Assessment of the Relationship between Recurrent High-risk Pregnancy and Mothers’ Previous Experience of Having an Infant Admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

<em>Background & aim:</em> High-risk pregnancies increase the risk of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission in mothers and their newborns. In this study, we aimed to identify the association between the recurrence of high-risk pregnancy and mothers' previous experience of having an infant admitted to NICU. <br/><em>Methods:</em>We performed a cohort, retrospective study to compare subsequent pregnancy outcomes among 232 control subjects and 200 female cases with a previous experience of having a newborn requiring NICU admission due to intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, and asphyxia. The information about the prevalence of subsequent high-risk pregnancies was gathered via phone calls. <br/><em>Results:</em> As the results indicated, heparin, progesterone, and aspirin were more frequently administered in the case group during subsequent pregnancies, compared to the control group (P<0.001). Also, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes mellitus were more frequent in the case group, compared to the control group (P<0.05). <br/><em>Conclusion:</em> There was a positive correlation between recurrent high-risk pregnancy and previous experience of having a newborn requiring NICU admission. As the results indicated, mothers in the case group were at a higher risk for preeclampsia, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes mellitus, compared to the control group. Therefore, earlier diagnosis, prompt treatment, and prevention should be taken into account by physicians.