There are some criteria of high risk mothers. Learning the facts sometimes reduce the rate of mortality and morbidity. Followings are the criteria of high risk mothers --

Biological factors
*Elder age, 35 years or more and very young, 18 years or less

*Height 140 cm or less

*Weight 10 per cent below for the height

*Women who become pregnant in quick succession (within 1 year)

Past obstetrical factors
*Previous still birth

*Intra uterine death

*History of previous caesarian or instrumental delivery

*Manual removal of placenta

*Previous repeated abortion

*Prolonged labour

*History of long standing infertility

Current pregnancy complication
*Antepartum haemorrhage (Bleeding during pregnancy)

*Postpartum haemorrhage (Bleeding after delivery)

*Threatened abortion

*Eclampsia

*Multiple pregnancy

*Malpresentation of coming baby

*Prolonged pregnancy (14 days after the expected date of delivery)

Medical and surgical factors
*Anaemia (Where haemoglobin level is 50 pre cent of less)

*Cardiovascular disease like hypertension, ischemic heart disease etc.

*Renal disease

*Diabetes Mellitus

Socio-economic factors
*Low socio-economic condition

* Women deserted by their husbands

* Remote rural area

Preventive measures of high risk
It is obvious that all abnormalities do not carry the same risk, some factors are more important than the others. The pregnant of high risk condition is assessed at the initial antenatal examination.

Measurement of high risk cases Antenatal measure
*Early in pregnancy, routine and special laboratory investigations should be done

*Complete investigation for hypertension, kidney and thyroid disorder and proper treatment in non-pregnant state

*Sexually transmitted diseases should be treated before another pregnancy

*Case having previous unsuccessful pregnancy should be investigated before another conception occurs

*Necessary advice should be given regarding rest, activities, diet and medicine like

-Avoidance of journey, sexual intercourse in early pregnancy

- Patient with premature labour, still birth, intra uterine death are benefitted by prolong rest

-Women with lower socio-economic groups are specially benefitted by rest and nutrition

-Minimum medicine should be taken during pregnancy particularly in early months

-Folic acid therapy should be started in non-pregnanct state and throughout in whole pregnancy

Measurement during labour

*Elective cesarean section is necessary in high risk cases

*Some cases may need induction of labour or close monitoring during labour for the assessment of labour or fetal distress

Postnatal measure
The condition of the new born baby should be assessed immediate after delivery.