High-Risk Pregnancies

Causes of high-risk pregnancies

High-risk pregnancies can develop in two ways. First, there are factors that can be present before a woman becomes pregnant that can cause a high-risk pregnancy. These include maternal age (younger or older than typical), being overweight or underweight, previous problems with pregnancy, and pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or HIV.  Problems can also develop during the course of pregnancy that make it high-risk. These conditions include preeclampsia and eclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, and other medical conditions.

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