic or who develops the disease during pregnancy also has a greater chance of having a high-risk pregnancy, as high blood sugar can cross the placenta and reach the baby, which can cause the baby to grow a lot and weigh heavily. more than 4 kg. A large baby makes birth difficult, requiring a cesarean section, and there is a greater chance of being born with problems such as jaundice, low blood sugar and respiratory problems.
3. Twin pregnancy
Twin pregnancies are considered risky because the uterus has to develop more and all the symptoms of pregnancy are more present. Furthermore, there are greater chances of having all the complications of pregnancy, especially high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and back pain, for example.
4. Consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs
The consumption of alcohol and drugs, such as heroin, during pregnancy crosses the placenta and affects the baby, causing growth delay, mental retardation and malformations in the heart and face and, therefore, it is necessary to carry out several tests to check how the baby is doing. is developing.
Cigarette smoke also increases the chances of miscarriage and can cause effects on the baby and pregnant woman, such as muscle fatigue, low blood sugar, memory loss, difficulty breathing and withdrawal syndrome.
5. Using dangerous medicines during pregnancy
Some medications, such as phenytoin, triamterene, trimethoprim, lithium, streptomycin, tetracyclines and warfarin, morphine, amphetamines, barbiturates, codeine and phenothiazines, may increase the risk of high-risk pregnancy due to their side effects. pass through the placenta and reach the baby, increasing the risk of complications in its development.
6. Weak immune system
A weakened immune system can also be considered a factor that increases the chance of a risky pregnancy, because there is a greater probability of a woman acquiring infections that can be passed on to the baby if not treated.
7. Pregnant woman with low weight or obesity
Very thin pregnant women, with a BMI below 18.5 kg/m2, they can have a premature birth, miscarriage and delayed growth of the baby because the pregnant woman offers few nutrients to the baby, limiting its growth, which can lead to it becoming sick easily and developing heart disease. Furthermore, women with excessive weight, especially when BMI greater than 35 kg/m2were more at risk of complications and could also affect the baby, who could develop obesity and diabetes.
Care during high-risk pregnancy
During a high-risk pregnancy, it is important that women take certain precautions to avoid complications for the woman and the baby, such as:
- Have a healthy and balanced dietrich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, white meats, such as chicken and turkey, and seeds, such as sesame or sunflower seeds;
- Avoid consumption of alcoholic beveragesas it can increase the risk of birth defects in the baby, premature birth and miscarriage;
- Restaccording to the obstetrician’s instructions;
- Control weightas excess weight can increase the risk of complications, such as hypertension, gestational diabetes and malformations in the baby;
- Do not smoke and avoid smoky environmentsas it can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and malformations in the baby, in addition to increasing the risk of complications, such as thrombosis.
It is also essential that regular consultations are made with the obstetrician so that adequate monitoring of the pregnancy can be carried out and, thus, it is possible to identify some changes early and, thus, start appropriate treatment as soon as possible, in order to maintain health. of mother and baby.
