Low Risk Pregnancy

What is a Low Risk Pregnancy?

A low risk pregnancy is defined as: 

• Being pregnant with only one baby, not twins or triplets.
• The baby is growing normally and is in an anterior, or head down position.
• You have been healthy throughout the pregnancy and have shown no signs of medical or obstetric conditions.
• Labour should happen between 37-41 weeks. No premature or late deliveries.
• No new problems have developed during labour. 

Most pregnancies can be considered low-risk, meaning the vast majority of pregnant women can expect a happy and safe outcome for themselves and their baby.  However, even if you are healthy and everything appears normal in the early stages, there is no such thing as a completely risk-free pregnancy. 

Even if the mum and baby appear healthy and there’s nothing to indicate complications during labour and delivery, there are still unexpected complications that could arise at any time, altering your risk. There are many factors that could affect the risk during pregnancy or labor quite rapidly as well including, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, weight gain, gestational diabetes, medical conditions.

the vast majority of pregnant women can expect a happy and safe outcome for themselves and their baby. However, even if you are healthy and everything appears normal in the early stages, there is no such thing as a completely risk-free pregnancy.

Even if a mum and baby appear healthy and there’s nothing to indicate complications during labour and delivery, there are still unexpected complications that could arise at any time, altering your risk. There are many factors that could affect the risk during pregnancy or labour quite rapidly as well including, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes or other medical conditions.

Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy

There are steps every woman can take to minimise risks throughout pregnancy. In my role as your obstetrician, I can offer guidance and support throughout your pregnancy journey, aiming to ensure a smooth and healthy experience for both you and your baby.

Preventing Risk Before Pregnancy

Firstly, you can book a pre-pregnancy appointment with me to address any underlying medical conditions and understand your overall health. You may also consider arranging regular prenatal care and visits with me to monitor your baby’s health.

Having a good level of fitness, and eating healthily are important for optimising your chances of a successful pregnancy. Taking a pre-pregnancy multivitamin supplement with folic acid can help prevent some birth defects. To avoid complications during pregnancy you should also avoid smoking, consuming alcohol or taking illegal drugs.

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Following a healthy and safe diet, including a limited caffeine intake can help you and the baby throughout the pregnancy. A well-balanced diet consisting of carbs, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fats and waters is advised. Some important nutrients to include in your diet are:

• Folic acids, which prevent neural tube defects in the early stages of pregnancy.
• Calcium and Vitamin D, which help your growing baby’s bones and teeth develop.
• Iron-rich foods to help prevent anaemia.

Steer clear of the following foods:

• Processed meats
• Raw eggs or foods with raw eggs present in them, e.g. Caesar salads, deviled eggs
• Unpasteurised cheese, milk and juice
• Uncooked meat or seafood (sushi and sashimi)

Generally, moving to a vegetarian diet is not advised during pregnancy, however if you are a vegetarian or vegan and are considering pregnancy, it is possible to continue pregnancy without breaking your diet. We recommend substituting meat and fish with other sources of protein, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.

Care for Low Risk Pregnancies

There is a wide choice of options for care for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy.  These options range from midwife-led care with birth planned for home or hospital to obstetrician-led care with planned hospital birth. Some models, like my practice, include a mix of midwife and obstetrician involvement. It is important that you choose a model of care that allows you to feel comfortable, supported and safe.

I am highly proficient in looking after women with low-risk pregnancies as well as high-risk pregnancies. Moreover, if you receive care from me, you can rest assured that in case an unforeseen complication arises later in your pregnancy, I am fully capable of managing your situation.

About Me

I aim to provide holistic and exceptional care to women with low risk pregnancies, and contribute to their experience of pregnancy being one that they will remember fondly.  My goal is to create a trusting and supportive relationship where women can take ownership of their pregnancy experience.  I do this by fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaborative decision-making.  In this relationship I see my role as providing accurate information and appropriate advice, assisting women to make their own choices in regards to their pregnancy and birth experience.  I believe that women should be supported in their birthing choices wherever possible, and whilst I strongly support the choice of vaginal birth with minimal intervention wherever possible, I also recognise and appreciate that some women have other preferences.

Together with my practice midwife, I will help you develop plans for your birth.  My midwife is also available to see you on occasion during your pregnancy, answer your questions, and can provide advice and support regarding breastfeeding and settling techniques after birth.

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Pre-Pregnancy Planning

Even women who are anticipating a low risk pregnancy can benefit from a pre-pregnancy planning consultation.  The potential benefits may include:

• Meeting your obstetrician and deciding whether you feel comfortable with them providing your pregnancy care
• Screening for health or family issues which may impact on the pregnancy
• Ensuring your pap smear and breast check is up to date
• Discussing any concerns or questions you may have about your up-coming pregnancy
• Developing a pre-pregnancy diet, advising on supplements and outlining exercise plans for optimising your pregnancy outcome
• Exploring relevant genetic screening options, as some of these are preferentially carried out prior to pregnancy commencing

Low Risk Pregnancy FAQs

What percentage of pregnancies are low risk?

More than 300,000 babies are born in Australia each year. The majority of pregnancies are considered low risk, however high risk pregnancies are not uncommon. There are a range of factors that can increase your risk when pregnant including: multiple pregnancy, maternal medical conditions, previous complications or fetal problems.  Assessing risk is not as simple as labelling someone as low or high risk. Often there are factors that have an intermediate level of risk, or that make one part of the pregnancy higher risk, while other parts of the pregnancy are lower risk.

What are five warning signs of a possible problem during pregnancy?

Despite having a low risk pregnancy, certain symptoms during pregnancy may require immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing any concerns throughout your pregnancy, always speak to your obstetrician. Should there be an emergency, seek immediate medical attention. 

The five symptoms below could be warning signs of a possible problem:

1. Severe nausea and vomiting
2. A decline in your baby’s activity levels
3. Bleeding
4. Early contractions
5. A persistent headache, abdominal pain or swelling during your third trimester