7 Reasons Your Pregnancy May Be Considered High-Risk?

Learning that your pregnancy is considered high-risk can feel overwhelming and a little scary. 

At Advanced OB/GYNE Associates in Hoffman Estates and Arlington Heights, Illinois, our experienced physicians offer the support you need to safely bring your baby into the world, even if your pregnancy is deemed high-risk.

Our obstetrics team can identify the underlying conditions that could compromise a pregnancy. They customize a care plan to help you or your baby navigate any medical challenges you face throughout pregnancy, labor, and childbirth.

Here’s how our team explains the difference between low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.

What to know about low- and high-risk pregnancies

A low-risk pregnancy involves no significant health concerns in the mother or the fetus. 

Typically, a woman is considered to have a low-risk pregnancy if she’s carrying a single child, has no existing medical issues, and receives consistent prenatal care.

With a high-risk pregnancy, known factors could put the health of the mother or baby in danger.

Women considered high-risk require a higher level of prenatal care, including more frequent exams and diagnostic screenings to monitor mother and baby for health changes.

7 reasons your pregnancy may be high-risk

Only about 6%-8% of pregnancies are high-risk. But it’s essential to understand what might cause complications so you can care for yourself properly and get the prenatal care you need for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.

Here are five examples of factors that can make pregnancy high-risk:

1. Obesity

Body weight plays a vital role in current and long-term wellness. Women who are overweight or obese when they conceive may be at a higher risk for preeclampsia. This condition causes high blood pressure levels in an expectant mother, which can lead to organ damage.

Obesity can also contribute to gestational diabetes, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

2. Blood disorders

Blood disorders like anemia and sickle cell disease can affect a woman’s health and her pregnancy by causing frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), triggering preterm labor, and restricting fetal growth in the uterus.

3. Depression

Pregnant women with unmanaged depression are at increased risk for preterm births and the need for a cesarean section (C-section).

Depression and other mental health issues can also compromise an infant’s growth and development and lead to low birth weight.

4. Maternal age

Women over the age of 35 are considered high-risk due to their susceptibility to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Young mothers (typically those under 20) may also require a higher level of prenatal care due to their risk of preterm delivery and preeclampsia. Teen moms also are more likely to have babies who are small in size and have a low weight at birth.

5. Autoimmune disease

Expectant mothers with autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for congenital heart defects and miscarriage. Symptoms of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis can also worsen during pregnancy.

The team at Advanced OB/GYNE Associates offers personalized care plans for expectant moms with high-risk pregnancies. The offices are fully equipped with the latest technologies to monitor your health and your baby’s development, leading to delivery.

6. High blood pressure

High blood pressure during pregnancy, also called hypertension, can affect blood flow to the placenta, reducing oxygen and nutrients for your baby. This can slow the baby’s growth. You're also at a higher risk for preeclampsia, a serious condition with organ damage. Preeclampsia can lead to early delivery. Untreated high blood pressure raises your risk of placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterus. 

7. Diabetes

Diabetes during pregnancy means your body has trouble using sugar. The placenta makes hormones that can block insulin, leading to high blood sugar. This can cause problems for your baby, like birth defects or being too large. There's also a risk of stillbirth. For you, it raises the chance of preeclampsia and later diabetes. 

At Advanced OB/GYNE Associates, we are experts in managing high-risk pregnancies and are with you every step of the way. In fact, most of our patients are high-risk. 

To set up a prenatal consultation for all of your women's health care needs, call us or request an appointment online today.