For patients
High-risk pregnancy — what you need to know
If your doctor has said your pregnancy is “high risk”, it does not mean something will inevitably go wrong. It means the pregnancy needs closer, more frequent monitoring.
What the term means
“High-risk pregnancy” is a medical category that determines how intensively you are monitored — not the outcome. Most high-risk pregnancies end with a healthy baby.
In practice it usually means more frequent appointments, additional ultrasound scans, sometimes extra blood tests, and a consultation with a perinatologist — a doctor with additional training in complex pregnancies.
What it means day to day
- Appointments may increase to fortnightly or more often
- You may need extra scans to assess fetal growth
- In some cases birth is recommended at a particular level of centre
- The timing of birth may be planned in advance
Questions worth asking
- Why is my pregnancy considered high risk?
- What specific risks apply in my case?
- How often should I be seen?
- Which signs should I watch for at home?
- Where will I give birth, and why?
- Can I get a second opinion?
What makes a pregnancy high risk
The most common factors are listed below. Having one does not mean a complication is coming — it simply means your doctor will watch more closely.
Maternal health
- Chronic hypertension
- Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- Autoimmune disease
- Kidney or heart disease
- Obesity or markedly low body weight
Features of the pregnancy
- Twins or more
- Fetal growth restriction
- Abnormal placental implantation
- Abnormal amniotic fluid volume
Previous history
- Previous preterm birth
- Previous pre-eclampsia
- Recurrent pregnancy loss
- Previous caesarean section