If you’ve wanted to have a baby, finding out you’re pregnant can be one of the happiest days of your life. If you’re a first-time mother-to-be, you may be thinking about how to decorate the nursery and already have names picked out. Some you may experience some anxiety, too, knowing that all pregnancies carry some level of risk for you and your unborn baby.
Our team of board-certified OB/GYNs at Abortion Care in Somerset, New Jersey, is with you from conception through birth. We monitor you and your developing baby throughout your pregnancy and classify it as high-risk if necessary.
Having a high-risk pregnancy doesn’t mean something bad will happen; it just means we need to watch you more closely and be prepared for complications, should they arise. Learn what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy so you’re ready for anything that comes your way.
What constitutes a high-risk pregnancy?
A pregnancy might be classified as high-risk if you had previous miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, or emergency Cesarean sections. Sometimes, chronic health conditions like HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anemia, lupus, or cancer can pose a risk to you or your baby, too. Smoking or doing illegal drugs, being obese, or carrying multiple babies are also factors.
Sometimes, conditions develop during pregnancy that put an otherwise normal pregnancy into the high-risk category. These include:
- Gestational diabetes, which affects how you process sugar
- Preeclampsia, high blood pressure, and protein in your urine
- Placenta previa, in which the placenta covers your cervix (a C-section may be needed)
- Early labor, before 37 weeks’ gestation
- Fetal development issues
To rule out genetic disorders or infections, we may recommend testing. Amniocentesis takes a sample of amniotic fluid, cordocentesis takes a blood sample from your umbilical cord, and chorionic villus sampling takes cells from the placenta.
Considerations with high-risk pregnancies
Having a high-risk pregnancy can be stressful. You may constantly worry about something happening to your baby and be sad, depressed, and afraid.
It’s essential to remain connected to friends and family for emotional support during your pregnancy. You can even talk to other women who’ve experienced a similar situation. For example, you could reach out to a mother of triplets if you are also carrying multiples.
If you think you’re pregnant, it’s important to make an appointment as soon as possible so we can get you on a schedule of regular prenatal exams and address any concerns you may have. The caring team at Abortion Care helps women of all ages with their family-planning needs. Call us at 732-408-6182 today.
