High-risk pregnancy

High-risk pregnancy refers to a broad variety of common conditions that you may already have been diagnosed before becoming pregnant or develop during pregnancy.  

If your pregnancy is classed as high risk, it may be worrisome for you, however with the expert management and care of our maternity specialists you can rest assured you and your baby are in the safest hands. 

What is a high-risk pregnancy? 

High-risk complications occur in about 6% to 8% of pregnancies. These health risks can be due to pre-existing or pregnancy related conditions, age or lifestyle choices. Just because you may be deemed higher risk, this doesn’t mean you or your unborn baby will necessarily have problems.  

While the majority of high-risk conditions do not impact on the health of mum or baby, depending on your condition you may be referred to a fetal medicine specialist for advice and counselling regarding further management. 

Your consultant and maternity care team will monitor you closely throughout your pregnancy and birth to minimise the chance of complications. 

Signs and symptoms of high-risk pregnancy 

There are some signs and symptoms to look out for if you are pregnant and at risk of a high-risk pregnancy. You should see a maternity specialist if you experience the following: 

• your unborn baby not moving as much (decreased fetal activity) 
• severe headaches 
• vaginal bleeding 
• watery discharge from your vagina 
• cramps or pain in the lower stomach 
• vision changes such as blurred vision 
• pain when urinating 
• sudden swelling in the face or hands 
• fever 
• persistent dizziness or sickness 
• you are thinking about harming yourself or your baby 

Medical factors of a high-risk pregnancy 

In your initial pregnancy appointments, your consultant will assess your general health including any pre-existing conditions you may have as well as your family medical history. They will also take into account your age and lifestyle factors such as weight and whether you smoke. 

Pre-existing conditions that can be a factor in a high-risk pregnancy are: 

• autoimmune disorders 
• co​mplications in previous pregnancies (including preterm labour or birth)  
• high blood pressure 
• diabetes 
• fibroids 
• kidney disease 
• blood clotting disorders 
• thyroid disease 
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 
• HIV 
• mental health conditions 

Changes to your health throughout your pregnancy can lead to a high-risk diagnosis, these could be: 

• multiple pregnancy with twins, triplets or more 
• gestational diabetes
• pre-eclampsia  
• abnormal placental position or adhesion (previa/accrete) 
• poor development, birth defects or genetic conditions in your unborn baby  
• abnormal liver function, accompanied by itching (obstetric cholestasis) 

Your consultant and maternity care team will monitor you closely throughout your pregnancy and birth to minimise the chance of complications. 

High-risk pregnancy complications 

The complications that can occur from a pre-existing conditions or health conditions developed during pregnancy can affect both the mother and the baby. These may include: 

• birth defects 
• preterm delivery 
• high blood pressure from pregnancy (pre-eclampsia) 
• having seizures from pregnancy (eclampsia) 
• excessive bleeding – in labour, during delivery, or after delivery 
• C-section (caesarean delivery) 
• miscarriage 
• stillbirth 
• baby having brain development problems 

Managing a high-risk pregnancy  

There are many steps you can take to promote a healthy pregnancy:  

• eat a healthy, balanced diet 
• maintain a healthy body weight  
• keep active with gentle exercise 
• avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs 

If you are told you’re at high risk there are also several ways that you can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, including: 

• talking to your GP or doctor before getting pregnant to optimise your health at the start of pregnancy  
• starting your pregnancy at a healthy weight  
• working with your consultant to manage any pre-existing medical conditions throughout your pregnancy 

Depending on your risk factors you may be referred to one of our maternal-fetal medicine specialists who will monitor and manage yours and your baby’s condition throughout pregnancy and birth.

Maternal and fetal medicine 

Maternal and fetal medicine, also known as perinatology, covers treatments for complications associated with a high-risk pregnancy. A maternal and fetal medicine can coordinate you and your baby’s care during pregnancy and delivery, as well as fetal and antenatal investigations to determine if your child is affected by a genetic syndrome or disorder. 

Your fetal medicine specialist is trained in advanced fetal medicine scans to assess and treat potential complications with your unborn baby. Using ultrasound imaging (sonography), your consultant can frequently examine baby’s growth, position and wellbeing.  

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, one of our fetal medicine specialists can provide counselling to create a treatment plan, reviewing any medication you are currently taking. Our consultants can also offer advice on how the condition could affect future pregnancies.