Women with hypertension faces a risk of the condition worsening at pregnancy, thereby requiring close follow-up. Any ongoing anti-hypertensive medications must be replaced with those that are safe for pregnancy. Additionally, long-term hypertension can affect kidney functions, potentially leading to further deterioration during pregnancy. The risk of complications is low in those with mild to moderate hypertension. In contrast, those with severe hypertension are at an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and intra-uterine growth restriction.
Anti-phospholipid syndrome is a condition that affects blood clotting mechanisms, resulting in the blood clotting more easily. This can cause pregnancy complications such as recurrent early pregnancy loss, late pregnancy loss, intra uterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. Patients with this syndrome are also at an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy. They will be managed by an Obstetrician, alongside a Rheumatologist or Haematologist, with a focus in High-Risk Pregnancy.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs.
Women with SLE have a higher risk of miscarriage, and those with badly affected kidneys also face at an increased risk high blood pressure during pregnancy. Those with mild or a well-controlled condition at the beginning of pregnancy usually do not experience any problems throughout the pregnancy period. These patients are co-managed by an Obstetrician, alongside a Rheumatologist, with special interest in High-Risk Pregnancy.
Birth Defects Clinic
One in 30 babies suffer from a birth defect that can occur at the beginning of or during the pregnancy. A birth defect may affect the baby's appearance (e.g., cleft lip), bodily functions (e.g., cystic fibrosis in the lungs or blood thalassaemia), or both.
We have brought together clinicians from diverse disciplines, including obstetricians, geneticists, paediatricians and surgeons, to operate a Birth Defects clinic dedicated to the care of unborn babies with birth defect diagnosed by ultrasound.
