Maternal Lipid Profile During Pregnancy: Overview, Uses, Procedure, Costs & Risks Involved

When any lady is pregnant, healthy choices is the best thing which you can do for baby and yourself. Conditions, like cholesterol, can be difficult for pregnant women to manage. Cholesterol levels naturally increase at specific points during pregnancy to help offer nutrients required for growing a fetus. For women who have normal cholesterol levels pre-pregnancy, the levels can climb higher during pregnancy. It is vital to keep track of cholesterol levels during pregnancy; for this, the best gynecologist recommends a lipid profile test. The Lipid profile of pregnant women helps them to take future steps to manage their cholesterol levels throughout their pregnancy to ensure that they and their baby both are healthy. Expert doctors at QUEEN’s GYNECOLOGY understand the importance of lipid tests for the health of mother and child both. 

Overview – Lipids, a crucial component for fetal growth 

Lipids are vital for fetal development. Maternal lipid concentrations are linked with fetal growth, especially in the second as well as the third trimesters of pregnancy and birth. However, it is not clear whether the connection starts in pregnancy or arises afterward during fetal development. Cholesterol is a vital component found in a person;’s body and is a type of fat made by the body or ingested in our diet. There are several reasons why people have high cholesterol levels, like fatty foods or genetics.

 There are mainly two types of cholesterol in a body, good and bad. Generally, the cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dL, which is normal. But cholesterol level during pregnancy in the second and third trimester is usually high because your body makes more of it to support the healthy growth of babies. Many pregnant women have higher levels during the later phases of pregnancy, and the levels are expected to remain high for a few weeks post-pregnancy as well. Thus, the expert gynecologist always recommends a lipid profile blood test during pregnancy to check and treat cholesterol levels on time. 

Causes of high cholesterol 

There are many causes of high cholesterol levels during pregnancy. However, the levels increased temporarily because it was required to make estrogen and progesterone hormones. It is vital to keep a regular check on it to keep your baby and yourself healthy throughout pregnancy, which is why expert gynecologists advise normal lipid profile tests to stay updated. Some causes of high cholesterol levels are insufficient physical activity and consuming saturated fats. Also, you may have a genetic condition termed familial hypercholesterolemia, one of the critical causes of high cholesterol levels. 

Symptoms 

  People can never detect the symptoms of high cholesterol, and the only way to see it is through a lipid profile blood test which is done to measure various types of fat in the blood. some common ones are cholesterol and triglycerides.

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Dangers of high cholesterol

Gynecologists generally recommend lipid profile during pregnancy; however, having temporary high cholesterol levels during late pregnancy is expected and is harmless for both mothers and baby. Elevated cholesterol levels during pregnancy can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can be life-threatening for both mother and child. Also, Lower cholesterol levels can lead to premature and low birth weight. But developing a high cholesterol level during the first trimester can lead to a greater risk of severe health complications, as it can cause:

• High Blood pressure
• Preterm birth
• Heart attack 
• Stroke

The complications generally depend upon the overall health of the mother before her cholesterol levels rise. The factors like smoking elevate the chances of heart disease and stroke levels because it damages blood vessels. During pregnancy, it is normal and also vital for your cholesterol levels to rise. To help keep them at safe and healthy levels, gynecologists at QUEEN’S GYNECOLOGY help by giving advice regarding diet and exercise to your daily routine. The expert doctor also considers adding healthy fats and foods rich in high fiber to your diet. It is also advisable to keep track of your water intake as well during pregnancy and also to have lots of sleep as it will help you to support a healthy pregnancy.

Why is a lipid profile test done, and what are the healthy cholesterol levels during pregnancy? 

A lipid profile test is done to measure four levels of cholesterol, i.e., LDL, HDL, Total cholesterol, and Triglycerides. These are cholesterol levels that determine the health factors. Gynecologists recommend the lipid profile blood test during pregnancy, and if the test results are not in range, the expert will give instructions and the level well. Cholesterol levels are expected to rise naturally during the second trimester as well as third trimester and return back to normal post-delivery. Experts say the bad LDL must be less than 100 mg/dL, and the good HDL must be greater than 60 mg/dL. During pregnancy, the cholesterol levels increase by about 25 to 50 percent, and HDL seems to increase more in comparison to LDL. Gynecologists always recommend lipid profiles during pregnancy to keep track of cholesterol levels and to prevent any complications Lipid test is conducted, which directly provides the result of your wellness. And also the  cost of the  lipid profile test  is quite  affordable.

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How does QUEEN’S GYNECOLOGY help you to manage your cholesterol levels during pregnancy? 

Cholesterol is required to make estrogen and progesterone hormones, which play a vital role during pregnancy. QUEEN’S GYNECOLOGY, one of the best maternity care and pregnancy clinics in Delhi, offers high-quality care during pregnancy for both mother and fetus. The team of experts here handles all pregnancy cases, including normal delivery, C Section delivery, and also high-risk pregnancy. The clinic is well known for handling pregnancy cases. It has the best, most exceptional, and most experienced high-risk maternity doctors and expert gynecologists to handle the cases gracefully. To manage high cholesterol levels during pregnancy, the expert gynecologist here will recommend a lipid profile to get all details and to avoid any risk or complication. Lipid profile during pregnancy is done to know the exact cholesterol level during pregnancy as if avoiding unbalanced cholesterol levels can lead to many issues during delivery. 

Conclusion

High cholesterol levels are expected during pregnancy. Thus, expert gynecologists at QUEEN’S GYNECOLOGY often recommend a lipid profile test to check your cholesterol blood levels at this time to keep a check on the levels to avoid any complications. The expert doctors try to avoid medications and advise some lifestyle modifications sufficient for most expectant mothers and can help control cholesterol levels naturally. If in case there is a need for any medication, they recommend it as per the situation. If you have established high cholesterol before becoming pregnant, then it is best to seek medical advice regarding treatment to manage cholesterol levels during pregnancy. Experts at QUEEN’s GYNECOLOGY will help you to determine and manage all your issues by recommending lipid profile blood tests for pregnancy. 

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