Our San Antonio OBGYNs handle high-risk pregnancy care with skill and compassion
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you have a greater risk of having health problems, pre-term delivery or other pregnancy complications. Don’t let the term “high-risk” scare you. Our San Antonio obstetricians will work closely with you to help you and your baby experience a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
What makes a pregnancy high-risk?
Several factors cause high-risk pregnancy.
- Being older than 35 or younger than 17
- Pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes; high blood pressure; kidney or thyroid disease; or mental health issues, such as depression
- Being pregnant with twins, triplets or other multiple babies
- Being over- or underweight before you get pregnant
- Problems with previous pregnancies, such as preterm birth or having a child with a genetic issue
Preventing a high-risk pregnancy
While you can’t control all of the factors that make a pregnancy high-risk, there are some factors that you can control. Ideally, you can visit our San Antonio obstetricians for a preconception health appointment and learn how to get into the healthiest shape before pregnancy. For example, we can talk about how to get to and maintain a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
Before and during pregnancy, taking the following steps will help you have the best pregnancy possible.
- Quit smoking.
- Stop using illegal substances.
- Don’t drink alcohol.
- At work and at home, avoid contact with dangerous chemicals.
- Try to eat a balanced diet comprised of lean protein, low-fat dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Discuss stress management and other mental health issues with our team.
When to contact our team about pregnancy complications
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you need to be particularly vigilant about calling our team if you experience certain pregnancy problems.
- Lower abdominal cramps or pain
- Vaginal bleeding or a watery discharge
- Severe headaches
- Vision changes, such as blurred vision
- Severe swelling in your face, fingers or hands that comes on suddenly
- Dizziness, persistent nausea or vomiting
- Noticing a decrease in fetal movement
Our caring team provides the extra care and attention high-risk moms need
We know that pregnancy can make you nervous, particularly if yours is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Our San Antonio obstetricians help alleviate your concerns by scheduling more frequent appointments that allow us to keep a close eye on you and your baby. We will schedule tests such as genetic screening, specialized ultrasounds and lab tests as needed. You and your baby can count on our team’s expertise and skill in preventing and managing pregnancy complications. Contact us for an appointment.
