What’s a High-Risk Pregnancy?

There’s hardly a time that’s more joyful than when you discover you’re going to have a baby! Although everyone hopes for a smooth, uneventful pregnancy and birth, some 6-8% of women fall into the “high-risk pregnancy” category, but what does this mean? And even though this statistic isn’t high numerically, if you find yourself as a member of this group, it’s all-important.

Dr. Kevin Hooker has extensive experience helping women manage high-risk pregnancies so they end in the delivery of a healthy baby, with the mother’s health uncompromised. It’s important to know what factors contribute to a pregnancy being labeled “high-risk,” and if yours ends up being classified as such, you’re in the best hands with Dr. Hooker and the Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care team.  

What exactly is a high-risk pregnancy?

Certain factors put a woman at risk for a pregnancy that must be monitored more cautiously and carefully. These include:

1. Maternal Age

Your pregnancy is considered higher risk if your due date falls when you’re either under the age of  17 or over 35. This means that there is a greater chance of complications — meaning things like preterm labor and gestational diabetes can occur. 

2. Health conditions 

If you already live with a chronic health condition, such as diabetes, an autoimmune disease, or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), this is something Dr. Hooker needs to be aware of and monitor while he provides your prenatal care. 

The same is true if you live with a mental health condition, like anxiety or depression. 

If genetic disorders are part of your family history, your pregnancy is more closely watched than most. Examples of inherited conditions include cystic fibrosis and, for African American women, sickle cell disease.

3. A history of problematic pregnancies or pregnancy loss

If you’ve ever had a miscarriage or stillbirth in the past, your pregnancy is deemed high-risk. Your risk level increases depending on how many miscarriages you’ve suffered. Birth-related difficulties, like going into preterm labor, also classify a pregnancy as high-risk. 

4. Medical problems that occur while you’re pregnant

Conditions that you get during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (pregnancy high blood pressure) cause Dr. Hooker to keep a close eye on you and your baby. 

Though these issues resolve after your birth, they add complexity to your pregnancy. The same holds true for when your placenta positions itself unusually. 

5. Being pregnant with multiple babies

Even though twins, triplets, or more babies grow your family in a beautiful way, Dr. Hooker needs to do double or triple (or more) duty as he cares for you and your developing babies. 

6. Lifestyle practices

Most women are aware that drinking alcohol, smoking, and using recreational drugs are harmful to their babies, but if you’re struggling with any of these issues, please share this with Dr. Hooker. He can discuss the risks to your baby with you and offer guidance for putting a halt to the habit. 

Dr. Hooker’s decade-plus of providing the most advanced prenatal care to our community’s mothers-to-be makes him especially prepared to care for women with high-risk pregnancies. Our in-office technology allows him to monitor your baby closely through the use of 2D and 3D ultrasounds as well. 

Safety and thoroughness are Dr. Hooker’s biggest priorities throughout your pregnancy, and he welcomes your questions, always. 

Call the Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care office today to schedule an appointment. You and your baby always receive extraordinary care with Dr. Hooker.