History of previous pregnancies
If certain events or complications have occurred during previous pregnancies or births, this may lead to the current pregnancy being classified as a high-risk pregnancy. These include abortions, miscarriages, premature births, a blood group incompatibility (Rhesus incompatibility), the birth of a very small or very large child, a caesarean section in the past and a previous or existing multiple pregnancy. The occurrence of thromboses, bleeding or injuries during previous births also pose risks.
A number of complications can occur during a high-risk pregnancy, resulting from the risks mentioned above. If the mother’s gestational diabetes is not adequately treated, developmental disorders of the placenta may occur and the child may be undersupplied. In addition, the child can become very large (>4350g), which can pose a risk during a spontaneous (vaginal) birth.
After birth, the child’s blood sugar level must be closely monitored, as severe hypoglycaemia can occur. Pre-eclampsia (pregnancy poisoning) can lead to complications such as eclampsia (increase in the symptoms of pregnancy poisoning and seizures) or a so-called HELLP syndrome. These can be very dangerous for mother and child, so that birth should usually be initiated immediately.
Depending on the cause, infections during pregnancy can pose an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth and can lead to developmental disorders and malformations. If a Caesarean section has been performed in the past, women have an increased risk of rupture (rupture) of the uterus in a subsequent pregnancy and spontaneous delivery because scar tissue is more unstable than normal tissue. After more than five births in the past, there is a higher risk of insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply to the child due to placental insufficiency and of complications during delivery.
If the placenta is malpositioned, bleeding may occur, and bleeding increases the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. In the event of blood group incompatibility, the child may suffer severe anaemia and undersupply, and after birth a newborn jaundice (jaundice) may develop. Untreated, anemia of the mother can lead to an undersupply of mother and child.
