Health Problems in Pregnancy: What Raises the Risk and What Helps

What counts as a health problem in pregnancy

A health problem in pregnancy is any disease or condition that could affect your health or the health of your fetus. Some make a high-risk pregnancy more likely — one in which you, your fetus or both face a higher risk of health problems than in a typical pregnancy.

Having a health problem doesn't mean you or your fetus will have trouble during the pregnancy. Looking after yourself and getting early, regular prenatal care from a health care provider can help lower the risks.

What raises the risk

Every pregnancy carries some risk, but your lifestyle, and factors like certain conditions and health issues, can raise it:

• a health condition you had before you got pregnant;
• a health condition that develops during pregnancy;
• a pregnancy with more than one baby;
• a health problem from a previous pregnancy that could happen again;
• substance use during pregnancy;
• being over age 35.

Any of these can affect your health, your fetus's health, or both.

Chronic conditions

Every pregnancy is different: risks in one pregnancy don't mean you'll have them in another. But if you have a chronic condition, talk with your provider before you get pregnant about how to keep your risk as low as possible. Once you're pregnant, you may need a health care team to monitor the pregnancy.

Common conditions that can complicate a pregnancy: high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), kidney problems, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, obesity, HIV, cancer and infections. Other risky conditions can develop during pregnancy — for example, gestational diabetes and Rh incompatibility.

Prevention

You may be able to lower the risk of some problems with healthy changes before pregnancy: reaching a healthy weight, not smoking, and managing any health conditions. But problems in pregnancy can't always be prevented. Some chronic conditions can be treated and controlled; others can't be treated and carry a higher risk than usual, even when well managed.

When to call your provider

Tell your provider about your symptoms, so problems can be found and treated early. It can be hard to know what's normal:

• Common in pregnancy: nausea, back pain and fatigue.
• Possible signs of a problem: vaginal bleeding, or a severe or long-lasting headache.

If something is bothering or worrying you, call your provider and say so.

Sources

Based on "Health Problems in Pregnancy," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.