Pregnancy at risk: warning signs

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Extract from the article: A high-risk pregnancy can occur at the beginning of pregnancy, throughout the nine months or during childbirth. Here are the main signs of a high-risk pregnancy.

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A high-risk pregnancy can occur at the beginning of pregnancy, throughout the nine months or during childbirth. Here are the main signs of a high-risk pregnancy.

A high-risk pregnancy is one in which there is a risk of serious complications for the mother and/or fetus. This may include premature delivery, miscarriage, growth retardation, fetal malformation, hemorrhage or pulmonary embolism for the mother. A high-risk pregnancy may have one or more causes, such as poorly controlled diabetes, uterine malformations or the onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Vaginal, urinary or viral infections

During pregnancy, all infections must be taken seriously. Indeed, a vaginal or viral infection, such as the flu, can lead to premature delivery. The mother-to-be is therefore advised to consult a doctor. She should also make sure she doesn't develop a urinary tract infection by having a monthly urine laboratory test. Although it can go undetected and be painless, a urinary infection can also be a source of premature delivery.

High blood pressure and albumin levels

Rising blood pressure, edema and elevated albumin levels can signal preeclampsia-eclampsia.If a pregnant woman develops preeclampsia, she may not only lose her fetus, but also die. This condition mainly affects primiparous women, i.e. pregnant women giving birth for the very first time, and can occur in the 2nd and/or 3rd trimester of pregnancy.It is therefore vital to consult your midwife or gynaecologist regularly, in particular to check your blood pressure and perform monthly tests, such as albuminuria.To avoid such risks, in addition to the pre-conception check-up, which covers the mother-to-be's health, medical and family history, addictive habits and eating habits, systematic visits are scheduled during pregnancy, with various examinations carried out according to a very precise schedule

Too much weight gain

While it's advisable for a woman of average build to gain between 9 and 12 kilos during pregnancy, you must be careful not to put on too much weight.If the mother-to-be puts on a lot of weight, it could mean she's developing gestational diabetes, even if she wasn't diabetic before the pregnancy. This pathology is a sign of a high-risk pregnancy, as it can lead to problems for the development of the fetus. If left uncorrected, a certain percentage of gestational diabetes can predict diabetes in the mother 10 to 15 years later. Gestational diabetes should be investigated in all pregnant women, especially those over the age of 35.

Multiple pregnancies

While the majority of pregnancies proceed normally, some can be risky from the outset, even if the mother-to-be has no health problems.  This is particularly true of multiple pregnancies, which can lead to stunted growth of one of the fetuses, as well as premature delivery. Any multiple pregnancy should be considered a risk.Follow-up will be closer, with a monthly ultrasound, a monthly clinical examination, then every 15 days from the 6th month onwards, and an early work stoppage.

William O.

Article validated by Dr Dédé Bénédicta Améwoui, Obstetrician Gynecologist, Head of Group Medical Clinic (Lomé)