A high-risk pregnancy means that you or your baby are more likely to have health problems during pregnancy, delivery or after birth, that is, perinatal period. These may be minor problems, or in some cases they may be serious enough to endanger the life of the mother or baby. It is possible to get an idea of your risk level during pregnancy with a self-answer test. Below are three sections of questions about your general health status, your previous pregnancy and your current pregnancy.
1. Soruları cevaplayınız
| Questions | No | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| Risks related to your general health | ||
| Do you have diabetes? | ||
| Do you have chronic kidney disease? | ||
| Do you have any heart disease? | ||
| Do you have goiter disease? | ||
| Do you have any blood disorder other than anemia? | ||
| Do you have alcohol or smoking or other substance abuse? | ||
| Do you have nutritional deficiencies? | ||
| Do you have Tuberculosis? | ||
| Have you had uterine or cervical surgery? | ||
| Do you have liver disease? | ||
| Do you have any other disease that is not asked here? (Up to 3 points depending on seriousness) | ||
| Risks related to your previous pregnancies | ||
| Have you given more than four births? | ||
| Have you had three consecutive miscarriages? | ||
| Have you had hypertension or pregnancy toxemia? | ||
| Have you had an abnormal Rh incompatibility test (it is done when your blood type is Rh-negative, and your partner’s is Rh-positive) | ||
| Have you given birth three weeks or earlier than expected? | ||
| Have you had an assisted vaginal delivery (vacuum or forceps)? | ||
| Was the birth weight of your last baby less than 2500 grams? | ||
| Was the birth weight of your last baby more than 4,500 grams? | ||
| Have you had heavy bleeding soon after birth that required blood transfusion? | ||
| Have you given birth by a surgical C-section? (Each Cesarean section is 2 points) | ||
| Do you have children with physical or mental disabilities? | ||
| Have you had a stillbirth or live baby who died in the first month after birth? | ||
| Risks related to your on-going pregnancy | ||
| Are you under 16 years old? | ||
| Are you over 35 years old? | ||
| Did you have infertility treatment with this pregnancy? | ||
| Are you carrying more than one baby? | ||
| Is this going to be your first delivery? | ||
| Do you have a large cyst or mass in your abdomen or pelvis? | ||
| Have you had any vaginal bleeding after halfway through your pregnancy? | ||
| Have you had hypertension or gestational toxemia? | ||
| Have you had severe anemia that required intensive treatment? | ||
| Have you had an abnormal Rh incompatibility test (it is done when your blood type is Rh-negative, and your partner’s is Rh-positive) | ||
| Has your baby found to be small or large for gestational age? | ||
| Has your baby found to have too little or too much fluid? | ||
| Have you had a gush of water-break from your vagina? | ||
| Has your baby found to lie in abnormal position in the last two months of your pregnancy? | ||
| Are there any suspicious results on screening tests such as double-triple-quadruple or ultrasound? | ||
2. Sum-Up Your Points
3. Understand Your Risk
The most important thing that any level of risk can lead to is the loss of the baby during pregnancy, at birth or in the first week after birth, that is, perinatal period. Therefore, your risk assessment is based on the likelihood of encountering this negative outcome.
| 0 point: BASIC RISK Unfortunately, the zero-point does not mean zero-risk pregnancy. Every pregnancy carries a risk for the mother or baby. You may think of your risk as the 1st step of an 18-step ladder. About 40 out of every 100 pregnant women are in this category. One out of every 200 pregnant women at this risk level experiences perinatal loss. |
1-2 point(s): LOW RISK The word “low” here means “mild” or “little”. You may think of your risk as the 3rd step of an 18-step ladder. About 30 out of every 100 pregnant women are in this category. While 1 out of every 200 pregnant women with basic risk experiences perinatal loss, low-risk pregnant women like you encounter 6 times. |
|---|---|
| We recommend you to keep your pregnancy examinations under control of your midwife or family physician as well as an obstetrician and to give birth in a hospital having obstetric and pediatric specialists. | |
| 3-5 points: MODERATE RISK You may think of your risk as the 9th step of an 18-step ladder. About 20 out of every 100 pregnant women are in this category. While 1 out of every 200 pregnant women with a “basic risk” experiences perinatal loss, moderate-risk pregnant women like you encounter 18 times. |
Score 6 and above: HIGH RISK You may think of your risk as the top step of an 18-step ladder. About 10 out of every 100 pregnant women are in this category. While 1 out of every 200 pregnant women with a “basic risk” experiences perinatal loss, high-risk pregnant women like you encounter 36 times. |
| We recommend you to keep your pregnancy examinations under control of your midwife, family physician or obstetrician as well as a perinatologist* and, if possible, to give birth in a hospital having perinatologist and neonatologist (newborn baby specialist). Make sure that the hospital you choose is capable of providing adult and neonatal intensive care. | |
Remember
Your risk assessment is valid only for today. Without proper pregnancy and birth follow-up, your current risk may increase. New risks may arise later in your pregnancy.
We recommend that you keep this form and be especially vigilant against “ongoing pregnancy risks“. The emergence of one of these conditions may significantly change your risk level and you may need additional care. If you suspect this, contact your midwife or physician immediately.
Please note that other things that aren’t mentioned in this form may also pose risks. You should continue your check-ups regularly to keep yourself and your baby as safe as possible. Search the doctors and hospitals around you and choose the one in advance that suits your risk situation. You can get help from your midwife and your physician on this issue.
We wish you a healthy and safe pregnancy.
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