When to call a doctor

During pregnancy your body goes through so many changes that you might be left wondering what is normal and what isn’t. It’s important to remember that your doctor or midwife is just a phone call away and if at any time you feel that something is not right, it’s better to pick up the phone than continue to worry about your health or that of your baby.

You should never feel worried or embarrassed about calling your doctor or midwife to ask questions. Moreover, there are specific reasons to be aware of that may necessitate a phone call or emergency trip to the hospital.

At any time during your pregnancy if you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor or midwife immediately:

Signs of preeclampsia

Fever

Presence of fever that is not related to an illness or bug.

Vomiting

Vomiting more than three times a day, presence of nausea making it difficult to eat or drink, especially associated with pain or fever.

Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding associated with fever, cramps or pain.

Significant vaginal bleeding

Passing tissue

Passing of fetal tissue (greyish matter) or blood clots from your vagina

Leaking fluid

Leaking of fluid from your vagina, especially if it is odorless.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you need to call your doctor or midwife today.

During your third trimester there are certain circumstances that necessitate a phone call to emergency services immediately. Some of these are:

During weeks 20 to 37, there are certain circumstances that require you to call your doctor or midwife immediately. You should be aware of the signs of preterm labor so that you can get immediate medical help, either to stop the labor from progressing or to help in premature delivery of your baby. These signs include:

Once you have reached 37 weeks in your pregnancy, there are symptoms and signs that require a phone call to your doctor or midwife, or an immediate trip to the hospital. These include:

No two pregnancies are alike and what might seem normal for one woman may be completely abnormal for another. It’s not the time to be second-guessing yourself or your body. If something feels off the track, you owe it to yourself and your baby to seek medical advice and help.