High-risk pregnancies are any that actually or potentially threaten either the health or life of the mother or her fetus during pregnancy, labor, or birth. From a radiological perspective, high-risk pregnancies may undergo further screening or have close follow-up with growth and well-being scans.
Epidemiology
Approximately 20% (range 6-33%) of women have high-risk pregnancies 1-3.
Pathology
Risk factors
Maternal
The National Institutes of Health (USA) lists the following high-risk pregnancy categories 3:
- pre-existing health conditions, e.g. hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, renal disease, thyroid disease, obesity, infertility, HIV/AIDS
- pregnancy-related health conditions, e.g. multiple gestations, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
- age, e.g. adolescent pregnancy, primigravida >35 years
- lifestyle factors, e.g. alcohol, tobacco or other drug use
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