Obstetrics

Obstetric Care with Dr Samantha Hargreaves

Pregnancy can be one of the most meaningful journeys in a woman’s life, but it can also be filled with uncertainty, conflicting information and rising anxiety – particularly in the social-media age.

Dr Samantha Hargreaves brings more than 25+ years of specialist experience to obstetric care in Melbourne, offering a warm, calm and highly personalised approach for women seeking an obstetrician who truly listens and provides guidance grounded in experience and compassion.

A Boutique, Individualised Model of Care

Unlike high-volume obstetric practices, Dr Hargreaves sees a limited number of pregnant women each year. This deliberate approach ensures that:

  • Patients receive her full attention
  • Appointments are never rushed
  • Individual needs and preferences are acknowledged
  • Care is supported by two very senior in-house midwives


Many women value this model because it feels private, attentive and deeply supportive – particularly for those who have had difficult or anxious pregnancies in the past.

Extraordinary Experience: Over 5,000+ Babies Delivered

Across her career, Dr Hargreaves has delivered more than 5,000+ babies, caring for women through both straightforward pregnancies and complex, high-risk situations. Her extensive background helps women feel confident that they are in calm, capable hands.

Her experience includes:

  • Low-risk and uncomplicated pregnancies
  • High-risk and medically complex pregnancies
  • IVF and assisted conception pregnancies
  • Women with significant birth-related anxiety
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Patients with complex medical or surgical histories


This experience allows her to anticipate concerns, respond early to potential complications and guide women with clarity and reassurance.

A Calm, Reassuring Presence Throughout Pregnancy

Dr Hargreaves is known for her ability to remain composed and steady under pressure – something patients consistently value during labour and delivery. She understands that pregnancy is not only physical but emotional. Many women describe feeling more relaxed and confident simply due to her calm manner and ability to simplify what can otherwise feel overwhelming.

She also recognises that social media has increased birth-related anxiety for many women. Her role is to bring the focus back to evidence-based information, personalised guidance and what truly matters for a safe and positive pregnancy experience.

The Role of Antenatal Care

Pregnancy involves major physical, hormonal and emotional changes. High-quality antenatal care aims to:

  • Monitor maternal and foetal wellbeing
  • Detect complications early
  • Provide education and reassurance
  • Reduce avoidable risks
  • Help women feel informed and supported

Pregnancy in Australia: Relevant Statistics

Australian statistics help illustrate the importance of personalised antenatal care. Some facts relating to birthing in Australia include:

  • Australia records around 300,000 births per year
  • 15% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes
  • 5–8% experience hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia
  • Around 1 in 20 births result from assisted reproductive technologies (ie: IVF, etc)
  • 8–9% of births occur preterm
  • Caesarean section rates in Australia sit at approximately 37%


These figures highlight why early, experienced oversight is so valuable during pregnancy – particularly for women with additional risk factors.

Causes of Pregnancy-Related Complications

While many pregnancies progress smoothly, some factors increase the likelihood of complications. These include:

  • Maternal age over 35
  • IVF or assisted conception
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Pre-existing medical conditions
  • A history of pregnancy complications
  • Structural uterine or cervical conditions
  • Lifestyle factors such as smoking or high BMI


Dr Hargreaves’ deep experience allows her to recognise early warning signs and tailor care appropriately.

Risks in Pregnancy

Some common pregnancy-related risks that Dr Hargreaves specialises in managing include.

Overview

  • A form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet increased demands. It is one of the most common pregnancy complications in Australia.


Australian Statistics

  • Affects approximately 15% of pregnant women nationally.
  • Rates have increased over the last decade due to rising maternal age and higher average BMI.


Causes

  • Placental hormones reducing insulin sensitivity
  • Maternal age over 30
  • Higher BMI
  • PCOS
  • Family history of type 2 diabetes
  • Previous GDM


Risks to Mother and Baby

  • Large baby (macrosomia)
  • Shoulder dystocia (baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone) during birth
  • Pre-eclampsia
  • Preterm birth
  • Higher likelihood of needing induction or caesarean
  • Increased lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes (for mother and child)


Treatment Options

  • Dietary modification with dietitian support
  • Regular blood glucose monitoring
  • Exercise
  • Medication (metformin or insulin) when required
  • Close antenatal monitoring and growth scans

Overview

  • A condition characterised by high blood pressure and organ involvement, usually appearing after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can be life-threatening if untreated.


Australian Statistics

  • Occurs in 5–8% of pregnancies.
  • Severe cases account for a significant proportion of medically indicated preterm births.


Causes

  • Abnormal placental development
  • Immune system factors
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Vascular conditions
  • Maternal age > 40, obesity, IVF, first pregnancy


Risks

  • Reduced blood flow to the placenta
  • Foetal growth restriction
  • Preterm birth
  • Placental abruption
  • Organ damage (kidneys, liver)
  • Eclampsia (seizures)
  • Rarely, maternal or neonatal death without adequate care


Treatment Options

  • Close blood pressure monitoring
  • Antihypertensive medication
  • Regular pathology tests and foetal growth scans
  • Early delivery if risks escalate (sometimes recommended from 37 weeks or earlier if severe)

Overview

  • A condition where the baby is smaller than expected because it is not growing at the normal rate. Often related to placental insufficiency.


Australian Statistics

  • Affects around 8–10% of pregnancies.
  • One of the leading contributors to stillbirth.


Causes

  • Placental dysfunction
  • Maternal hypertension or pre-eclampsia
  • Smoking or substance use
  • Multiple pregnancy
  • Low maternal BMI or poor nutrition
  • Foetal congenital conditions


Risks

  • Stillbirth
  • Preterm birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Neonatal complications (hypoglycaemia, temperature instability)
  • Increased NICU admission


Treatment Options

  • Regular growth scans and Doppler ultrasounds
  • CTG monitoring in late pregnancy
  • Maternal lifestyle modification (ie: smoking cessation)
  • Timing of delivery guided by foetal wellbeing (often earlier if growth slows significantly)

Overview
This category includes placenta praevia, placental abruption, vasa praevia and placental insufficiency. These conditions affect how the placenta attaches and functions.


Australian Statistics

  • Placenta praevia occurs in approximately 0.3–0.5% of pregnancies.
  • Placental abruption occurs in around 0.5–1% of pregnancies.


Causes

Varies by condition, but may include:

  • Previous caesarean section
  • Uterine scarring
  • High maternal age
    Smoking
  • Hypertension
  • Multiple pregnancy


Risks

  • Bleeding in pregnancy
  • Preterm birth
  • Foetal distress
  • Emergency caesarean section
  • Life-threatening haemorrhage


Treatment Options

  • Pelvic rest for placenta praevia
  • Avoiding vaginal examinations
  • Serial ultrasounds
  • Hospital monitoring for heavy bleeding
  • Planned caesarean for major placenta praevia
  • Emergency management for abruption

Overview

  • Birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth is a major cause of short- and long-term health complications for babies.


Australian Statistics

  • Occurs in 8–9% of births nationwide.
  • Rates are higher in multiple pregnancies.


Causes

  • Spontaneous preterm labour
  • Premature rupture of membranes
  • Infection
  • Cervical insufficiency
  • Placental complications
  • Maternal hypertension or diabetes
  • Multiple pregnancy


Risks

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Feeding problems
  • Temperature regulation issues
  • Long-term developmental concerns (in extreme preterm cases)
  • Increased NICU admission


Treatment Options

  • Threatened preterm labour management (steroids, magnesium sulphate, tocolysis)
  • Antibiotics if membranes rupture early
  • Cervical cerclage for cervical insufficiency
  • Enhanced monitoring for high-risk pregnancies
  • NICU support for premature babies

Overview

  • Excessive bleeding after birth (more than 500 mL after vaginal delivery or 1,000 mL after caesarean). It is one of the most common obstetric emergencies.


Australian Statistics

  • Occurs in around 6–8% of births.
  • Rates have increased over the past decade due to rising caesarean rates and maternal age.


Causes

  • Uterine atony (most common cause)
    Retained placenta
  • Lacerations
  • Coagulation disorders
  • Multiple pregnancy or large baby


Risks

  • Anaemia
  • Blood transfusion
  • Prolonged hospital stays
  • Rarely, severe complications if not promptly managed


Treatment Options

  • Uterine massage and medications to contract the uterus
  • Removal of retained placenta
  • Repair of lacerations
  • Intravenous fluids and blood transfusion where needed
  • Prevention strategies in high-risk women (active management of third stage)

Overview

  • Pregnancies conceived via IVF are often healthy, but statistically carry slightly higher risks of complications due to underlying fertility factors or maternal age, rather than the IVF process itself.


Australian Statistics

  • Around 1 in 20 babies in Australia are now born via assisted reproductive technologies.
  • IVF pregnancies show higher rates of hypertension, preterm birth and growth restriction.


Causes

  • Older maternal age
  • Underlying fertility conditions (ie: endometriosis, PCOS)
  • Multiple embryo transfers
  • Placental development differences in IVF pregnancies


Risks

  • Hypertension and pre-eclampsia
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Foetal growth restriction
  • Placental abnormalities
  • Preterm birth


Treatment Options

  • Early and frequent antenatal monitoring
  • Tailored screening for hypertension and diabetes
  • Growth scans
  • Reassurance, psychological support and education
  • Planned delivery based on maternal and foetal wellbeing

Her careful, evidence-based monitoring helps reduce risks and provides clarity when decisions need to be made.

Treatment and Obstetric Management Options

Regular appointments allow assessment of maternal health, blood pressure, foetal growth and any early signs of complication. Women with high-risk factors or IVF pregnancies may require closer monitoring, which Dr Hargreaves provides in a supportive and reassuring manner.

Common investigations include:

  • Early pregnancy bloods
  • Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
  • First-trimester combined screening
  • 18–20 week anatomy scan
  • Gestational diabetes screening
  • Growth scans in later pregnancy


She ensures results are explained clearly, free from unnecessary jargon, helping women understand their choices with confidence.

Every woman’s birth preferences are respected and explored. Plans may include:

  • Physiological labour
  • Induction of labour when indicated
  • Epidural or other pain-relief options
  • Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) where appropriate
  • Planned caesarean section


No matter the pathway, Dr Hargreaves’ focus is on safety, respect and emotional support.

IVF pregnancies can come with heightened fear and expectations. Dr Hargreaves’ philosophy is to normalise the experience as much as safely possible. Her role is to help women enjoy their pregnancy rather than feel burdened by fear.

Why Women Choose Dr Hargreaves for Obstetric Care

Women often choose private obstetric care because it provides continuity, familiarity and reassurance. With Dr Hargreaves, patients receive all of this plus the confidence of being cared for by a senior clinician with exceptional experience.

Her selective obstetric practice means your care is never rushed – and you are supported not only by her expertise, but also by her two highly experienced midwives who provide close, ongoing contact throughout pregnancy.