Pregnancy – is a boon from God to every woman and it’s a wonderful time in her life. Great care should be taken of the pregnant women during pregnancy so that this journey of pregnancy ends on a happy and safe note. While the period of pregnancy seems pleasant, there are also some potential complications during this time. According to a statistic, as many as 44% of pregnant women in India experience unexpected complications during their pregnancy. Why does this happen? I will tell you how you can move towards a safe delivery by recognizing the red flag signs during pregnancy and how to get these ailments treated on time.
Now you may be wondering how to identify a high-risk pregnancy, a pregnant woman who has some kind of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes are at risk of potential complications. Along with this, we call a pregnancy as high risk when it is a pregnancy of women who have had an IVF and women who are about to have twins or triplets. At the same time, if the pregnancy shows any signs & symptoms such as sudden bleeding, sudden loss of consciousness, excessive pain, no or very fewer movements of the baby in the womb, then the pregnant woman needs to be attended by an Obstetrician immediately at a hospital.
Women who are at risk of such complications should seek regular checkups from an Obstetrician at a hospital that provides comprehensive treatment & care. Infrastructural support needed to handle such cases of high-risk pregnancy requires facilities like Sonography (USG), well equipped Operation Theater, 24 x 7 availability of Obstetrician & dedicated nurses, a separate Intensive Care unit for the Newborn (NICU), and 24-hour availability of Anesthetist, Pediatrician, Cardiologist, Nephrologist and Intensivist, etc. Such a hospital where all these basic facilities are available for handling a high-risk pregnancy will help you to have a safe & comfortable delivery experience. Last but not least, identify the red flag signs during pregnancy, give the doctor a complete idea about your medical history, take your prescribed medications on time, get regular check-ups done and follow the prescribed instructions by your doctor. Adherence to these instructions will surely make your pregnancy experience a pleasant one!
Dr. Shraddha Sabnis
DGO, DNB (OBGY), FMAS
Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Wockhardt Hospitals, Nashik
