High Risk Pregnancy

Let’s talk about something on the serious side.

High risk pregnancy.

First, What is a high risk pregnancy?

There are actually many reasons a pregnancy can be considered high risk. The mothers pre-existing health conditions, previous pregnancy complications, the mothers age, or problems that develop during the pregnancy.

For me, it’s the first. Pre-existing health conditions that I’ve had for a while and have only been able to moderately get under control. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2016 and even with medication it’s never been fully under control. It has come down to what my doctors have always said is a ‘reasonable’ rang for my weight and age. I was also placed in the diabetes category in 2020 after sitting in the pre-diabetes category for years. Once my blood sugar reached the diabetes numbers we have had trouble keeping it where my doctors wanted it. The lowest we have been able to get it is 133… For some reason, and my doctors haven’t really addressed it, my fasting number in the morning is kind of where it stays.. even after eating. I am not a doctor and I also don’t 100% understand how these numbers work but it’s always felt odd that my numbers don’t fluctuate and stay steady, high and steady. I have also been over weight my entire life.

Now I know that this doesn’t mean that complication are inevitable but it can happen. So I wanted to share some of the tips or rather instructions my PCP gave me for while I wait for my first OB visit and just some general advice.

Try to eat healthier

With the type of pre-existing conditions I have you can guess that eating healthy hasn’t been something I do often. I have of course been on diets here and there but never really stuck to something long term. As a reminder to myself and anyone else they may struggle with their weight before pregnancy, you’re not actually eating for two. Through out your pregnancy you should only be raising your calories 300 to 500 by the end. Here are my PCPs four main suggestions.

• Stay away from sugar as much as possible. Have a treat here and there but limit it to once or twice a week.
• Eat a more balanced diet. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats. Stay away from processed foods and excess carbs due to diabetes.
• If you need a snack pick something on the healthy side: yogurt with berries, an apple with nut butter, or hummus with vegetables.
• Trade soda or high sugar juices for water at least 80% of the time. Analyze what you’re drinking and replace 80% of the bad things with water.

Maintain your weight for a while

My PCP told me to try to maintain my weight through most of the pregnancy and that it is ok to lose a little in the first trimester before the bulk of baby growth happens later.

• First trimester: No extra calories should be added. Try to stay within your maintenance calories.
  • My maintenance calories are between 2050 and 2250.
• Second trimester: Add about 300 calories to your maintenance calories. This will depend on what you feel you can take in but it should be around 300 additional calories.
• Third trimester: Add about 450 calories to your maintenance calories. Again, this will depend on how you fell at the time.

Exercise

• Do light low impact exercises at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Do more than 30 minutes if your body can handle it.
  • Walking: Take short walks through out the day, you don’t have to do 30 minutes all at once if you can’t. Walk as a normal pace and try not to push yourself too much.
  • Prenatal stretching or gentle yoga: Prenatal stretching specifically is gentle, low-impact flexibility and movement routines designed specifically for pregnant women. It helps the body safely adapt to shifting weight, changing posture, and hormonal fluctuations throughout pregnancy. AVOID hot yoga and positions that feel uncomfortable!
  • Light strength exercises: Light, well controlled movements with light weights. Usually it is best to use machines that create the weight through tension lines rather than free weights.

I would love any advise anyone has about their pregnancy, high risk or not.