Nov. 10, 2010 | Before a woman becomes pregnant, it is important for her to have good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Good prenatal care and medical treatment during pregnancy can help prevent complications. But there are factors that can be present before a woman becomes pregnant, that can cause a high-risk pregnancy. Some of the risk factors can include the mother’s age, her weight, whether she had problems in previous pregnancies and pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes or HIV. Health problems can also develop during a pregnancy that can make it high-risk. Being unmarried or in a lower socioeconomic group increases the risk of problems during pregnancy. The reason these characteristics increase risk is unclear but is probably related to other characteristics that are more common among these women. For example, these women are more likely to smoke and less likely to consume a healthy diet and to obtain appropriate medical care.

Nov. 10, 2010 | Preeclampsia is a potentially serious illness marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. If untreated, it can become a rare but life-threatening condition called eclampsia. Eclampsia can cause seizures and, in some cases, coma. Fortunately, eclampsia is rare in women who receive regular prenatal care. If preeclampsia develops, the health care provider may develop a plan to try to prolong the pregnancy to give the fetus more time to grow and mature. At the same time, the health care provider will closely watch the health of the mother for signs that the fetus needs to be delivered right away, even prematurely, if necessary. If the preeclampsia is severe enough and the fetus is not delivered, the mother could die. Health care providers will take steps to prevent the condition from being fatal for mother and baby. After delivery, a woman with preeclampsia may need to stay in the hospital longer than usual. This is done for the safety of both her and her baby.

Nov. 10, 2010 | Gestational diabetes happens in about five percent of all pregnancies, or about 200,000 cases a year in the U.S. Normally, your stomach and intestines digest the carbohydrate in your food into a sugar called glucose, which is your body’s main source of energy. After digestion, the glucose moves into your blood to give your body energy. To get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells of your body, your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. If you have diabetes, either your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or your cells can’t use it the way they should. Instead, the glucose builds up in your blood, causing diabetes. Most women who have gestational diabetes give birth to healthy babies, especially when they control their blood sugar, eat a healthy diet and exercise. Some women with gestational diabetes will also need to take insulin to help manage their diabetes. The extra insulin can help lower their blood sugar level.

Nov. 10, 2010 | Do you believe in angels? The hundreds of Arkansans who have been part of a high-risk pregnancy, either as a parent, family member or a health care provider, do. ANGELS, the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System at UAMS, is a consulting service available throughout the state to a wide range of physicians, including family practitioners, obstetricians and pediatricians. Using interactive video, the ANGELS staff holds weekly conferences with board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialists to discuss individual cases in real time. ANGELS also provides a call center to provide 24-hour support for physicians to consult with specialists regarding patient management issues. As part of the ANGELS outreach effort, women seeking support for concerns related to their pregnancy, labor and delivery, or post-partum course can also utilize the services of the call center. For more information about ANGELS, call 866-273-3835.

Nov. 10, 2010 | Like most things, pregnancy carries certain risks. During pregnancy, women may develop disorders that are not directly related to pregnancy. Some disorders increase the risk of problems for pregnant women or the fetus. They include disorders that cause a high fever, infections, and disorders that require abdominal surgery. Certain disorders, such as anemia and urinary tract infections, are more likely to occur during pregnancy because of the many changes pregnancy causes in a woman’s body. A number of complications can occur at different times during the pregnancy, causing problems for the mother, the fetus or both. For example, complications such as a mislocated placenta or premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus can cause bleeding from the vagina during pregnancy. Women who have heavy bleeding are at risk of losing the baby or of going into shock and, if not promptly treated, of dying during labor and delivery.