A child is the greatest gift for parents

Nothing is ever certain. Parents-to-be should always take extra care throughout the entire 9 months of a pregnancy because it is a very important period. Precautions taken before and during pregnancy can reduce the chance of having a high-risk pregnancy.
 

What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?

“A high-risk pregnancy is a case where certain factors can place a pregnant woman and the fetus at risk. A high-risk pregnancy can result in a death during the pregnancy, during the delivery and even after the delivery, such as in the case of a preterm birth or preeclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension). The risk factors to look out for include underlying conditions in the mother-to-be, such as diabetes or high blood pressure; a history of preterm births, problems during delivery, miscarriages, or a myomectomy (a surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus), a multiple pregnancy, or the mother-to-be being aged 35 years and above.”

“Women with diabetes, thyroid disease or other underlying diseases should consult a doctor before becoming pregnant in order to manage the conditions and prevent a high-risk pregnancy. During the antenatal care sessions at the hospital, an obstetrician will ask the mother-to-be a series of questions to determine the risk factors. The level of risk in the pregnancy can also be assessed by a blood pressure test, physical examination, fundal height measurement, and laboratory tests like urinalysis. There is always a degree of risk in any pregnancy due to the hormonal and physical changes that take place in the mother-to-be. However, based on the results of the risk assessment, the doctor will advise the mother-to-be on how best to minimize those risks during her pregnancy. While the fetus can also cause health risks, the mother-to-be and fetus can usually adjust themselves to the conditions naturally. In some cases, there may even be complications in both mother-to-be and fetus. However, the advanced technology available today enables us to prevent high-risk pregnancies.”

 

Prevention for a Healthy Pregnancy

“The advanced medical technology available today enables us to be more efficient than ever before in preventing high-risk pregnancies. I would like to ask parents-to-be to think carefully about prevention because it is always better than cure. The management of some complications, such as preterm birth, preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, is not very effective due to the unknown causes of these conditions.

It is essential that prior to conception both parents ensure that they are in good health. Women should not be overweight, and should become pregnant when they are at the right age, not too young or too old. If you are preparing for pregnancy, you should have a physical examination. The tests you will need to take vary according to your personal health history. If you have never had any serious illnesses, have no genetic conditions, and have no family history of pregnancy disorders, you will only need to be tested for your blood type and basic diseases, such as rubella, hepatitis, and thalassemia, the latter being a condition more common in Asians. Before taking a physical examination, you should provide the doctor with your family health history so that he or she can make an accurate and effective diagnosis.”
 
 

A high-risk pregnancy ...can be avoided

“Preeclampsia generally develops after 20 weeks, or about 5 months, into the pregnancy. In most cases, it occurs after 32 weeks (8 months), although it can also develop up to 48 hours after the baby is born. The most effective way of preventing preeclampsia is by giving medication in high risk cases before 16 weeks of pregnancy. Biochemical markers and uterine artery measurements are useful for determining the risk of preeclampsia in women as well as low birth weight in babies. In the case of abnormal results, preventive medication can be given immediately. Currently, sFIT/PIGF is the reliable test used to predict preeclampsia and other conditions, as well as to measure the severity of the condition so as to be able to provide the most suitable prevention and treatment. In Thailand, there are only 3 hospitals with the ability to perform this test, and Bumrungrad Hospital is the only one that performs this test 24 hours a day with the test results available within just 18 minutes.

The cervical length is measured by ultrasound to determine the risk factors for a preterm birth. The progesterone hormone helps reduce the rate of early preterm births by 45% in pregnant women with short cervix. In Thailand, Bumrungrad Hospital is the first and only hospital that uses a vaginal ring in combination with progesterone. This highly effective technique was presented at an international meeting in 2014. Fibronectin and PAMG-1 tests are used to predict preterm delivery and rupture of amniotic membranes, and can provide results within approximately 15-20 minutes. This fast diagnosis enables treatment to be administered early enough to reduce the length of time spent in hospital and the amount of medication required.

Due to the recent advances in prenatal screening and diagnosis, the maternal blood test for Down’s syndrome can now be performed with 99.6% accuracy within 7-10 days. An amniocentesis can be used to diagnose Down’s syndrome and the results will be available within 24-48 hours. If an ultrasound shows fetal abnormalities, further diagnostic tests will be required to detect abnormalities at the gene levels.

After you find out that you are pregnant, you should begin your prenatal care as early as possible. The doctor can check to see if the pregnancy is inside the uterus or on the outside. The prenatal tests and measurements include fetal heartbeat, length of pregnancy, ultrasound during the 12^th-13 ^th weeks of pregnancy to measure the thickness of the fetus’ neck and detect chromosomal abnormalities, fetal heart diseases, uterine artery measurement, cervical length measurement to predict preeclampsia and preterm birth, ultrasound during the 18^th-22^nd weeks to detect fetal organ abnormalities, and ultrasound during the 28^th-32^nd weeks to gauge fetal growth and manage possible problems before they develop. With our team of specialist doctors and nurses and our well-equipped laboratory, Bumrungrad Hospital is well-prepared to manage all high-risk pregnancy conditions effectively.”

“Prevention is always better than cure. Bumrungrad Hospital can provide effective measures to predict and diagnose Down syndrome, preterm birth, preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications. Our team of highly-skilled doctors is always ready to manage all conditions effectively.
 

“ High-risk pregnancy can be prevented during the early stages of prenatal care. Parents-to-be should always manage the pregnancy with care so that their newborns will be in good health and get off to a great start.”

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