Some people say that every mother and child are friends of life and death.
Every mother faces countless unknown dangers in the process of pregnancy and childbirth. Especially among them, there are such a group of high-risk parturients who are more dangerous than others from the beginning of pregnancy.
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
[High-risk pregnancy] refers to the high risk of pregnant women and fetuses, which may lead to dystocia or endanger the safety of mothers and infants.
The situation of high-risk pregnancy includes pregnant women suffering from various acute and chronic diseases and pregnancy complications, adverse environmental and social factors, etc.
The word may sound horrible, but to doctors, it only means paying closer attention to the situation of pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth so as to be able to find problems earlier.
Which situations are high-risk pregnancies?
If the following conditions occur, the risk of certain problems of pregnant women and the fetus may be increased, such as slow fetal growth, premature delivery, preeclampsia of pregnant women and placental problems. However, please remember that high risk does not mean 100% risk.
- Health problems: such as diabetes, tumor, hypertension, kidney diseases, epilepsy; Intake of hazardous substances: intake of alcohol, use of prohibited drugs or smoking; Age factors: pregnant women are less than 17 years old or more than 35 years old; Multiple pregnancy: having twins or more fetuses; Multiple abortions: 3 or more abortions; The fetus has genetic problems: such as Down’s syndrome, or other heart, lung or kidney diseases; In the past, there have been problems in pregnancy: premature delivery, preeclampsia or eclampsia seizure, and children have genetic problems, such as Down’s syndrome; Infectious diseases: such as HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other infections that can cause pregnancy problems, such as cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, rubella, Toxoplasma gondii and syphilis; Some drugs are being taken: such as lithium (mostly used to treat psychosis), phenytoin sodium (mostly used to treat epilepsy), sodium valproate (mostly used to treat epilepsy), carbamazepine (mostly used to treat epilepsy or analgesic), etc.
There are also other health problems that can lead to high-risk pregnancies, such as heart valve problems, sickle cell anemia, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Pregnant women should communicate with obstetricians in time if they have any health problems.
How do doctors pay attention to pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies?
Compared with ordinary pregnant women, pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies need to see doctors more often.
Doctors may need to perform more ultrasound tests to ensure that the child is growing well. They also need to take regular blood pressure tests to check for protein in urine (a sign of preeclampsia) and urethral infection. Genetic tests may also be performed, especially for pregnant women over 35 years old or have been pregnant with children with genetic problems.
Doctors will prescribe drugs according to the situation: for example, drugs suitable for pregnant women to treat diabetes, asthma or hypertension;
Doctors may require pregnant women to be hospitalized: it is convenient for medical staff to provide better monitoring and care;
Doctors may request termination of pregnancy: in some cases, if the pregnant woman or fetus is very dangerous, termination of pregnancy (premature delivery or induced labor) may be required.
How to maintain health during pregnancy?
Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies can refer to the following suggestions to maintain the health of pregnant women and fetuses as much as possible, and return to the clinic according to the doctor’s requirements, so as not to miss all kinds of examinations at all times.
- Healthy diet: Including protein, milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Ask your doctor if these foods are suitable for you. Take medicine according to the doctor’s advice: Such as iron or vitamins. Please inform your doctor before taking any medicine by yourself. Even over-the-counter drugs and nutrients sold in pharmacies. Take folic acid every day: Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Take folic acid before and during pregnancy, It can reduce the risk of fetal nervous system defects and some other defects. Exercise according to the doctor’s advice: Doctors will tell pregnant women in high-risk pregnancies whether they can exercise and how much they do. No alcohol and tobacco: Don’t drink or smoke, and avoid second-hand smoke. If you need help quitting smoking, you can discuss the procedures and drugs for quitting smoking with your doctor. Stay away from infection: Stay away from patients with all kinds of infections.
The doctor may ask you to record the number of fetal movements per day.
What symptoms do you need to pay attention to?
If you have any of the following symptoms, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible or call 120:
- Abnormal physical condition: Such as loss of consciousness, fever, massive vaginal bleeding. Vaginal outflow of fluid or umbilical cord (cord-like) bulge: If this kind of situation occurs, the pregnant woman should immediately kneel down and make the buttocks higher than the head until she sees a doctor, which will reduce the pressure on the umbilical cord. You can also choose to lie flat on the buttocks pad so that the buttocks are higher than the head. Symptoms of preeclampsia: such as sudden edema of eyes, face, hands or feet; New visual problems, such as faint eyes or unclear vision; Severe headache. Regular uterine contraction for 1 hour (whether accompanied by abdominal pain or not): refers to 8 or more uterine contraction within 1 hour after changing body position and drinking water, or 4 or more uterine contraction within 20 minutes. Pain: persistent abdominal pain, lumbago, pelvic pain unbearable or feeling of falling and swelling (which can be manifested as wanting to relieve stool, but cannot be solved). Fetal movement has problems: fetal movement stops or is greatly reduced compared with normal times.