What Causes a High Risk Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is an exciting yet worrisome time for any mother as she worries about the impending labor and the stresses of being a new mother. These worries can become compounded if the pregnancy is considered high-risk. There are many reasons a doctor may term your pregnancy high risk.

Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Preeclampsia is signified by high blood pressure during pregnancy. It includes protein in the urine and a significant change in the levels of liver enzymes in the blood. The condition can cause death to the mom or baby. Eclampsia is an elevated form of preeclampsia that can result in seizures and a coma for the mom and, if left untreated, death.

Gestational Diabetes

This is a form of diabetes that you can only get while you are pregnant. A woman who has never had diabetes before becoming pregnant but develops it after conception has gestational diabetes. Left untreated it can lead to death for the baby.

Placenta Previa

Placenta Previa is a placenta that sits low in the uterus and is near or covering the cervix. This can cause a problem if doesn't correct itself, since it can cause bleeding and pre-term delivery.

Age

Young girls who conceive are considered higher risk since their bodies are not finished developing. Older women are more prone to complications because they are at higher risk for high blood pressure, labor complications and diabetes.

Prior Miscarriage

If you have had previous miscarriages, your doctor will likely deem you high-risk. You will be watched closer the next time around and monitored more frequently with ultrasounds to help with early detection of any problems.

References

• High Risk Pregnancy FAQs
• High Risk Pregnancy
• Seven Pregnancy Complications