3 Factors That Can Contribute to a High-Risk Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of great joy and excitement, but it can also come with areas of risk and it’s important to be prepared for what to expect. While many pregnancies progress smoothly, some are at a higher risk of complications. 

At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, we have years of experience helping women through low—and high-risk pregnancies. Our team wants women to know about possible risks so they can make informed decisions about their prenatal care. 

Our providers explain three of the most common factors that can increase your risk of complications during pregnancy.

1. Pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a health problem like diabetes, high blood pressure, or an autoimmune disorder before you get pregnant, you are more likely to experience complications. These conditions can affect your health and that of your developing baby and may require extra management during pregnancy.

Our team provides pre-pregnancy planning services.  Make sure you talk to us about your entire health history. We work closely with you to optimize your condition before and during pregnancy to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

2. Age

One of the most significant factors that can contribute to a high-risk pregnancy is your age.  While many people are choosing to start their families later, biologically the best time to get pregnant is in your late 20s and early 30s. The older you are, the more likely you are to experience complications during pregnancy, such as:

• Gestational diabetes
• Preeclampsia
• Placenta previa

If you're over 35 or planning to have a baby — especially for the first time — let’s talk about your age-related risks and take steps to manage your high-risk pregnancy.  Our providers will help reduce your age-related risks of complications.  We work with you to ensure a low complication rate and low cesarean section rate.  

3. Multiple gestations

Finding out you are not only pregnant but also carrying multiple babies, a mixture of excitement and panic inevitably sets in.  With more babies comes more potential risk for complications as well. 

Twins, triplets, and other multiples face a higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight, and you’re more likely to develop anemia, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and other pregnancy-related complications.

Twin pregnancies have a higher chance of delivering by cesarean section also.  At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, our expert team will advocate for “good candidates” to deliver their twins vaginally. 

When we discover you're pregnant with multiple babies, we take extra care to monitor you and your babies’ health, from the first visit.  Close monitoring will increase as you enter the third trimester when fetal growth concerns and preterm labor is most likely.

Comprehensive, compassionate pregnancy care

With proper care and management, most women with high-risk pregnancies have healthy, successful pregnancies and deliveries.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, don’t take any chances. Comprehensive prenatal care ensures we cover all the bases and catch any signs of potential problems early. 

Our experienced and compassionate providers are here to guide you through every stage of your pregnancy. Call us today or click “Book Online” to schedule an appointment.