All pregnancies carry a risk of complications, but the chances of something happening are usually very low.
If the chances that you will experience a particular problem are greater than normal, you will be identified by your midwife or doctor as having a high risk pregnancy. You will need to take a little extra care of yourself and your baby and you may need to see an obstetrician for antenatal care.
What is a High Risk Pregnancy?
A high risk pregnancy is one in which the risk of certain complications is higher than normal. Although the chances of anything happening can still be low, your doctor will want to keep a closer eye on you, just in case.
You may be identified as having a high risk pregnancy because you:
- Have a pre-existing health condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes that could affect your pregnancy
- Are a very young mother or are over the age of 35
- Are overweight or underweight
- Have had complications in previous pregnancies
- Are expecting twins or more
- You develop a condition such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or placenta previa during your pregnancy.
Having a higher risk pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean that you will experience complications. Most women will go on to give birth without any problems. However, it is important to know when you are at risk so that you can take precautions and get treatment when it is needed. If you develop a complication, it will need to be treated in order to prevent potentially serious problems for you and your baby.
Obstetrician-led Care
If you are having a higher risk pregnancy, you may need additional care from an obstetrician to prevent or treat any problems:
- You may just have a single consultation with the doctor to discuss a specific pregnancy complication.
- In some cases it will be necessary for an obstetrician to take charge of your antenatal care. You may need to have your antenatal appointments with a doctor instead of a midwife.
- An obstetrician may need to be there at the birth to deliver your baby or perform a Caesarean section.
The additional care that you receive from your obstetrician for a high risk pregnancy will depend on the kind of risk that has been identified:
- Your doctor may recommend steps you can take to reduce the risk, such as changing your diet or taking a supplement.
- You may also need additional monitoring during pregnancy to ensure any signs of trouble are spotted quickly.
- You might have additional antenatal consultations, ultrasound scans or screening tests.
If you do develop any complications during pregnancy, you may need treatment to address them. In some cases, it may be necessary to arrange a Caesarean or to deliver your baby earlier than expected. Your antenatal care and treatment will be tailored to your needs and our gynaecology specialists at Lotus Klinik will explain the options to you in detail.