Our team of internationally recognised obstetricians have several years of experience and expertise in high-risk pregnancy management. We offer specialised antenatal care for high-risk mothers that includes routine risk assessment, high-precision monitoring, medicinal guidance and counselling. We partner with you from the early stages of conception to keep a careful watch on your health. Our care team is supported by an advanced fetal medicine centre, modular ICU facilities and state-of-the-art Level III NICU to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable pregnancy.
There are several reasons why a woman may experience high-risk pregnancy. Common causes and risk factors include:
Young or advanced maternal age – Women who conceive at an early age (before 17 years) or at an advanced age (over 35 years) are more prone to experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or related complications.
Pre-existing health conditions – Expecting mothers who were predisposed to health conditions before conception are more likely to have complications. Conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid, heart disorders, endometriosis, PCOS, autoimmune disease, kidney disease, HIV, asthma and infections may increase pregnancy risks.
Multiple pregnancies – The chances of suffering from pregnancy complications largely increase in women who carry more than one fetus (twins or triplets).
Pregnancy complications – Some health conditions develop during pregnancy and pose a possible risk to the mother or fetus. These conditions include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, anaemia, breech position, preterm labour, genetic defects and infections.
Lifestyle disorders – Sedentary and poor lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, smoking, substance abuse and lack of exercise can induce complications at any stage of pregnancy.
Problems in a previous pregnancy – Health problems like preeclampsia or preterm labour that may have occurred in the last pregnancy can also increase pregnancy risks in future.
Prenatal tests and screenings for high-risk mothers are highly specialised and targeted to avoid complexities. Some common interventions include:
Lab tests – Routine blood and urine tests are done to check the presence of infections such as HIV, urine tract infections and syphilis.
Specialised ultrasound scans – High-precision ultrasound scans are performed to detect fetal abnormalities. Ultrasound scans also help measure the length of the cervix to determine the possibility of preterm labour.
Amniocentesis – Amniocentesis is a procedure to screen the amniotic fluid of the mother. A small sample of amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus of the mother and screened for birth defects, physical abnormalities and fetal infection.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) – Chorionic villus sampling is a prenatal test in which a sample of chorionic villi is extracted from the placenta. The chorionic villus is an essential component of the placenta responsible for regulating and transporting oxygen and nutrients. CVS test can help in the detection of chromosomal problems like Down syndrome or genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease and sickle cell anaemia.
High-risk pregnancies can be effectively managed and treated at any stages of the pregnancy under the guidance of a verified specialist. The treatment protocol varies for each woman depending upon her risk factors and overall health. In some cases, healthcare providers aim to treat the underlying condition to prevent pregnancy and birthing complications. While in others, medicinal interventions are offered to minimise the risk of complications for a safe pregnancy.
Expecting mothers can prevent or minimise their chances of high-risk pregnancy. Take the following steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy:
Routine prenatal checkup – Prenatal checkups can offer valuable insights to healthcare providers about the present state of your pregnancy. Additionally, prenatal tests and screenings can help in early detection and hence timely treatment of health conditions that may pose any threats.
Healthy living – A healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy pregnancy. You should strictly adhere to your doctor’s advice, eat a nutrient-dense diet, exercise regularly, maintain healthy body weight and take your prenatal vitamins.
An unhealthy lifestyle like drinking alcohol and medical conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, thyroid, heart disorders and infections can make your pregnancy high-risk.
You may have a high-risk pregnancy if you have conceived at an early or advanced age, you are carrying twins or triplets and if you have a history of previous complicated pregnancies.
Follow your doctor’s guidance, regularly monitor your blood sugar levels, eat a healthy diet and maintain healthy body weight to manage your high-risk pregnancy.
You may get 10-12 ultrasounds for a high-risk pregnancy.
