No woman wants to hear that her pregnancy is high-risk or that she could have “complications.” A Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist is a doctor who specialises in the treatment of difficult pregnancies. While “high risk” pregnancy specialists are commonly referred to, this terminology is not always indicative of the doctors’ training and skill, and can be used to indicate specialization when none exists. Dr. Mamta Phogat, a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist in Faridabad, explains why it is crucial to have a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist throughout pregnancy. Continue reading!!
What conditions may lead to a high-risk pregnancy?
The diseases listed below are the most prevalent causes of high-risk pregnancy, however, keep in mind that not all women with these problems will have a high-risk pregnancy.
Diabetes: If you have diabetes before getting pregnant, you will almost certainly be directed to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who will monitor your health and provide the appropriate drugs. Counseling before conception is best. Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) is fairly common, and your obstetrician will most likely be able to treat you without the need for a maternal-fetal medicine consultation. If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will monitor your baby’s growth and well-being while also managing your health with nutrition advice, glucose monitoring, and perhaps medicines.
Pre-eclampsia: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-specific illness characterized by elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine, and edoema (swelling of the skin). Some women with pre-eclampsia have problems in their liver or platelets. Depending on the severity of your ailment or if you are preterm, you may be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. “The sole cure for pre-eclampsia is to deliver your baby,” Dr. Mamta Phogat adds, “hence this is a disease that requires very close monitoring to balance maternal difficulties against the risks of delivering your baby too soon.”
Hypertension: If you have hypertension before pregnancy, a Hypertension. If you have hypertension before becoming pregnant, your baby’s growth will be monitored by a maternal fetal medicine specialist, who may be consulted if concerns emerge. Some drugs that are frequently used to treat hypertension outside of pregnancy are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Multiples: Complications are more likely with twins or higher-order multiples pregnancies. Pre-eclampsia and premature labour are more frequent in women who have had several pregnancies. Twin pregnancies are more likely to result in foetal abnormalities and growth issues, especially if the placentas are shared. If you have a multiple pregnancy, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will do extra ultrasounds to properly monitor the pregnancy. The maternal-fetal medicine specialist will advise you on how and when to deliver your infants. “You may continue to visit your Ob/Gyn if you are healthy and your babies’ growth is normal and without difficulties,” explains Dr. Mamta Phogat.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): In general, if you have a pre-existing STD, such as herpes, your obstetrician can treat you for sexually transmitted infections that may arise during pregnancy. A visit with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist may be necessary in some circumstances. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist, for example, will give further care and treatment if you are being treated for syphilis and an ultrasound reveals that your foetus may be harmed. Because HIV treatment regimens are complicated, women with HIV are usually treated by maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
Obesity: Obese women are more likely to develop diabetes, hypertension, and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. “One of the few health issues impacting pregnant women that can be modified before pregnancy is obesity,” says Dr. Mamta Phogat. “This is why maternal-fetal medicine specialists advise women to reduce weight using healthy techniques.” Dr. Mamta’s Fetalkare Clinic works with obese pregnant women to improve their health and that of their newborns.”
Are all of my future pregnancies going to be high-risk? If you have one high-risk pregnancy, it does not guarantee that all of your future pregnancies will be as well. It’s possible that you’ll have a foetal problem in one pregnancy but not in another, and your health conditions may change over time.
If you’ve had a previous pregnancy that resulted in premature birth, you’re more likely to experience preterm labour with your future pregnancy. If this happens, your obstetrician will use medication to manage your pregnancy, and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will use ultrasound surveillance to check your cervical length.
Finally, remember that your maternal-fetal medicine specialist has the knowledge and experience necessary to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible throughout a high-risk pregnancy. Dr. Mamta Phogat is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist in Faridabad who specialises in high-risk pregnancies and delivers high-quality care.