Managing a High-Risk Pregnancy
Finding an obstetrician or midwife is probably one of the first things you’ll do after learning about a pregnancy, but what happens if your pregnancy turns out to be high risk?
What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?
Managing a high-risk pregnancy doesn’t have to be as frightening as it sounds. There are a wide range of conditions which can lead to a pregnancy being deemed high risk, include gestational diabetes, incompetent cervix, hypertensive pregnancy and multiple pregnancy. Your age at the time of conception may also be a contributing factor to a high-risk classification, as can certain pre-existing medical conditions.
Prenatal Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
Depending on the underlying cause for your high risk classification, you may require special monitoring throughout your pregnancy, be prescribed bed rest or need to make certain lifestyle changes in order to ensure the safety of your pregnancy. If you initially chose a midwife to oversee your prenatal care before learning of a high-risk pregnancy, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be referred to an obstetrician in order to ensure you get the monitoring and care you and your unborn baby will need, as well.
The key to managing a high-risk pregnancy is to establish a relationship with an obstetrician you trust. Look for a prenatal care provider who has extensive experience managing high-risk prenatal care, and who is available to address any questions or concerns you may have. If you’re over the age of thirty-five or have certain health conditions before conceiving, it’s especially important that you choose an obstetrics practice with a focus on high-risk pregnancy care. Together, you and your obstetrician can work to manage your high-risk pregnancy.
Posted on behalf of Carlos Alarcon, M.D., Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A.
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