If you’re recently pregnant, or hoping to be, there’s a lot that’s probably running through your mind. Along with the excitement and happiness, there might be thoughts that scare you as well, including the risk of complications or a difficult pregnancy. The best way to get ahead of that anxiety is to learn what puts a pregnancy in the high-risk category.
At our facility in Plano, Texas, Dr. John Paul Roberts takes every step of your pregnancy seriously, especially if you’re at risk for certain complications. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you don’t have to worry, because our team helps you and your baby stay healthy along the way.
When you’re thinking about getting pregnant, you most likely aren’t thinking about your chance of having complications. However, problems do occasionally arise during pregnancy, and it can be stressful.
The same applies if you’re deemed to have a high-risk pregnancy. This is determined by a number of different factors, which include:
Other chronic diseases may also put you at risk for complications during your pregnancy. These may include cancer or blood disorders, among others.
“Advanced maternal age” is simply a way of saying you’re pregnant and over the age of 35. While this doesn’t always mean you’re at risk of having problems, it does predispose you and your baby to certain issues, such as chromosomal disorders.
When you find out you’re pregnant, make an appointment with Dr. Roberts right away. His assessment can help ease your mind and determine if you’re at an increased risk for complications. This also helps us schedule your appointments to monitor your pregnancy and your baby’s progress.
Understanding the truth about high-risk pregnancies and weeding out the myths is the first step to a happy and healthy pregnancy journey. Here are four common myths that you may hear regarding high risk pregnancies:
Just because you’re over 35 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have complications during your pregnancy. Age is just one of the many factors that goes into deciding if you’re high risk. Chances are, if you’re healthy and over 35, you may not have any issues during your pregnancy.
The term high risk doesn’t mean something is necessarily wrong with your baby. In fact, it just means there’s a lot more unpredictability with your pregnancy and more of a chance of complications. So don’t worry. With extra prenatal care and monitoring, many women with high-risk pregnancies have normal pregnancies and healthy babies.
Each of your pregnancies is different, meaning just because one is high risk doesn’t mean the others will be. Some health issues resolve over time, meaning they won’t be an issue for your future pregnancies. Other issues, such as having multiples, are not likely to reoccur in subsequent pregnancies.
Sex during a normal pregnancy is fine up until the final weeks, and the same is true for many high-risk pregnancies.
However, there are some high-risk pregnancies where sex may need to be curtailed, for example, if you’re at risk for preterm labor. Dr. Roberts will discuss this with you and let you know if you need to be cautious about intercourse.
When you have a high-risk pregnancy, Dr. Roberts keeps a close eye on you and your baby to help you have an uneventful pregnancy journey and a safe delivery.
Pregnancy should be a time of excitement and anticipation, so if you’re concerned about your health or your baby’s health, call our office in Plano, Texas, to make an appointment. You can also use our online booking tool located here on our website.
