High-risk pregnancy - a term that expectant mothers are reluctant to hear. It requires a lot of examinations, before and during pregnancy or makes the birth more difficult. Many pregnant women therefore get scared when the physician identifies some risks. However, complications do not necessarily have to occur. Often pregnancy and birth proceed completely normally. In addition, in the rarest cases there is an acute danger for mother and child. In the following article you will learn what a high-risk pregnancy is, what causes it, how it progresses and how you can prevent it. Enjoy reading!

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

Every pregnancy is influenced by various factors. If these are factors that make the course of the pregnancy and/or the birth more difficult, we speak of a high-risk pregnancy. In this case, the development of the child can also be negatively affected. Therefore, the pregnancy must be closely monitored and requires more frequent examinations. The birth is also monitored particularly well or special measures are taken to make the birth easier. However, there is no reason for you to panic, most pregnancies and births proceed normally. Only in very rare cases do serious complications occur that could endanger the life of mother and child.

Causes, risks and symptoms/consequences

There are now 50 known risks that can lead to complications during pregnancy. These include, for example, the age of the expectant mother (under 18 or over 35). Chronic diseases can also have a negative effect on the course of the pregnancy. Multiple births are also referred to as high-risk pregnancies.

Age

If you are older than 35, there is a risk of a high-risk pregnancy. The increasing age of the mother increases the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities in the child. If you are under 18, complications can also occur during pregnancy. These include, for example, circulatory problems in the uterus or premature labour.

Complications from previous pregnancies

There is also an increased risk if you have already had a premature birth or miscarriage. The same applies to an ectopic pregnancy.

Chronic diseases

Chronic illnesses can also have a negative effect on your pregnancy. The most common diseases include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatism and thyroid disorders. If you suffer from one of these diseases, your pregnancy will always be specially monitored. It is therefore particularly important to have a medical check-up before you wish to have a child.

Metabolic diseases

If you suffer from gestosis late in pregnancy, the risk of premature birth is increased.

Multiple pregnancies

If you are pregnant with twins or multiples, the risk of premature birth is increased.

Position of the unborn baby

The course of birth is influenced by the position of the baby. For example, a breech or breech presentation makes spontaneous birth difficult. In this case, a caesarean section is usually necessary.

Rhesus incompatibility

There may also be risks during pregnancy if a blood group test of mother and child reveals a rhesus incompatibility.

Birth by caesarean section

If you gave birth by caesarean section in a previous pregnancy, you are automatically classified as a high-risk pregnant woman. This is because the uterus and abdominal wall now have scar tissue that could be more easily perforated by the new pregnancy.

Multiple mum

If you have already given birth to more than four children, you are also considered to be at risk. Your body is already under a lot of strain from previous pregnancies, which makes another pregnancy a risk.

Alcohol and drug abuse

Expectant mothers who regularly use drugs or alcohol also belong to the group of high-risk pregnant women. The consumption can have severe consequences for the unborn child. In this case, pregnancy and development of the unborn child are strictly controlled.

Obesity

Expectant mothers who suffer from enormous obesity also go through a high-risk pregnancy. It costs the body extra strength because the fat masses lie heavily on the internal organs. They also put pressure on the uterus and the unborn child. The blood supply is impeded and with it the supply of nutrients and oxygen. In addition, obese women are at risk of gestational diabetes.

Outcome and treatment

No one can predict whether complications will actually occur during a high-risk pregnancy. Treatment depends in each case on the triggering factors. In general, preventive examinations and monitoring are carried out more frequently than in a normal pregnancy. Special tests can help and prevent possible complications. As a high-risk pregnant woman, you will not only receive intensive support during pregnancy, but also during birth. In addition to the midwife, a team of doctors will also be at your side. As a high-risk pregnant woman, you are of course advised not to give birth at home or in a birth centre.

In a hospital, the birth can be better monitored and it is possible to have an emergency caesarean section at any time. A caesarean section is also an option if the baby is in the wrong position or cannot be delivered normally for some other reason. If there is a risk of premature birth, your baby will be delivered by caesarean section weeks before the due date and will then receive intensive medical care. But don't worry, not every high-risk pregnancy means a complicated birth and your baby can be born spontaneously.

Medical knowledge is now so advanced that serious complications rarely occur. In this case, all additional costs for examinations and tests are paid for by the health insurance. So you don't have to worry about financial security.

Whether you will have to expect complications with further pregnancies can only be clarified individually and by a physician. However, if you have given birth to a premature baby or have suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth, a new pregnancy is automatically classified as a risk.

Preventing risks during pregnancy

It is not always possible to prevent risks during pregnancy. This is the case, for example, if you have a chronic illness or have already had a premature birth, miscarriage or stillbirth.

However, you can avoid many other risks before and during pregnancy and thus prevent possible complications. These include drinking alcohol and nicotine or taking drugs. During pregnancy, your body needs many important nutrients, which is why you should pay attention to your diet and lifestyle even before you plan to become pregnant. Plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as sufficient exercise, form the basis here. If you are very overweight, you should consider losing weight. Taking various medications is also considered a risk factor. If you cannot stop taking them for health reasons, you should at least discuss the risks with your physician.

Artificial insemination as a special case

Sometimes a couple's wish to have a child remains unfulfilled. In this case, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), also called artificial insemination, is a possible option. In IVF, after hormone therapy, the woman's eggs are removed and artificially fertilised. However, this usually only works for young and healthy women. In egg donation, the eggs are collected from a donor, fertilised and transferred to the woman who wants to have a child. Egg donation is not legally permitted in Germany or Switzerland.

To increase the chance of pregnancy, two or more embryos are often transferred into the uterus. However, multiple pregnancies pose an increased risk of premature birth. Therefore, only one embryo can be transferred if desired. Even physicians now advise against the transfer of multiple embryos to avoid complications during pregnancy.

In so-called pre-implantation diagnostics (PGD), embryos are tested for serious hereditary diseases. This ensures that an embryo is transferred into the uterus without genetic damage. However, PGD is only possible in the case of artificial insemination. Legally, PGD is only carried out in some countries. In Switzerland and Germany, for example, some miscarriages or stillbirths or demonstrably severe genetic diseases in the family have to be proven, so that the health insurance companies cover these costs. But in some neighbouring countries PGD can be performed at any time.