High Altitude Risks for Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, you're likely to worry about absolutely everything-- from the fumes from the new nursery paint to the preservatives in your sandwich bread. Although constant worry during pregnancy won't do you (or your baby) any good, it's prudent to be aware of the risks associated with certain situations. If you live at a high altitude or plan to vacation to an area with a high altitude, you may need to be aware of the potential pregnancy risks.
At a moderately high altitude, the risks to your unborn baby are relatively minor, but not nonexistent. Pregnant women living in high altitudes usually have healthy babies, but they do have higher rates of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, including hypemesis gravidarum-- a severe form of pregnancy-related vomiting that may threaten the life of the fetus or pregnant woman.
Discomforts are also common for pregnant women in high altitudes. The air in higher altitudes is "thinner" and has less oxygen than in lower altitudes. Because of this, they may feel out of breath and fatigued more than other women. Headaches and light-headedness are also more common for pregnant women at high altitudes, especially if their bodies are not accustomed to the area.
Finally, babies born to mothers living at high altitudes tend to be smaller than babies from lower altitudes. The reduced flow of oxygen to the placenta can slightly retard the baby's growth, and this can increase some of the risks to the baby (particularly if it is born prematurely). However, the majority of pregnant women living at high altitudes still have healthy children.
While these risks are relatively minor for women living at moderately high altitudes, they do increase for pregnant women at very high altitudes. Pregnant women living in Colorado, at altitudes as high as 8,000 to 9,000, generally have healthy babies, but women living in the highest reaches of Tibet have higher rates of pregnancy complications.
If you live at a high altitude, or plan to visit an area with a high altitude, during your pregnancy, talk to your obstetrician or midwife for guidance about the risks to you and your baby. Your prenatal health care provider may offer help to prevent these complications.