High-risk pregnancy

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. If your blood pressure goes up too much during pregnancy, it can place stress on your heart and kidneys. This can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and risk of stroke.

High blood pressure during pregnancy can raise your chances of having preeclampsia and can also lead to:

• Preterm birth
• Cesarean birth
• Damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys
• Placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus, also called the womb)

Some women have high blood pressure before they get pregnant while others develop it for the first time during their pregnancy. If you can lower your high blood pressure, it usually will not cause problems for you or the baby.

Your doctor can help create a care plan if you have high blood pressure.

Your care plan for high blood pressure depends on its severity. If your high blood pressure isn't serious, your doctor may lower your medication or tell you to stop taking it during pregnancy. 

If your case is more serious, your doctor may start you on blood pressure medication or let you keep on using medication if you are already taking some.

Preeclampsia is serious because it can affect all organs in your body. It usually develops after 20 weeks and more often in the third trimester. It can also happen weeks after childbirth. 

It’s not always clear why women get preeclampsia. Doctors often refer to cases of preeclampsia as high risk and moderate risk. 

You may be at high risk for preeclampsia if you now have or have had any of the following conditions:

• Preeclampsia with past pregnancies
• Carrying more than one baby
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Autoimmune conditions  

You may be at moderate risk for preeclampsia if you are, now have or have had any of the following conditions:

• First time pregnancy
• Body mass index over 30 
• Family history of preeclampsia 
• Over the age of 35

If you have any of the symptoms below, contact your doctor right away:

• Swelling of the face or hands
• Headaches that won't go away 
• Seeing spots or changes in eyesight
• Pain in the upper abdomen  or shoulder
• Nausea and vomiting in the second half of pregnancy
• Sudden weight gain
• Difficulty breathing
• High blood pressure 

Most often, the first sign of preeclampsia is high blood pressure. Your doctor may ask you to complete a few tests:

• A liver test 
• A kidney test 
• A urine test to check for protein
• A blood test to measure the number of platelets in your blood

Preeclampsia is different for everyone. It’s important to talk with your doctor about your condition, so you can limit complications and deliver a healthy baby. 

If you have preeclampsia, you're more likely to have health problems after pregnancy. These can include: 

• Stroke
• Heart attack 
• Kidney disease
• High blood pressure

Talk with your doctor about your condition to help you create a care plan before, during and after pregnancy. 

As we age, it’s natural to have more health problems because the body is not as resilient as it once was at a younger age. 

Becoming pregnant later in life can lead to complications, such as:

• Stillbirth
  
• Miscarriage
• Problems with the baby’s health
• Multiple pregnancy that can lead to preterm birth

Additionally, the chances of having a baby with missing, damaged or extra chromosomes increases as a woman ages. 

There are a number of tests to help you learn about your baby. These include:

• Prenatal screening tests to figure out your chances for specific birth defects or genetic disorders
• Prenatal diagnostic tests to detect specific birth defects or genetic disorders

Some tests can be done before becoming pregnant or during pregnancy. Share your concerns with your doctor so you can talk about your choices and decide what's right for you.

If your pregnancy is high risk, it means that you and your baby have a higher chance of developing health problems. 

It's important to keep an open line of communication with your doctor so they can help you to take care of your pregnancy and your health while lowering the chances of your baby having birth defects and other problems. 

It’s important to schedule a preconception appointment if you’re thinking about getting pregnant and:

• You're not pregnant right now
• You have a pre-existing condition

During this appointment, your doctor will talk about the potential risks associated with getting pregnant. They can also help to create a care plan for you to follow before, during and after pregnancy.