High Risk Pregnancy - What Makes a Pregnancy High Risk?

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High Risk Pregnancy
What Makes a Pregnancy "High Risk"?

While it's not something mothers-to-be want to hear, it's important that you do: About 10% of pregnancies are labeled high risk.

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's risk for developing a problem. Risk factors that can lead to complications with your pregnancy are categorized in three ways: those that are due to your preexisting medical problems, those that result from the pregnancy itself, and those that are due to your lifestyle. Fortunately, some risks - those that involve lifestyle choices, for instance - can be reduced if you change your behavior while you are pregnant.

If you have any of these risk factors, discuss them with your doctor and follow his or her instructions about ways to reduce your risk.

MEDICAL RISKS	OBSTETRIC RISKS	LIFESTYLE RISKS
High blood pressure Heart, kidney, lung or liver diseases Sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, or other viral and bacterial infections Diabetes Severe anemia Seizure disorders	Problems in past pregnancies If the mother is under 15 or over 35 Previous birth defects Multiple fetuses (twins, triplets or more) Bleeding, especially during second or third trimester Preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure) Abnormal fetal heartbeat Intrauterine growth restriction (fetus not growing adequately)	Smoking and drinking alcohol Taking drugs not prescribed by your doctor Poor nutrition, including inadequate weight gain Lack of prenatal care Multiple sex partners

Editorial provided by David Jaspan, DO, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia.