Which factors can make a pregnancy high risk?

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Close-up of a home pregnancy test device showing a blue plus sign in the result window, indicating a positive result for pregnancy. — pregnancy Devices for individual use at home detect pregnancy by measuring levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine.

A high-risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, fetus, or newborn faces an elevated risk of adverse health conditions. Identifying these factors early through prenatal care is essential for managing health and improving outcomes.1

Factors that can contribute to a high-risk pregnancy include:

Maternal Age and Health: Being under 18 or over 35 years old, poor nutrition, low body mass index, or anemia.1
Preexisting Conditions: Diabetes mellitus, heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and chronic hypertension.1
Lifestyle and Social Factors: Smoking, substance abuse, and domestic violence.1
Obstetric and Biological Factors: Multiple gestation, previous pregnancy complications, and uterine, placental, or cervical abnormalities.1
Mental Health: Psychiatric and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.1

Conditions like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes may also develop during the pregnancy itself, requiring close medical monitoring.1