What constitutes a high-risk pregnancy?
In its simplest definition, a high-risk pregnancy is any pregnancy where the health of the mother or the child may be at a higher risk than usual. There are many reasons why you may be labeled high risk, and some are things you have no control over.
The following are the most common conditions that could put you into the high-risk category:
- Over 35 years of age
- Pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension or diabetes
- A history of miscarriages
- Multiple babies
- Lifestyle choices such as drug use or smoking
- HIV/AIDS diagnosis
- Obesity
In addition to this list, if you’ve had any surgeries that may affect your reproductive health, Dr. Ahdoot will likely monitor you more closely.
How is high-risk pregnancy care different from typical pregnancy care?
Your care during a high-risk pregnancy depends upon what put you in the category in the first place. You should expect to visit Dr. Ahdoot more often than a normal prenatal care schedule dictates. During your visits, you may undergo more extensive testing, such as:
- More frequent and specialized ultrasounds
- Amniocentesis to check your amniotic fluid
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to check for genetic conditions
- Cordocentesis, which analyzes the blood in your umbilical cord
- Lab tests
- Medication management
If you have a pre-existing health condition or chronic health problem, Dr. Ahdoot works with your healthcare provider to ensure that your health condition is stabilized during your pregnancy without potentially causing harm to you or your baby.
Can my healthy pregnancy turn high risk?
The simple answer to this is yes. While Dr. Ahdoot endeavors to make every pregnancy a relatively easy one, any pregnancy can develop complications such as:
- Gestational diabetes
- Pre-eclampsia
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Abnormal position of the baby
- Problems with fetal development
Good prenatal care is important because it allows Dr. Ahdoot to monitor your pregnancy and increase his efforts, should any potential problem arise.
If you fall into the high-risk pregnancy group, call Dr. Ahdoot for expert guidance and care. You can also use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
