High Risk Pregnancy: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

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High-risk pregnancy may be any pregnancy, which the doctor concludes to be irregular or abnormal. Do not panic if you find that you have a high-risk pregnancy, as it does not necessarily mean that you or your baby are in severe danger. There are many reasons, which can lead to a high-risk pregnancy.

Certain health problems in the mother can result in a high-risk pregnancy. For instance, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, epilepsy and kidney disease can lead to a high-risk pregnancy. If the mother consumes alcohol or ingests illegal drugs, a high-risk pregnancy is possible. Other causes include the age of the mother, previous miscarriages, HIV, Hepatitis and genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome and others.

Generally, treating the underlying condition is the only way to treat high-risk pregnancies. So, in case your doctor claims that you have such a pregnancy, he will also assign further tests to determine what causes the risk to the pregnancy. For instance, if you are under the age of 17 or over the age of 35, there is no such treatment for your high-risk pregnancy. However, if you suffer from high blood pressure, doctors will prescribe medication for the same.

Treatment differs from one person to the next as the cause for the high-risk pregnancy also varies. Usually, the treatment involves a combination of the following procedures.

Most mothers are asked to visit their doctors often. The frequency of these visits is much higher than they would be for a mother with a normal pregnancy.

Doctors may prescribe iron and vitamin supplements to mothers experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. These are vital to maintain the proper health of the child as well as the mother. However, keep in mind that you should avoid ingesting medications that have not been cleared by your doctor.

Avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancies. The habit is frowned upon for a reason. Alcohol intake can severely jeopardize your baby’s health.

Folic acid intake is also recommended during the pregnancy. This prevents your baby from being born with certain birth defects.

If you are over 35 years of age or below the age of 17, your doctor may prescribe certain medications or tests to diagnose underlying issues.

Finally, if you are suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure or any other issues doctors will prescribe medication for these.

Mothers who have been diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy are eligible for the treatment. The diabetes, high-blood pressure and asthma treatment is only required if the mother suffers from one of these. In fact, the form of treatment may differ from one patient to the next, but every mother with a high-risk pregnancy needs to undergo some form of treatment.

Mothers with a normal pregnancy or women who are not pregnant do not qualify for these treatments. Women who plan on getting pregnant can take precautions to safeguard against high-risk pregnancies however they should not sign up for the treatment before conceiving.

Side effects may be caused from the medications of high blood pressure and diabetes, but none of these cause any lasting damage to the mother or the child. Women undergoing high-risk pregnancies are often prescribed complete bed rest. While this is done to avoid over exertion or stress for the mother, the same can also cause harm. According to studies, inactivity can cause complications for the pregnancy as well. So, try to get ample amounts of rest, but also try to maintain an exercise schedule.

This again depends on the cause of the high-risk pregnancy. Some causes like alcohol intake and smoking can be rectified in a matter of months. However, genetic disorders in the foetus cannot be completely cured. Instead, the treatment looks to alleviate some of the symptoms. So, there is no fixed duration in which the treatment works.

The cost depends on the underlying issue leading to the high-risk pregnancy. Some disorders require costly medication, while others do not.

The results are not permanent. If you follow the instructions of the doctors for the duration of the pregnancy, the condition should be contained. However, if the mother does not follow the treatment properly or if she conceives for a second time, the high-risk factor may come back.