Pregnancy Risks - Tips To Avoid Them

Pregnancy is a period that most women wish to experience and cherish but there are certain pregnancy risks that could create complications. If you are planning on getting pregnant it will help if you observed certain precautions that can avert some of the pregnancy complications.

Pregnancy Risks - An Overview

All women would love to have a healthy pregnancy and it can help if they take necessary precautions from the pre-pregnancy days itself.

There are several types of pregnancy risks such as the age and physical structure of a woman. Obese, short women have more chances of suffering from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. It is recommended that women consult their physician and consider taking up mild to moderate exercises to keep them healthy and fit.

It is also a risk if the women suffer from diseases and disorders such as heart, lung or kidney diseases, diabetes, hypertension, sexually transmitted diseases and epilepsy. Women who have disorders of the reproductive organs are also at risk. Some women may have problems during pregnancy such as placental pervia, multiple babies with complications (such as Siamese twins), ectopic pregnancy, Rh factor etc.

The chances of pregnancy risks are increased if the women have had previous pregnancies with complications. Couples who have had children with birth defects, genetic disorders etc. have to consult their physician and opt for genetic counseling before they consider having a baby.

Women who are under the age of 15 and above 35 are more at risk too. Younger mothers are more prone to be associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, under-weight babies and pre-term babies. Older mothers (above 40 years) have the risk of suffering from health complications such as hypertension, gestational diabetes and they also have a higher risk of giving birth to babies that suffer from genetic disorders and birth defects.

Women need to take proper care and nourishment before, during and after their pregnancy. Proper, well-balanced diet that includes generous helpings of fresh fruits and vegetables is necessary. It is also vital to include supplements of vitamins, calcium and folic acid in order to ensure a healthy and risk free pregnancy.

Other factors that could pose as pregnancy risks include exposure to toxins, radiations, heavy metals and chemicals. It is recommended that smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs be avoided from the pre-pregnancy days itself.

The mental health of a woman is also a very important factor. It will be much better if the woman is happy, healthy and has a positive frame of mind. Stress, tension and worrying may not only be pregnancy risk factors, but may also be the causative factors of unnecessary complications. It is recommended that women who are planning to have a baby read as much as they can about pregnancy and childbirth. This will help them identify any potential pregnancy risks and help them to learn how they can be avoided if possible.

Pregnancy Complications In Older Moms

There seems to be a growing trend among women of getting pregnant in forties, thirties, fifties and many of them go on to have a healthy pregnancy. The undeniable truth is that the more the age of the expectant mother especially 35 and above, the more the chances for various pregnancy complications.

Getting Pregnant Above 35 Years

Pregnant women who are above 35 years of age are prone to various pregnancy risks as age and the health of the mother plays a very important role during pregnancy. The older a woman is the less her chances of being fertile as fertility may decrease with age. But with the advancements made in fertility treatment it is now possible for women to consider getting pregnant in forties, thirties, fifties.

They have a much higher chance of giving birth to low-weight, pre-term babies. Miscarriages and still birth are fairly common in older women. Placental problems may arise such as placental pervia which may require a C-section. Babies with chromosomal birth defects and other congenital abnormalities are other risk factors. If there are any doubts, tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are done, but these tests may slightly increase the chances of a miscarriage as well.

The fact is that there are many older moms who have successfully given birth to healthy babies. If you are considering getting pregnant in forties, thirties, fifties, you need to follow a healthy lifestyle from the pre-pregnancy days. Avoid smoking, drinking and drugs. Eat nutritious meals at regular intervals and do mild exercise as per the advice of your health care practitioner. Include supplements of vitamins especially folic acid before and during pregnancy as it is said to reduce the risk of birth defects in babies. The women need to avoid fish that are rich in mercury and they should not eat uncooked fish or meat. Exposure to chemicals, heavy metals, toxic fumes and radiation has to be avoided. The mother has to stay relaxed, have a positive attitude and do everything as per the guidance of her physician. If proper care and attention is give getting pregnant in forties, thirties, fifties can be a less risky procedure.