A high-risk pregnancy is one that carries increased health risks for the pregnant person or fetus. Factors that can make a pregnancy high-risk include preexisting medical conditions, pregnancy-related conditions, lifestyle factors like smoking or drug use, and age under 17 or over 35. People with high-risk pregnancies may need extra monitoring and care before, during, and after delivery to help reduce complications.

1. High-Risk Pregnancy
Definition: A “high-risk” pregnancy is any pregnancy that
carries increased health risks for the pregnant person,
fetus (unborn baby) or both. People with high-risk
pregnancies may need extra care before, during and
after they give birth. This helps to reduce the possibility
of complications.
Factors that make a pregnancy high risk include:
1. Preexisting health conditions.
2. Pregnancy-related health conditions.
3. Lifestyle factors (including smoking, drug
addiction, alcohol abuse and exposure to certain
toxins).
4. Age (being over 35 or under 17 when pregnant).
(Contd……)

2. Factors that make a pregnancy high risk
1. People with many preexisting conditions have increased
health risks during pregnancy. Some of these conditions
include:
• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or multiple
sclerosis (MS).
• COVID-19.
• Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Fibroids, High blood
pressure.
• HIV/AIDS, Kidney disease.
• Low body weight (BMI of less than 18.5).
• Mental health disorders, such as depression.
• Obesity, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Blood clotting disorders.

3. Factors that make a pregnancy high risk
2. Pregnancy-related health conditions that can pose
risks to the pregnant person and unborn baby
include:
• Birth defects or genetic conditions in the unborn
baby.
• Poor growth in the unborn baby.
• Gestational diabetes.
• Multiple gestation (pregnancy with more than one
baby, such as twins or triplets).
• Preeclampsia and eclampsia.
• Previous preterm labor or birth, or other
complications with previous pregnancies.

4. Factors that make a pregnancy high risk
4. Age (being over 35 or under 17 when pregnant):
Young people under 17 also have high-risk
pregnancies because they may be:
• Anemic.
• Less likely to get thorough prenatal care.
• More likely to have premature labor or birth.
• Unaware they have sexually transmitted diseases
and infections (STDs and STIs).
• Multiparity

5. DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
• Blood and urine testing to check for genetic
conditions or certain birth defects in the baby.
• Ultrasonography, which uses sound waves to
create images of the baby in the womb to screen
for birth defects.
• Monitoring to ensure the unborn baby is getting
enough oxygen, such as a biophysical
profile, which monitors their breathing,
movements and amniotic fluid using ultrasound,
and a non-stress test, which monitors their heart
rate.
(Contd…..)

6. DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
Biophysical profile:
The biophysical profile is a noninvasive prenatal
diagnostic test that usually is performed after the
28th week of pregnancy to evaluate the well-
being of the fetus. It combines
an ultrasound examination with a nonstress test.
The ultrasound test is designed to assess four
components:
• Fetal gross body movement
• Fetal muscle tone
• Fetal breathing movements
• Amniotic fluid volume

7. Complication
• A high-risk pregnancy can be life-threatening for the
pregnant person or unborn baby. Serious complications
can include:
• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure from pregnancy).
• Eclampsia (seizure from pregnancy).
• Preterm delivery.
• Cesarean delivery (C-section).
• Excessive bleeding during labor and delivery, or after
birth.
• Low or high birth weight.
• Birth defects.
• Problems with baby’s brain development.
• Miscarriage, Stillbirth.

8. MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
• Management for a high-risk pregnancy will
depend on the specific risk factors.
It include:
• Closer follow-up with obstetrician.
• Consultation with other medical specialists.
• More ultrasounds and closer fetal evaluation.
• Regular blood pressure monitoring.
• Careful monitoring of medications used to
manage preexisting conditions.

9. PREVENTION
• Avoiding drugs and alcohol and smoking.
• Identifying potential health risks before getting
pregnant.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight before
pregnancy.
• Making sure any long-term medications are
safe to take during pregnancy.
• Planning pregnancies between the ages of 18
and 34.