HealthPartners - Your guide to pregnancy

HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY

A pregnancy is called high risk when a medical condition or pregnancy related complication threatens the health of you or your baby.

Factors that may contribute to a high-risk pregnancy include: • Health conditions – High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, infections, and others • Your age – Including teen pregnancy and first pregnancies at age 35 or over • Your lifestyle – Including alcohol, tobacco, and drug use • Pregnancy conditions – Including multiple babies, history of preterm birth, bleeding, and others Just like every person is different, so is every pregnancy. Not every high-risk pregnancy can be predicted. But if you do experience complications, you will be monitored very closely. Special testing can help monitor your condition and determine the best time for your baby to be born. You may need to see your health care provider more often or consult with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who specializes in managing high-risk pregnancies.

WARNING SIGNS

Pregnancy can be a normal state for most people. But sometimes complications happen that need immediate attention. Almost all complications will give you some type of warning sign. Complications that are found early have the best chance of being treated. Call your health care provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• Dimness or blurring of vision • Severe headaches or ones that won’t go away • Abdominal pain not relieved by heat, rest, or bowel movement • Chills or fever over 100ºF

• Vomiting that won’t stop • Painful or burning urination • Decrease in your baby’s movements • Sudden or slow escape of fluid from the vagina

• Bleeding from nipples, rectum, or bladder or coughing up blood • Any vaginal bleeding (except a small amount after a pelvic exam) • Swelling of hands or face

46 Your Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy