Pregnancy

In Victoria, you can have two types of abortion: surgical and medication. Both types are safe and reliable. You can have a medication abortion up to nine weeks of pregnancy. You can have a surgical abortion from around six weeks of pregnancy onwards.

There’s no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. It’s safest to not drink at all during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, and while breastfeeding.

Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is under control.

Congenital anomalies (birth defects) are structural or functional differences in a baby’s body or genetics that are there before birth.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears when the pregnancy is over.

Ectopic pregnancy is caused by a fertilised egg not being able to move through the fallopian tube.

The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women should avoid alcohol.

All about women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), conceiving a baby, HIV status, pregnancy, HIV services, childbirth, baby feeding, babies with HIV, HIV prevention and treatment.

Lupus can be controlled with medications, so the majority of affected women are able to have children.

Melissa shares her story of how her baby caught chickenpox at 5 weeks old.

A range of feelings is normal after a miscarriage, and they often linger for some time.

Most molar pregnancies are diagnosed when bleeding early in pregnancy prompts an ultrasound scan.

Every newborn baby in Australia is offered a newborn bloodspot screening test to identify those at risk for rare, but serious, medical conditions including PKU, hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis.

Placenta praevia means the placenta has implanted at the bottom of the uterus, over the cervix or close by.

Placental abruption means the placenta has detached from the wall of the uterus, starving the baby of oxygen and nutrients.

Postnatal depression can happen either a few days or weeks after the birth, with a slow or sudden onset.

Bleeding from the vagina in early pregnancy happens in almost one in four pregnancies.

Most women take a drug of some kind during pregnancy, sometimes without realising the potential for harm.

There is no evidence that preeclampsia is caused by emotional stress, working too hard or not getting enough rest.

A medical emergency can happen at any time during pregnancy, labour and birth. Some emergencies can be life threatening for pregnant women and their babies.

Good nutrition during pregnancy can help to keep you and your developing baby healthy.

Smoking while pregnant exposes a woman and her unborn child to an increased risk of health problems.

Uterine inversion means the placenta fails to detach from the uterine wall, and pulls the uterus inside-out as it exits.

Good sexual and reproductive health is central to women's ability to make choices and decisions about their lives, including when, or whether, to consider having children.

There’s no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. It’s safest to not drink at all during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, and while breastfeeding.

Learn all about alcohol - includes standard drink size, health risks and effects, how to keep track of your drinking, binge drinking, how long it takes to leave the body, tips to lower intake.

Listeria infection is uncommon but very dangerous for the elderly, people whose immune systems are not working properly and pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Immunisation can protect a woman and her unborn baby against many infectious diseases.

Melissa shares her story of how her baby caught chickenpox at 5 weeks old.

Pelvic floor exercises are designed to improve muscle tone and prevent the need for corrective surgery.

It is important to consult with your doctor or midwife before embarking on any postnatal exercise program - you may need more time than you think to heal from childbirth.

Most women take a drug of some kind during pregnancy, sometimes without realising the potential for harm.

Morning sickness is typically at its worst early in the day but it can strike at any point during the day or night.

A range of tests and scans are available to pregnant women to confirm pregnancy and monitor the baby's development in the womb.

Pregnant women in Victoria can choose who will care for them during their pregnancy, where they would like to give birth and how they would like to deliver their baby.

Good nutrition during pregnancy can help to keep you and your developing baby healthy.

Unless you have complications, you should be able to exercise throughout your pregnancy.

Smoking while pregnant exposes a woman and her unborn child to an increased risk of health problems.

It's important to look after your teeth and gums when you're pregnant, as gum disease can affect your baby.

Travelling to developing nations is not encouraged during pregnancy, due to the risk of disease and the standard of medical facilities.

Pregnancy and new parenthood are full of emotions – some good and some not so good. Just remember, you are not alone and there are lots of places to get support for your mental health.

Ultrasound is used during pregnancy to check the baby's development and to help pick up any abnormalities.

Compared with women in the healthy weight range, women who are carrying extra weight are less likely to conceive.

Information about the Victorian government's baby bundle program.

Understanding your pain relief options can help you cope better with the pain of childbirth.

It is best to take emergency contraception as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of having unprotected sex, but it still works well within 96 hours (4 days).

After having a baby, you need to choose an effective method of contraception if you don't want to have another baby straight away.

Sometimes, babies arrive early. It’s important to recognise premature labour, in case you and your baby need medical care.

All women experience pregnancy differently, and you will experience different symptoms at different stages of your pregnancy.

A range of tests and scans are available to pregnant women to confirm pregnancy and monitor the baby's development in the womb.

Information about unplanned pregnancy including pregnancy options (such as medical and surgical abortion, adoption, foster and kinship care), pregnancy counselling and where to get help.

Labour is divided into 3 stages. The first stage is dilation of the cervix from zero to 10 cm, the second stage is birth of the baby, and the third stage is delivery of the placenta.

Pregnant women in Victoria can choose who will care for them during their pregnancy, where they would like to give birth and how they would like to deliver their baby.

Sometimes, a home pregnancy test may be positive when a woman isn’t pregnant.

Depending on the model of care you chose for your antenatal and labour care, you might see a few or all of the healthcare professionals listed below who will take care of you during your pregnancy.

Information about the Victorian government's baby bundle program.

Even if your baby furniture meets every safety standard and recommendation, your child still needs close supervision.

The confidential, 24-hour Maternal and Child Health Line can give you information and advice about the care and health of your child (from birth to school age).

Every newborn baby in Australia is offered a test for the rare medical conditions of phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Postnatal depression can happen either a few days or weeks after the birth, with a slow or sudden onset.

Pregnant women in Victoria can choose who will care for them during their pregnancy, where they would like to give birth and how they would like to deliver their baby.

Babies and toddlers can be as affected by trauma as any other family member.

With low levels of vitamin K, some babies can have severe bleeding into the brain, causing significant brain damage.

Depending on the model of care you chose for your antenatal and labour care, you might see a few or all of the healthcare professionals listed below who will take care of you during your pregnancy.

Information about the Victorian government's baby bundle program.

Understanding your pain relief options can help you cope better with the pain of childbirth.

A birth plan is a written summary of your preferences for when you are in labour and giving birth.

Only about 5 per cent of pregnant women actually give birth on the exact date they are due.

Packing for hospital is an exciting part of preparing for the birth of your baby.

Sometimes, babies arrive early. It’s important to recognise premature labour, in case you and your baby need medical care.

Labour is divided into 3 stages. The first stage is dilation of the cervix from zero to 10 cm, the second stage is birth of the baby, and the third stage is delivery of the placenta.

Pregnant women in Victoria can choose who will care for them during their pregnancy, where they would like to give birth and how they would like to deliver their baby.

Multiple births are more common due to the advancing average age of mothers and the rise in assisted reproductive techniques.

Depending on the model of care you chose for your antenatal and labour care, you might see a few or all of the healthcare professionals listed below who will take care of you during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period, not from the date of conception.

Most women under the age of 40 years who want to become pregnant (conceive) will achieve this within 12 months of starting to try. Here we explain how you can improve your chances of pregnancy.

All women experience pregnancy differently, and you will experience different symptoms at different stages of your pregnancy.

Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters and lasts around 40 weeks. Includes details of what happens each week from conception to birth, embryo size, baby development and where to get help.

It’s helpful to have an idea of how your body may react to the different stages of pregnancy. It also helps to know how pregnancy may affect your emotions and feelings.