OBGYN Associates of Anniston provides personalized, exceptional care for women with risk factors that may affect their pregnancy.
With over 26 years of experience, our team of compassionate, experienced professionals will be there every step of the way to answer your questions and provide the care you and your baby need.
There are certain pre-existing conditions or factors that can make a pregnancy qualify as high-risk.
These include lifestyle factors and chronic health conditions. If you have any of the following risk factors, consult your doctor:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Kidney problems
Blood disorders
Obesity
Being underweight
Complications in past pregnancies
A history of uterine surgery
Cancer
Autoimmune disease
Advanced maternal age (35 or older)
Low maternal age (18 or younger)
Issues that Develop During Pregnancy
Sometimes complications develop as the pregnancy progresses, even in women who don’t have the above risk factors.
These conditions can pose a risk to the baby and/or mother.
Multiples: The risks of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental issues, and premature birth are higher for women carrying two or more babies.
Preeclampsia: High blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and can affect the liver, kidneys, and brain. Risks of preterm delivery and placental issues are also more common in women with preeclampsia.
Gestational diabetes: Diabetes that develops during pregnancy in a woman with no prior history of diabetes. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of the baby being too large, which makes delivery more difficult. Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to need a C-section.
Placental abruption: The placenta separates early from the uterine wall.
Placenta accreta: The placenta attaches too strongly to the uterine wall. This can cause bleeding and possibly lead to hemorrhaging during labor and delivery.
Placenta previa: The placenta is low in the uterus and may cover the cervix. This can lead to bleeding and early delivery.
HELLP Syndrome: A rare liver and blood-clotting disorder that most often develops in the third trimester. It is usually linked to high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
Prenatal infections: Zika virus infection has been linked to increased rates of a birth defect called microcephaly. Other infections like listeriosis and toxoplasmosis do not always cause complications but have been linked to miscarriage, preterm labor, and birth defects.
Preterm labor: Labor that starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born prematurely are more likely to have health and developmental issues and will need to stay in the NICU for at least a few days if not longer.
Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM): A membrane of the amniotic sac ruptures and leaks amniotic fluid before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Women who have pre-existing risk factors or develop complications during pregnancy should consider seeing an OB/GYN experienced in managing high-risk pregnancies.
The physicians at OBGYN Associates of Anniston are experienced in managing pregnancy, including providing high-risk obstetric care.
