A pregnancy is high risk when you or your baby have a higher chance of health problems before, during or after birth. This can come from a condition you already have, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, from your age or from carrying twins. It usually means you will have closer monitoring and extra check-ups.

Yes. You may start your pregnancy with no concerns and develop a condition along the way that makes it high risk, such as high blood pressure or a problem with the placenta. This is one reason regular check-ups matter, as they help pick up changes early.

Not necessarily. A high-risk label often relates to your own health or to the need for closer monitoring, rather than a problem with your baby. Your care team will explain what the label means in your situation.

This depends on your situation, but you can expect more frequent appointments than a standard pregnancy, along with extra tests and ultrasounds. Dr Mahadik will set out a plan based on your needs at your first visit.

Fraternal (non-identical) twins come from two separate eggs fertilised by two different sperm, so they do not share the same DNA and can be the same or different sexes. Each baby usually has its own placenta and sac. Identical twins come from one fertilised egg that splits, so they share the same DNA and sex. Identical twins may share a placenta, which means they need closer monitoring. Triplets and higher multiples can be identical, fraternal, or a mix of both.

Not always. A vaginal birth is still possible with twins if the first baby is head-down and labour goes to plan. A caesarean may be recommended if the first twin is not in the right position, if there are complications, or for higher-order multiples. Dr Mahadik will discuss the safest option for you.

Yes. The more babies you are carrying, the more likely you are to give birth early. If you show signs of early labour, you would be assessed in hospital and may be given steroid medicine to help your babies’ lungs develop. Depending on how early labour starts, you may be cared for at a hospital with a nursery set up for premature babies.

Twins and higher multiples are found on an ultrasound. An early ultrasound before 12 weeks can show the type of twin pregnancy. Identical twin pregnancies need closer monitoring with more frequent scans, as they can have more complications from sharing a placenta.

Twin pregnancies can happen by chance. They are also more common with older age, with a family history of twins, or with assisted reproduction such as IVF. IVF and older age can also raise the chance of triplets or more.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition with raised blood pressure and extra protein in your urine, usually after 20 weeks. You have a higher chance of it in a first pregnancy, if you had it before, or if you have diabetes, existing high blood pressure, an autoimmune condition, a kidney condition or a BMI over 30.

Pre-eclampsia can affect the blood vessels in the placenta. This may slow your baby’s growth, reduce the fluid around your baby, or lead to an early birth. Because of this, you and your baby are monitored closely.

You may. Taking a low dose of aspirin, started before 12 weeks, can lower the chance of pre-eclampsia in a future pregnancy for some women. This should always be done with specialist advice, as it is not right for everyone.

If pre-eclampsia becomes severe, you would usually be cared for in hospital so you and your baby can be watched closely. This may include medication through a drip to lower your blood pressure, and sometimes magnesium to lower the chance of seizures. Depending on how far along your pregnancy is, the safest next step is sometimes to plan the birth. Your care team will explain each step as it happens.

In more serious cases, pre-eclampsia can affect how your kidneys, liver and blood clotting work, and it can raise the chance of seizures. This is why you are monitored closely if you develop it. Pre-eclampsia can also appear in the first couple of weeks after birth, so your blood pressure is checked during this time too.

Yes. Many women with diabetes have healthy pregnancies with good planning. Getting your blood sugar well controlled before pregnancy and using medicines that are safe in pregnancy helps keep problems to a minimum for you and your baby.

When diabetes is well controlled before and during pregnancy, the chance of problems is kept low. If a pregnancy is unplanned or diabetes is not well controlled, there is a higher chance of complications. These can include miscarriage, problems with the baby’s growth or development, high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, infections, an earlier birth, or a greater chance of needing a caesarean. Poorly controlled diabetes can also affect your own health, including your eyes and kidneys. Good planning and regular care are the best ways to lower these risks, and Dr Mahadik will support you through this.

Many women with diabetes in pregnancy are offered a planned induction between 38 and 39 weeks. The timing depends on how well your diabetes is controlled, your baby’s growth and any other complications.

Most babies of women whose diabetes is well controlled do well after birth. Your baby may be watched for low blood sugar, jaundice, feeding and temperature. Babies of mothers with diabetes can sometimes be larger, which can make the birth more difficult, so if this happens your baby may also be checked for any injury afterwards.

Some babies are small simply because they are meant to be, and are otherwise healthy. Others are small because of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney problems, an autoimmune condition, smoking, an infection, or a condition present in the baby.

It may first show up when your bump measures smaller than expected for your weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound then confirms it by measuring your baby, including the size of the baby’s tummy, against the expected range for that stage. A tummy measurement below the expected range is one of the signs used to identify a small baby.

You would have more frequent check-ups and closer ultrasound monitoring, and sometimes extra blood tests to look for a reason. Depending on how small your baby is measuring and the blood flow and fluid around your baby, an earlier planned birth may be recommended.

Yes. A GP referral is needed to see Dr Mahadik, and it also means your appointment may attract a Medicare rebate. Your GP can start some initial checks and refer you to Dr Mahadik at either location.