High Risk Pregnancy Factors

A high risk pregnancy can be defined as one in which either the mother or the unborn child or both are at a risk for complications, which may arise during as well as after the pregnancy. There are many factors, some caused by external things that a pregnant woman might be exposed to, such as alcohol, drugs, radiation therapy, etc. or others caused by some disorder that might develop inside a pregnant woman's body. Here is a list of all the factors which might lead to a high risk pregnancy.

Drugs
Researches have shown that certain drugs if taken during pregnancy can cause many complications and birth defects. Examples of such drugs are antibiotics such as tetracycline and streptomycin, immunosuppressant methotrexate and isotretinoin.

Addictive Substances
Intake of certain addictive substances such as alcohol, cocaine and even smoking can lead to complications. Alcohol is known to cause mental retardation, cocaine can cause premature birth and stillbirth, while smoking can diminish the growth of fetus, causing behavioral and mental problems in the child.

Physical Characteristics
Certain physical characteristics of a pregnant woman, such as being underage or overage, i.e. less than fifteen or more than thirty-five years of age, being underweight, i.e. less than hundred pounds, being of a lesser height, i.e. less than five feet, are one the major high pregnancy risk factors. Underage women who become pregnant my suffer from anemia and their babies too are at an increased risk of being underweight. Over aged women are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and stillbirth. Obese or overweight women face the risk of giving birth to large babies which may be very difficult to deliver. Women with short heights have small pelvis, which might create problems during labor.

Medical Conditions
A woman who is already suffering from certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or any other disease, such as a heart disease or a kidney disease, can face many problems during her pregnancy.

Previous Pregnancy Complications
Another high risk factor is if a woman has faced complications in her previous pregnancy, such as she has delivered a premature baby, an overweight or underweight baby, has suffered a miscarriage, has been through a cesarean delivery, has had a stillborn child or a child with certain birth defects. A woman who has experienced either of these, is at a greater risk of developing pregnancy related complications, compared to a woman who has had a normal delivery previously.

Abnormalities in Uterus
Any kind of abnormality in the structure or the placement of the uterus or the cervix, can increase the risk of pregnancy related complications. A woman whose fetus is placed abnormally may need a cesarean delivery. Reproductive abnormalities can sometimes lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth too.

These are the primary factors which can cause pregnancy related complications. In order to detect and overcome complications that arise out of pre-existing disorders or medical conditions, it is very necessary that a woman undergoes various high risk pregnancy tests such as ultrasound, first trimester screening, chorionic villus sampling, fetal blood sampling, fetal monitoring, non-stress testing, biophysical profile, doppler flow studies, amniocentesis and alpha fetoprotein. Through these tests, any risk and complication that the woman or the child may face can be identified beforehand and thus, taken care of accordingly. Early screenings and treatments, in many cases, help in ensuring a safe pregnancy.