Bringing new life into the world is a nine-month journey that has many unexpected events in store, even if you’ve been through it before and feel fully prepared. Carrying your child causes many changes, including an increase in blood volume, the development of the placenta and umbilical cord, unusual food cravings, and, of course, morning sickness.
While every pregnancy has some risk of complications, most go smoothly, leaving you and your newborn to go home happy and healthy. However, some circumstances can lead to your pregnancy becoming high risk, which poses a greater threat of problems for both you and the baby.
Pregnant women in the Las Vegas, Nevada area trying to prevent or manage issues with high-risk pregnancy and other problems can rely on the dedicated team of Dr. Staci McHale and her staff at WHASN Sunset Valley. Here we explore the factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancies, the complications associated with them, and what we can do to help.
The basic definition for a high-risk pregnancy is any pregnancy that carries an increased risk of complications. Some of the risk factors include:
People who get pregnant under 17 or over 35 are at a higher risk of complications.
Your risk is higher if you’re struggling with pre-existing health problems, like autoimmune diseases, diabetes, hypertension, fibroids, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, obesity, thyroid disease, mental health disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or blood clotting illnesses.
Smoking, illegal drug use, and alcohol abuse are all things that can endanger your and your child’s life even more while pregnant.
A high-risk pregnancy can cause the following complications:
When you’re still carrying your baby, a high-risk pregnancy can lead to gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and congenital conditions.
During your delivery, a high-risk pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, excess bleeding, preterm delivery, or an emergency cesarean section (C-section).
You should go to the ER if the baby stops moving or you have bleeding, trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, blurred vision, or a headache that doesn’t go away.
With proper preparation and care, these risks of complications can be reduced in severity or avoided. Regular appointments during pregnancy are vital, and we can help you learn about the potential risks of genetic conditions for your child through testing and a thorough family history.
Screenings to help us monitor the pregnancy include ultrasounds, cell-free DNA testing, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, as well as standard blood and urine tests.
We offer a range of services to help manage complications as they arise and ensure you deliver a safe and healthy baby. Make an appointment with Dr. McHale and the WHASN Sunset Valley team today to keep high-risk pregnancies under control.
