"More Pregnancies Considered High-Risk"
 

Not all news out of this story, however, is bad news. A growing number of women are successfully having children despite life-threatening conditions that once made a safe pregnancy almost impossible.



Kelly Baus pregnancy is considered risky. The 26-year-old mother of two is a diabetic and she's having twins. "For awhile, I was doing ultrasounds like every two weeks to make sure I was okay, coming to doctor every two weeks. When I got closer I was coming to the hospital like everyday."



Baus is one of a growing number of U.S. pregnancies considered high risk.



Dr. Connie Graves with Baptist Hospital said there are several reasons why. She said, "The patient population in the U.S. is aging. Women are waiting longer to have children, which increases the risk of complications. Also waiting longer means increasing risk thatyou will have a chronic disease."



Patients considered high risk are those who are over age 35 or younger than 17, women who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or HIV, and women who have genetic disorders.



Another reason for more risky pregnancies is the increase in multiple births, often the result of fertility treatments. Such babies are likely to be born prematurely and to have health problems.



Outcomes for older women and those with medical problems have been better than doctors expected.



Dr. Graves said, "I think that has to do with a couple of things... improved abilityto do genetic testing, improved ability to get women in that age group pregnant and our knowledge base has grown."



Although she's considered high risk, Baus feels incredibly lucky. She has two healthy boys at home and is hoping the same for her twin daughters.



Shortly after News 2 met with Baus early Wednesday morning, she gave birth to her twin girls, Kennedy and Cassidy. They each weighed about five pounds and are doing well in the NICU unit at Baptist Hospital.



Kaynak: SağlıkHaber