Motherhood hospitals, Bangalore which has been at the forefront of mother and child care in India since its inception on April 18 elaborated on the causes of a high risk pregnancy during a press release.
 

Specialising in fertility and neonatal care, Motherhood hospital's team of renowned experts have treated innumerable cases of high-risk pregnancies in mothers with successful outcomes. A high-risk pregnancy is one where both the mother and the baby need special medical attention and care throughout the gestation period. Getting diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy can be very stressful for any couple, but knowing the risk factors and treatment options available can help them understand their experience better. Based on their collective years of experience handling such cases, Motherhood Hospitals has highlighted a few factors that can be the causes of a high-risk pregnancy.

Mothers who are already suffering from a pre-existing chronic health condition can face serious complications during their pregnancy. Even mothers who are perfectly healthy can experience sudden issues during their pregnancy which can put their health and the health of their baby at risk. Sometimes, if a mother has faced complications during her first pregnancy, it might increase her chances of having a high-risk pregnancy the next time as well.

Some pre-existing conditions which can lead to a high-risk pregnancy include kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, age, obesity, and HIV/AIDS. Kidney disease during pregnancy can exacerbate a chronic kidney condition by putting extra pressure on the kidneys. Having a pre-existing kidney condition can increase the chances of miscarriage, premature delivery and preeclampsia.

High blood pressure: It is possible to have a completely healthy pregnancy while experiencing high blood pressure. However, chronically high blood pressure can also delay foetal development, lead to preeclampsia or placental abruption. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are conditions which cause a high-risk pregnancy. Unless it is monitored very closely, diabetes can lead to complications with the baby like respiratory issues, jaundice and being born too large, a condition called macrosomia. It can also lead to problems with the mother like high blood pressure and premature delivery.

If the mother is above 35 at the time of her first pregnancy, it automatically increases her chances of developing complications during her pregnancy and birth defects in the foetus. Pregnancy at too early an age can also cause complications. Being overweight can cause several issues during pregnancy. Mothers with a BMI over 30 are always screened for gestational diabetes throughout their pregnancy. Obesity can also increase the risk of miscarriage, macrosomia, birth defects and premature delivery. Mothers who are classified as obese should also be prepared for a caesarean delivery since natural deliveries are rare for this type of pregnancy.

Mothers with HIV or AIDS might pass on the infection to their baby during pregnancy, at the time of delivery or through breastfeeding. There are many advanced medications, however, which can bring down the risk of transmission.( M0RE) Source: Motherhood Hospitals