CULMINATING PPT CONTENTS

Paghiusa: Empowering Maternal Health through a Community Approach to

Reducing High-Risk Pregnancies
High Risk Pregnancy Awareness: A gathering for the well-being of both mother and baby, focusing on
complications and ways to prevent further risks for the safety of both mother and child.

Some common complications of pregnancy include, but are not limited to, the following:

I.​ High Blood Pressure

-​ High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when arteries carrying blood from the heart to the
body organs are narrowed, increasing arterial pressure.
-​ In pregnancy, this can make it hard for blood to reach the placenta, which provides nutrients and oxygen
to the fetus.
-​ Reduced blood flow can slow the growth of the fetus and place the mother at greater risk of preterm
labor and preeclampsia.
-​ High blood pressure that develops in pregnancy is called gestational hypertension.
-​ Typically, gestational hypertension occurs during the second half of pregnancy and goes away after
delivery.

Management: Women who have high blood pressure before they get pregnant will continue to have to monitor
and control it, with medications if necessary, throughout their pregnancy.

II.​ Gestational Diabetes

-​ Gestational Diabetes occurs when a woman who didn't have diabetes before pregnancy develops the
condition during pregnancy.
-​ In gestational diabetes, hormonal changes from pregnancy cause the body to either not make enough
insulin, or not use it normally. Instead, the glucose builds up in your blood, causing diabetes, otherwise
known as high blood sugar.

Management: Managing gestational diabetes, by following a treatment plan outlined by a healthcare provider, is
the best way to reduce or prevent problems associated with high blood sugar during pregnancy. If not controlled,
it can lead to high blood pressure from preeclampsia and having a large infant, which increases the risk for
cesarean delivery.

III.​ Infections
-​ Infections, including some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), may occur during pregnancy and/or
delivery and may lead to complications for the pregnant woman, the pregnancy, and the baby after
delivery.
-​ Some infections can pass from mother to infant during delivery when the infant passes through the birth
canal; other infections can infect a fetus during the pregnancy.
Management: Many of these infections can be prevented or treated with appropriate pre-pregnancy, prenatal,
and postpartum follow-up care.

Some infections in pregnancy can cause or contribute to:

●​ Pregnancy loss/miscarriage (before 20 weeks of pregnancy)
●​ Ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube)
●​ Preterm labor and delivery (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy)
●​ Low birth weight
●​ Congenital anomalies, including blindness, deafness, bone deformities, and intellectual disability
●​ Stillbirth (at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy)
●​ Illness in the newborn period (first month of life)
●​ Newborn death
●​ Maternal health complications

NOTE:
-​ If you are planning to get pregnant, talk with your health care provider about getting vaccines and
vaccine boosters for chicken pox (also called varicella) and rubella (also called German measles) before
you conceive.
-​ You can also get some vaccines, such as the flu shot, while you are pregnant.
-​ If you know you have an infection, such as an STI, talk with your health care provider about it before
you conceive to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
-​ Early prenatal testing for STIs and other infections can determine if the infection can be cured with drug
treatment.
-​ Or, if you know you have an infection, tell your pregnancy health care provider about it as early as
possible in your pregnancy.
-​ Early treatment decreases the risk to the fetus and infant.
-​ Even if the infection can't be cured, you and your health care provider can take steps to protect your
health and your infant's health.

IV.​ Preeclampsia
-​ Preeclampsia is a serious medical condition that can lead to preterm delivery and death.
-​ Its cause is unknown, but some women are at an increased risk.

Risk factors include:

●​ First pregnancies
●​ Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
●​ Existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and systemic lupus
erythematosus
●​ Being 35 years of age or older
●​ Carrying two or more fetuses
●​ Obesity
 Management: Preeclampsia management involves early diagnosis and intervention to control blood pressure and
prevent seizures. The treatment plan depends on the severity of the condition, the baby's gestational age, and the
health of the mother and baby.

V.​ Preterm Labor

-​ Preterm labor is labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
-​ Any infant born before 37 weeks is at an increased risk for health problems, in most cases because
organs such as the lungs and brain finish their development in the final weeks before a full-term delivery
(39 to 40 weeks).
-​ Certain conditions increase the risk for preterm labor, including infections, developing a shortened
cervix, or previous preterm births.

Management: Progesterone, a hormone produced naturally during pregnancy, may be used to help prevent
preterm birth in certain women. A 2003 study led by NICHD researchers found that progesterone
supplementation to women at high risk for preterm delivery due to a prior preterm birth reduces the risk of a
subsequent preterm birth by one third.

VI.​ Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage

-​ Miscarriage is the term used to describe a pregnancy loss from natural causes before 20 weeks. Signs
can include vaginal spotting or bleeding, cramping, or fluid or tissue passing from the vagina.
-​ However, bleeding from the vagina does not mean that a miscarriage will happen or is happening.

Management: Women experiencing this sign at any point in their pregnancy should contact their health care
provider.

VII.​ Stillbirth
-​ The loss of pregnancy after the 20th week of pregnancy is called a stillbirth.
-​ In approximately half of all reported cases, health care providers can find no cause for the loss.
-​ However, health conditions that can contribute to stillbirth include chromosomal abnormalities, placental
problems, poor fetal growth, chronic health issues of the mother, and infection.

Other complications of pregnancy may include the following:

●​ Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting. Although having some nausea and vomiting is normal during
pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, some women experience more severe symptoms that last
into the third trimester.​

Management: Affected women may need to be hospitalized so that they can receive fluids and nutrients.
Some women feel better after their 20th week of pregnancy, while others experience the symptoms
throughout their pregnancy.

●​ Iron-deficiency anemia. Pregnant women need more iron than normal for the increased amount of blood
they produce during pregnancy. Iron-deficiency anemia—when the body doesn't have enough iron—is
somewhat common during pregnancy and is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight.
 Symptoms of a deficiency in iron include feeling tired or faint, experiencing shortness of breath, and
becoming pale.

Management: Some women may need extra iron through iron supplements. Your health care provider
may screen you for iron-deficiency anemia and, if you have it, may recommend iron supplements.

To avoid pregnancy complications, pregnant women can:

●​ Get regular prenatal care: Attend all appointments and tests, and share symptoms with your provider.
●​ Eat well: Eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fish. Take
prenatal vitamins, and get enough calcium, iron, and folic acid.
●​ Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
●​ Exercise safely: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, like walking, swimming, or cycling, can help you
maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of complications.
●​ Avoid harmful substances: Don't smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. Avoid raw or undercooked foods,
and make sure meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature.
●​ Practice safe sex: Take precautions to protect against sexually transmitted infections.
●​ Manage existing health conditions: If you have any health conditions, make sure your provider knows
about them and that you're taking safe medications.
●​ Get vaccinated: Make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
●​ Early detection and treatment can help most pregnancy complications.

What Is a Healthy Pregnancy?

-​ A healthy pregnancy is one in which you stay physically and emotionally well throughout your journey.
Our guidelines for a healthy pregnancy below can help prevent health problems that threaten your health
and your baby's health.

Health problems that can occur during pregnancy include:

●​ Giving birth before 37 weeks (preterm birth).
●​ Congenital disabilities.
●​ High blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia).
●​ High blood sugar during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).

These pregnancy-related health problems can harm your health or your baby's health. Not all pregnancy
problems are preventable by your actions, but some are. Here's our guide to a healthy pregnancy.

What Are Pregnancy Dos and Don'ts?

To make sure your pregnancy is as healthy as possible, follow these pregnancy dos and don'ts. They can also
help protect your baby from toxins or infections that could hurt their development.

What you should DO during Pregnancy?

●​ Do take prenatal vitamins with 0.4 mg (or 400 mcg) of folic acid throughout your pregnancy.
●​ Do wear your seatbelt every time, positioning it below your belly.
 ●​ Do take pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care classes.
●​ Do tell your health care provider about any medicines or natural health products, such as supplements,
you take.
●​ Do check with your doctor before taking any new medicines, including over-the-counter medicines.
●​ Do limit stress.
●​ Do get enough sleep. Aim for 6 to 9 hours every night.
●​ Do attend your routine prenatal visits.
●​ Do get vaccines recommended during pregnancy, including the flu shot, the COVID vaccine, and the
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
●​ Do take steps to avoid foodborne illness.
●​ Do let your other health providers, including your dentist, know you're pregnant.

What to AVOID during pregnancy?

●​ Don't consume more than 200mg of caffeine, which is about the amount in one 12-ounce cup of coffee.
●​ Don't take ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), aspirin, or naproxen (Alleve) during pregnancy.
●​ Do avoid exposure to pesticides, lead, and mercury.
●​ Don't smoke or vape tobacco or marijuana, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during your pregnancy.
●​ Don't handle cat feces.
●​ Don't expose yourself to dangerous chemicals, like cleaning solvents and secondhand cigarette smoke.
●​ Don't use hot tubs, take hot baths, use saunas, or take hot yoga classes. High temperatures can be
harmful to the fetus.
●​ Don't get x-rays, CT scans, or other tests that use radiation when you're pregnant.
●​ Don't lie flat on your back in the third trimester if it's uncomfortable. Your body will tell you what
positions to avoid while pregnant.