706 W Platt Street

Tampa, FL 33606

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6101 Webb Road Suite 102

Tampa, FL 33615

women’s

healthcare services

Omni Medical Center for Women helps our gynecology patients identify and treat a wide range of health conditions and concerns

☎ 813-251-2000☎ 813-251-2000

High-Risk Pregnancy

Helping You Get Through Pregnancy Complications

In addition to prenatal care for your special pregnancy, Omni Medical Center for Women also provides care for high-risk pregnancy situations. Complications of pregnancy that Dr. Zakhary can help with include gestational diabetes, pregnancy with elevated blood pressure, women experiencing premature labor, and others. These times will require more close monitoring of you and your pregnancy. This may include more frequent prenatal visits, more frequent testing, referral to other care providers, or multiple ultrasound examinations. It is important to have a strong partnership with your physician in this process to ensure that you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. So, whether you are blessed with a low-risk pregnancy or experience difficulties or complications, Dr. Zakhary can provide you care every step of the way.

What Constitutes a “High-Risk Pregnancy”?

The term “high-risk pregnancy” describes a case where a pregnant woman has one or more factors that could put her or the baby at risk for health problems. A pregnancy may be considered high risk if the pregnant woman:

Has Gestational Diabetes
Has Gone Into Premature Labor
Has Had a Baby With a Birth Defect, Especially Heart or Genetic Problems
Has Had a Premature Baby
Has High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Lupus, Asthma, a Seizure Disorder, or Another Longstanding Medical Problem
Is 15 Years Old or Younger
Is 35 Years Old or Older
Is Pregnant With More Than One Fetus
Is Underweight or Overweight Before Becoming Pregnant

What Causes a High-Risk Pregnancy?

Before a woman becomes pregnant, she needs to have good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Good prenatal care and medical treatment during pregnancy can help prevent complications. However, some factors can be present before a woman becomes pregnant that can cause a high-risk pregnancy. Risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy can include:

Being Overweight or Underweight
Having Had Problems in Previous Pregnancies
Pre-Existing Health Conditions, Such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, or HIV
Young or Old Maternal Age

Health problems can also develop during a pregnancy that can make it high-risk. Such problems may occur even in a woman who was previously healthy.

What Can a Woman Do to Promote a Healthy Pregnancy?

Many healthcare providers recommend that a woman who is thinking about becoming pregnant see a healthcare provider to ensure that she is in good preconception health.

During pregnancy, there are also steps a woman can take to reduce the risk of certain problems:

Getting at Least 400 Micrograms of Folic Acid Every Day if She Thinks She Could Become Pregnant and Continuing Folic Acid When She Does Get Pregnant
Getting Proper Immunizations
Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Diet, Getting Regular Physical Activity, and Avoiding Smoking, Alcohol, or Drug Use
Starting Prenatal Care Appointments Early in Pregnancy

What Are Some Conditions That May Cause a High-Risk Pregnancy?

Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Preeclampsia is a syndrome that includes high blood pressure, urinary protein, and changes in blood levels of liver enzymes during pregnancy. It can affect the mother’s kidneys, liver, and brain. With treatment, many women will have healthy babies. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal for the mother and/or the baby and can lead to long-term health problems. Eclampsia is a more severe form of preeclampsia that can cause seizures and coma in the mother.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (or Gestational Diabetes)

This is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If a woman gets diabetes when she is pregnant, but never had it before, then she has gestational diabetes. Many women with this type of diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies because they follow a treatment plan from their healthcare provider.

HIV/AIDS

This kills or damages cells of the body’s immune system, progressively destroying the body’s ability to fight infections and certain cancers. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection.

Women can give HIV to their babies during pregnancy, while giving birth, or through breastfeeding. But, there are effective ways to prevent the spread of mother-to-infant transmission of HIV.

Preterm Labor

This is labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Because the baby is not fully grown at this time, it may not be able to survive outside the womb. Healthcare providers will often take steps to try to stop labor if it occurs before this time.

Although there is no way to know which women will experience preterm labor or birth, there are factors that place women at a higher risk, such as certain infections, a shortened cervix, or previous preterm birth.

Consult Our Prenatal Care Experts

Other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart, breathing, or kidney problems can become more serious during a woman’s pregnancy. Regular prenatal care can help ensure a healthier pregnancy for a woman and her baby. To schedule an appointment with our experts, please call our phone or message us via fax or this website. We hope to serve you.

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Omni Medical Center for Women

Dr. Atef S. Zakhary, Medical Director

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Contact Info

Phone: 813-251-2000

Fax: 813-283-6700

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Hours of Operation:

Monday to Thursday

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

By Appointment