High Risk Pregnancy
-
- Tweet
Holy Cross OBGYN
OB-GYNs located in Mesquite, TX & Terrell, TX
While being labeled a high-risk pregnancy may sound scary, in most cases, it means that you need extra monitoring during the pregnancy to watch for any issues that may crop up. And that’s where an experienced obstetrician like Maduka Odogwu comes in. At Holy Cross OBGYN, Dr. Odogwu specializes in helping women in Mesquite, Texas navigate high-risk pregnancies, monitoring the health of both mother and child every step of the way. To learn more, call the office or use the online scheduler to book an appointment.
High Risk Pregnancy Q & A
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy is one where there’s a higher health risk with either the mother or the child. The most common reasons for falling into the high-risk category include:
- Advanced age -- 35 and older
- Multiple babies
- Pre-existing health condition
- History of miscarriages
- Lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking, or drug use
While these are known factors that are present right from the start of your pregnancy, you may develop conditions during your pregnancy that place you at a higher risk and require close monitoring.
What extra care do I need to take?
There’s no single answer to this question since it depends upon what put you in the high-risk category. The one thing you can count on is seeing Dr. Odogwu more often for prenatal care so that he can monitor your health and the health of your baby.
If you’re at risk because of your age, for example, Dr. Odogwu wants to monitor your health more closely, including your blood pressure and your blood sugar levels, to make sure your body is handling the pregnancy well. He also wants to ensure that your fetus is developing as expected, hitting developmental milestones every step of the way.
If you’re at high risk because of lifestyle choices, such as smoking or alcohol consumption, the doctor works with you to eliminate these risks.
Also, if you have weight problems, you need to work closely with the doctor to regulate your weight and your health, while supplying your growing baby with the necessary nutrients for proper growth and development.
If you’re at risk because of a pre-existing health condition, Dr. Odogwu works in tandem with your regular doctor to oversee your health, including any medications you may be taking.
Do I need to have special tests done?
Here, again, the answer depends upon what condition you’re dealing with. In most high-risk pregnancies, you can expect to have more frequent ultrasounds than you would with a lower-risk pregnancy. The doctor may also recommend tests, such as non-invasive prenatal testing to test for certain genetic conditions.
No matter the reasons for your high-risk pregnancy, be assured that the staff at Holy Cross OBGYN is there to help. Call or book an appointment online if you’d like to learn more.
