Pregnancy is an exciting time in your life, and you hope that the baby is healthy, but what if you're at risk for complications? Your age and other factors contribute to your and the baby's health.
A high-risk pregnancy is scary, especially if it's unexpected. You may be confused about what's causing you to fall into the high-risk category and have many questions and concerns about your and your baby's health.
Dr. John Paul Roberts and our team are experts in obstetrics and gynecology, providing prenatal care to women with high-risk and healthy pregnancies. Dr. Roberts helps you every step of the way to keep you and the baby healthy until you give birth.
Pregnancy is a significant life change and always carries certain risks. A high-risk pregnancy, though, is one that has health risks for the mother and the unborn baby.
Women with high-risk pregnancies need more prenatal care, ultrasounds, and other testing to ensure their health throughout the pregnancy. They need more appointments and care compared to someone with a low-risk pregnancy.
The extra care necessary for a high-risk pregnancy helps prevent dangerous complications to you or your baby's health. But just because your pregnancy is a high-risk one doesn't mean you'll have complications. Many women with high-risk pregnancies remain healthy and have complication-free births.
There are several reasons Dr. Roberts may classify your pregnancy as high-risk. For example, you may have a high-risk pregnancy if you're over 35 or under 17 when you become pregnant. Other contributing factors include:
Other chronic health issues also contribute to a high-risk pregnancy. Autoimmune disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and mental health issues also result in a high-risk pregnancy.
Whether you're high-risk or not, some symptoms could signal a risk to you or your unborn baby. Any of the following symptoms may put your pregnancy at risk:
Other problematic signs include vaginal bleeding or discharge. You should also notify Dr. Roberts if you feel a reduction in the fetus's movement or stop feeling movement altogether.
Anytime you have a high-risk pregnancy, these symptoms are more likely to appear, which is why you need constant prenatal care to protect you and the unborn child.
Dr. Roberts carefully evaluates your health and the baby's health if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Specific details depend on the reason for your high-risk status, but management usually involves:
Dr. Roberts also closely monitors the medications you take for chronic medical conditions, which may or may not affect the health of the fetus. You can expect multiple appointments, more than women without a high-risk pregnancy.
In severe cases when the mother or baby's health is at risk, Dr. Roberts may schedule a C-section or induce labor to deliver the baby before any complications occur.
If you're expecting and need expert prenatal care, don't hesitate to call our Plano, Texas, office today at 972-591-8540 or request a consultation via this website.
