Nearly 1 in 5 pregnancies is labeled high-risk. Most of these mothers will not face any serious complications if their doctor monitors them closely.
High-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy that increases the risk to the mother's and the newborn's health. Mostly, the doctor recommends continuous monitoring to keep track of the mother's and newborn's health. Certain health conditions and age will also increase the risk of a high-risk pregnancy.
The pregnancy is considered as high-risk if they meet any one of these criteria:
1. The woman or baby is more likely to become ill or die than usual.
2. Complications before or after delivery are more likely to occur than usual.
High-risk patients require regular assessment of maternal and fetal surveillance and, on many occasions, difficult management decisions in order to optimize their outcomes.
What's the cause of high-risk pregnancy
Several factors will cause a high-risk pregnancy
Pre-existing health condition
Multiple Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes
Maternal Age ( Under 17 and over 35 )
Thyroid Issue
Placenta issues
Lifestyle and history
Common Risks Associated with High-Risk Pregnancies
These are the most common risks for high-risk pregnancies.
Preterm Labour
Placenta Previa
Fetal distress
Fetal growth restriction
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Amniotic fluid disorders
Anemia (Hb < 7gm/dl)
Why Continuous Monitoring is important in High-Risk Pregnancy
In High-Risk pregnancies, regular fetal and maternal health assessment is done to detect complications early and to act prior to safeguarding the mother and newborn complications.
Early Detection of the Complication
Reducing the emergency interventions
Tracking fetal growth and its development
Improving the outcome of maternal and neonatal
How often High-Risk Pregnancy Monitoring is required?
The frequency of monitoring will depend on the complication of the pregnancy stages and the baby's status.
First Trimester
During the early pregnancy
Review Medical History
Risk factor assessment
Blood Test
CTG Scans
Second Trimester
Anatomy Scan
Gestational Diabetes Screening
BP Checkup
Fetal Growth Assessments
Third Trimester
Fetal heart rate monitoring
Non Stress Test
Doppler studies
Growth scans
Vital Sign monitoring
In some high risk pregnancy, weekly or twice weekly fetal assessment is necessary
Tests Used to Monitor High-Risk Pregnancies
Ultrasound Scans
Ultrasound examination helps doctors:
Measure how the baby is growing
Check the level of fluid around the baby
See if the placenta is healthy
Find any concerns with the baby's development
Growth scans are especially important if there's a risk that the baby isn't growing properly.
Doppler Studies
Doppler ultrasound checks how blood is flowing between the mom, placenta and baby.
These studies help find out if the baby is getting oxygen and food.
Non-Stress Test (NST)
An NST is a test that looks at the baby's heart rate when the baby moves.
A baby's heart rate usually goes up a little when they move. If the heart rate doesn't do that it might mean the baby needs checking.
NST is often used in pregnancies with:
Diabetes
Blood pressure
Less movement from the baby
Going past the date
Suspected growth problems with the baby
Biophysical Profile (BPP)
A biophysical profile uses ultrasound and NST results to see how the baby heartbeat monitoring is doing overall.
The test looks at:
If the baby is moving
If the baby is breathing
The baby's muscle tone
How much fluid is around the baby
The baby's heart rate
Maternal Health Monitoring
It's always important to keep an eye on the mother’s health as well.
Doctors might regularly check:
Blood pressure
Blood sugar levels
Weight changes
Signs of preeclampsia
Lab test results
Role of Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Fetal heart rate monitoring is a tool which is used to assess the fetal wellbeing during the high risk pregnancies
Changes in fetal heart rate pattern will give important information :
Fetal Moments
Oxygen supply to baby
Fetal stress
Identification of abnormal patterns early will help to take appropriate action if necessary.
How Keyar DT Supports High-Risk Pregnancy Monitoring
In high risk pregnancies, NST tests have to be done very frequently to evaluate the well being of the baby. With the help of Keyar DT Lite, it is possible to do fetal heart rate monitoring even in a mobile way, which makes it easier to carry out NST testing near their homes.
Portable NST Monitoring at home
Improves Access to Monitoring
Supports Early Detection of Concerns
Easy to share reports
Regular monitoring at home
Reduces the Burden of Frequent Visits
How Keyar Echo Supports Remote Monitoring
The Keyar Echo allows at-home monitoring of the baby's heart beat with recording capabilities for tracking purposes.
Monitor your baby’s heart beat at home
Recording heart beat sessions made simple
Fetal heartbeat tracking
Seamless connection with the Janitri application
Send recordings to your healthcare provider
Reassuring peace of mind between visits
Signs That Should Prompt You to Seek Medical Assistance Immediately
See your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs:
Decreased movement of your fetus
Vaginal bleeding
Severe abdominal pain
Persistent headaches
Visual disturbances
Facial or hand swelling
Shortness of breath
These could be signs of problems that need immediate medical attention.
Conclusion
High-risk pregnancies require more attention; however, due to advanced monitoring technologies the complications can be detected at an early stage, resulting in better outcomes for mother and child.
Ultrasound scans, Doppler scans, as well as Non-Stress Tests (NST), provide information about the wellbeing of a fetus during pregnancy. With advanced devices that include Keyar DT, which ensures effective fetal heart rate monitoring and NST testing, and Keyar Echo, allowing for remote monitoring, it is easier to deal with this type of pregnancy.
By making use of proper tests and interventions, most high-risk pregnancies can be controlled, thus contributing to the birth of a healthy baby.
FAQ
1. How can I determine that my pregnancy is a high-risk pregnancy?
If pregnancy is going to be at a high risk if anything is likely to happen that may bring danger for the mother and unborn child or both of them. Examples of a high risk pregnancy include those in which the pregnancy involves complications such as hypertension, thyroid conditions, diabetes, etc. Pregnancy that is high risk, women deliver healthy babies.
2. Why should the fetal heart rate be measured in pregnancy ?
Monitoring a baby's heart rate in pregnancy is important because it will help your baby stay healthy. During the process it will allow the doctors to know if your baby is receiving adequate oxygen.
3 .What is an NST test and when would it be needed?
Non-Stress Test (NST) is the method of measuring fetal heart rate and its response to fetal movements. An NST test can be recommended by a doctor for high-risk pregnancy or if the mother feels reduction in fetal movements or after the baby’s due date. It’s a Non-Invasive test, It takes a few minutes to complete.
4. How often would a high-risk pregnancy need monitoring?
It depends on the mother’s condition and the baby’s health. Sometimes it may need more pregnancy visits, but some may need twice-weekly visits. Each pregnancy requires different monitoring.
5. Can regular monitoring improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies?
Yes. Regular monitoring will help doctors track the health of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy. In addition, complications can be detected earlier, which gives healthcare providers more opportunities to intervene. Because of this, timely monitoring is associated with better maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic – High-Risk Pregnancy: Age, Complications & Management
ACOG – Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Well-Being
Cleveland Clinic – Nonstress Test (NST): Purpose, Procedure & Results
