Perinatology can be roughly evaluated as a branch of science dealing with high-risk pregnancies. Normal pregnancies also contain some risks. However, some pregnancies are called high-risk pregnancies because they contain problems that occur more frequently than those normally seen.
The reason why a pregnancy becomes a high-risk pregnancy can be maternal (originating from the mother), fetal (originating from the baby in the mother's womb), or related to the baby's placenta or amniotic fluid.
Among maternal causes are the mother being under 19 years old or over 35 years old, the mother having chronic diseases before pregnancy such as diabetes, hypertension, lupus, asthma, epilepsy, COPD, vascular diseases, kidney diseases, goiter (hyper or hypothyroidism), the mother's previous operations (cesarean, myoma surgery, congenital heart diseases, etc.), pelvic surgery, lung operations), the mother's continuous medication use, the mother's habits such as smoking, alcohol, drug use, etc. All of these can make pregnancy a high-risk pregnancy as maternal and may require follow-up by perinatology.
A pregnancy can sometimes become a risky pregnancy due to some problems in the baby. These situations include the baby being smaller or larger than its peers, infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus that the baby experiences in the mother's womb, problems related to the baby's brain and spinal cord development and skull development, lung and heart anomalies occurring in the chest cavity, problems related to kidneys and urinary system, anomalies in extremities such as arms and legs, pregnancy lasting longer than normal, preterm labor threat, twin pregnancy, triplet pregnancy and other multiple pregnancies, problems requiring surgery in the mother's womb, and other problems related to the baby. A pregnancy can become a risky pregnancy due to these reasons and can fall within the scope of perinatology.
The placenta is a vital organ that takes oxygen and all other basic needs that the baby needs from the mother and transfers them to the baby through the umbilical cord, and takes waste materials from the baby through the umbilical cord and transfers them to the mother's side. Abnormalities in the placement of the placenta, its placement close to the cervix and covering the cervix (placenta previa), the placenta being smaller than it should normally be, the presence of myoma and similar problems where it attaches, it advancing deeper than it should normally when attaching to the uterine wall (placenta accreta, percreta, etc.), the placenta separating before birth when it should separate after birth (placental abruption), the membranes rupturing early, before labor begins (premature membrane rupture), the baby's amniotic fluid being less or more than it should be - such situations can also make a pregnancy a high-risk pregnancy.
Perinatologists are physicians who have received special training in early diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of high-risk pregnancies. Specialists working in this field plan and implement all necessary medical interventions to protect maternal and fetal health at the highest level. Regular ultrasound follow-ups, fetal echocardiography, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling are methods frequently used in the field of perinatology.
Pregnant women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancy undergo more frequent and detailed checks than normal pregnancy follow-up. During these checks, both the mother's general health status and the baby's development are closely monitored. When necessary, early delivery planning, cesarean operation or other medical interventions are performed in a timely manner.
