women s health issues
Risk Factors for High Risk Pregnancy
Physical Characteristics
The following characteristics of women affect risk during pregnancy. About 13% of all pregnancies occur in adolescents. Adolescents are at increased risk of having the following: Preeclampsia and Eclampsia (a type of high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy) Preterm Labor None Anemia During Pregnancy None Adolescents can have babies who are born underweight ( Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) Newborns ). Part of the reason for these risks is that adolescents are less likely to get medical care during pregnancy. Thus, they may not understand what activities and behaviors (such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and having sex without using a condom) can put their pregnancy at risk. Many adolescents smoke. They also have a higher risk of getting a Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) . Using condoms can help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Women aged 35 and older are at increased risk of having the following: A preexisting disorder that increases risk during pregnancy, such as High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy or Problems related to the pregnancy, such as Preeclampsia and Eclampsia , Complications during labor, such as difficult labor or a placenta that detaches too soon ( Placental Abruption ) or is mislocated ( Children of women aged 35 or older are more likely to have birth defects, such as Overview of Heart Defects . a narrowed esophagus ( As women age, Genetic Screening Before Pregnancy for chromosomal abnormalities becomes more important. In older pregnant women, ultrasonography may be done to help determine whether the fetus has birth defects, Women who are very thin—with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 19.8 (see table Osteonecrosis of the Jaw )—or weigh less than 100 pounds before becoming pregnant are more likely to have Small, underweight babies Overweight women (with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 before pregnancy) and obese women (with a BMI of more than 30) are more likely to have the following problems: Very large babies ( Large-for-Gestational-Age (LGA) Newborns ), which may be difficult to deliver Babies who are born underweight ( Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) Newborns ) Babies with Overview of Birth Defects None Miscarriage and Gestational diabetes None High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy (high blood pressure that first develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy) Preeclampsia and Eclampsia (gestational hypertension accompanied by protein in the urine) A pregnancy that lasts 42 weeks or longer ( Postterm Pregnancy and Postmaturity ) Need for a Cesarean Delivery None Doctors encourage overweight and obese women to exercise at least 3 times a week for a total of 150 minutes a week. These women should talk to their doctor about what exercises are appropriate for them. Changes to a healthier diet may be recommended. Women shorter than 5 feet are more likely to have a small pelvis, which may make movement of the fetus through the pelvis and vagina (birth canal) difficult during labor. For example, the fetus's shoulder is more likely to lodge against the pubic bone. This complication is called Shoulder Dystocia . Also, short women are more likely to have Structural abnormalities in the uterus or cervix increase the risk of the following: A difficult labor A Miscarriage during the 2nd trimester and preterm labor A Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation) None Preterm Labor or a Need for a Cesarean Delivery None Structural abnormalities include a double uterus, Uterine Fibroids in the uterus, and a weak (incompetent) cervix ( 