Being pregnant is an important milestone in the life of the expecting mother and the family. Motherhood is one of the most exciting experiences; however there are a number of aspects that you need to be familiar with or trained before planning childbirth. Good prenatal care and medical expertise during pregnancy can help prevent complications. No matter how healthy and prepared you are, pregnancy can be exceptionally unpredictable. You need to plan always for the unexpected and be aware of the options if your pregnancy translates into a High Risk Pregnancy Situation.
Who is likely to have a high risk pregnancy?
You are at risk if you have any of the following habits or suffer from a pre existing disease:
- Are overweight – at least 10 kgs more
- Have seizures
- Use drugs
- Smoking
- Drink alcohol
- Have a family history of genetic defects
- Are expecting twins or triplets
- Are over age 35 or are younger than 18 yrs of age
Why are high risk pregnancy programs essential?
A high risk pregnancy program is developed to handle difficult obstetrics related situations. These situations may be predicted or may develop on emergency basis. The high risk pregnancies involve more than one life, it is important to develop a specialised program that is focused on the developing fetus and the expecting mother.
What should you expect if you are in the high risk pregnancy program?
- More visits to the doctor
- Increased monitoring of the baby’s and the expecting mothers health
- Possible hospitalization during and before delivery
- Frequent ultrasounds
