High risk pregnancy

Causes of high-risk pregnancy

Non-gynecological or social medical circumstances of the woman before pregnancy Among the social causes as a risk factor, we find women who live far from health centers and who tend to neglect medical advice, adolescents with little family support, women with drug addiction or alcoholism ... Among the medical circumstances that may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, we find above all maternal age under 18 or over 40, women with medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, hepatitis, coagulation disorders, obesity, extreme thinness, autoimmune diseases ... and also women with psychiatric disorders.

Maternal gynecological pathology present before pregnancy

In this section we could find women with a history of infertility who have required assisted reproduction treatments, women with a history of repeat abortions, both first trimester and late. Women who have previously had high-risk pregnancies, with fetal pathology such as malformations in previous pregnancies, genetic or chromosomal pathologies in previous pregnancies would also be in this classification, or those who have had maternal pathology such as gestational diabetes, HELLP syndrome ... We should also include here women with malformations of the female genital tract, such as uterine malformations, those with large fibroids or well placed in areas that may affect the proper development of the baby ...

Pathology that appears during pregnancy

The risk pregnancy classification is somewhat dynamic and, therefore, can vary throughout the pregnancy. It is common for a pregnancy to begin as a low-risk pregnancy but that some circumstance causes it to change its classification, becoming a high-risk pregnancy. At the beginning of pregnancy, the detection of a multiple pregnancy will make the pregnancy considered risky, depending on the number of embryos, the number of placentas and amniotic sacs. If there is a pregnancy or hypertension, pregnancy will be considered risky. Also, if there is an infection, both viral and bacterial, that can be dangerous for the mother, or harmless for the mother but that can be harmful to the baby, the pregnancy will be classified as high risk. In the event of a purely pregnancy pathology such as premature contractions or premature rupture of the amniotic bag, the pregnancy will be considered risky.

Fetal pathology

Finally, fetal pathology can also cause a pregnancy is considered high risk, even if it is not harmful to the mother. Fetal malformations can produce curable or permanent fetal pathology, and sometimes become fatal. Fetuses with growth pathologies, both by default and by excess, will also be considered at risk. On the other hand, infections, such as that, that are not harmful to women can cause malformations or alterations in the functionality of any organ of the fetus, both because it is already present at birth and because it develops after a few months or some years. Finally, teratogens are harmful substances for the baby. This is the case of some medications, X-rays ... which will also require a specific study.

All high-risk pregnancies should be controlled in units prepared for it and with sufficient experience. The insurances have a wide medical staff of specialists in gynecology and obstetrics who will perform all the necessary tests to protect your health and that of your baby. Depending on the factor that causes the risk consideration, the control should be different, with more or more tests or blood pressure, sugar, more frequent fetal monitoring ...

• Some circumstances can turn a pregnancy into a risky pregnancy that must be well controlled.
• This is the case of non-gynecological or social medical situations of women prior to pregnancy, as well as gynecological pathologies prior to gestation and those that appear during pregnancy, or fetal pathology.
• All high-risk pregnancies should be controlled in units prepared for it and with sufficient experience.