Healthcare providers use the term "critical pregnancy" to describe a high-risk pregnancy. Some critical pregnancies involve the mother, fetus, or both at risk, while others involve a mother at greater risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery than a normal pregnancy. Therefore, early detection of a critical pregnancy can help reduce adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus.
What is a Critical Pregnancy?
All pregnancies are naturally at risk, but a critical pregnancy is defined as one in which the risk is increased and threatens the life of both mother and fetus. Yet there are several signs that, when present during pregnancy, require immediate medical attention for an early evaluation, whether in a high-risk or normal pregnancy.
Signs of a Critical Pregnancy:
● Severe and persistent abdominal pain.
● Chest pain and general fatigue that does not go away.
● Fever.
● Dizziness and fainting.
● Persistent severe headache.
● Slow or stopped fetal movement.
● Rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing.
● Nausea and vomiting throughout the day.
● Swelling, redness, and pain in the face or extremities.
● Bleeding.
● Vaginal discharge.
High-risk pregnancies: High-risk pregnancies occur due to various reasons, including:
1. A previous maternal medical history that may make the pregnancy high-risk, such as:
● Certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
● Diabetes.
● Fibroids.
● Severe anemia (hemoglobin less than 7 g/dL).
● High blood pressure.
● Placenta previa, low-lying placenta.
● Kidney disease.
● COVID-19.
● HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) (HIV).
● Being underweight.
● Being obese.
● Blood clotting.
● Some mental health disorders, such as depression.
● Polycystic ovary syndrome.
● Thyroid hormone disorders.
2. The emergence of some health problems during pregnancy, including the following:
● Poor fetal growth.
● Gestational diabetes.
● Congenital or genetic defects in the fetus.
● Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
● Pregnancy with more than one fetus, such as twins.
● Preterm labor or previous birth.
3. Different lifestyle, such as:
● Maternal age (over 35 years or under 17 years)
● Excessive alcohol consumption.
● Smoking.
● Drug addiction.
● Exposure to toxins during pregnancy.
Monitoring a high-risk pregnancy:
You cannot prevent a high-risk pregnancy, but staying healthy before and during pregnancy is the only way to reduce the chances of it occurring. Therefore, to avoid the chances of a high-risk pregnancy, schedule an appointment with a specialist before pregnancy.
Your doctor may provide you with some advice, such as taking nutritional supplements, folic acid, and maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy. Or, if you suffer from another health condition that must be addressed before pregnancy to avoid a high-risk pregnancy, it is very important to:
● Regular visits to the doctor following up on the pregnancy.
● Maintain a thorough history.
● Physical examination of the mother at each visit.
● Regular home blood pressure monitoring.
● Routine laboratory tests for the mother (blood and urine tests).
● Comprehensive fetal assessment via ultrasound.
● Avoid smoking and alcohol.
● Take nutritional supplements and some medications under the supervision of the attending physician.
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