Pregnancy: When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider immediately, as these are considered emergencies:
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Use this chart as a reference to determine how you should treat common illnesses or symptoms throughout your pregnancy.
If in doubt, call your OB/GYN or primary healthcare provider.
| Illness/Symptom | Call Your Provider’s Office | Call Your Provider Immediately | Home Treatment |
| Bleeding/Cramping Some bleeding/spotting may occur after an internal exam |
Bleeding is less than a period with mild cramping; common in 1st trimester | Bleeding is heavy (using a pad every 2 hours) 2nd & 3rd trimester cramping or painless heavy bleeding Cramping is equal to or worse than menstrual cramps |
Rest Avoid heavy lifting (more than 20 pounds) |
| Vomiting Common in 1st trimester |
Unable to keep down liquids and solids for more than a 24 hour period Weight loss of more than 3-5 pounds |
Signs of dehydration occur (e.g. dry mouth fatigue/lethargy, poor skin turgor) Abdominal pain accompanied with vomiting |
Vitamin B6* Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast Rest Avoid hot sun |
| Decreased Fetal (baby) Movements after 24 Weeks | Baby moves less than 4 times in a 30-minute period while you are resting, during a normally active period for baby | No fetal movement if accompanied by severe abdominal pain | Rest Drink juice or a soft drink Eat a small snack |
| Urinary Urgency and/or Pain With Urination Frequency Common in early and late pregnancy |
Pain with urination Feeling of urgency to void with little urine produced |
Temperature 101° F or higher Pain in upper back Contractions occur Blood in urine |
Urinate at regular intervals Increase fluid intake to 8-12 glasses daily |
| Swelling | Recent noticeable increase in feet and ankles Swelling of face and hands |
Swelling accompanied with headache or upper abdominal pain Swelling with decreased fetal movement Elevated blood pressure if using home monitoring |
Lie on left side and elevate legs Avoid salty foods (e.g. chips, fries, packaged foods) |
| Cold and Flu Talk with your provider before taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or any over the counter medications. |
Temperature of 101° F or higher Green or yellow mucus develops Persistent cough for more than 5 days |
Breathing is difficult or wheezing occurs | Your Doctor may prescribe: Tylenol, Actifed, Sudafed and/or Robitussin DM* Increase Fluids Rest Use Vaporizer Ibuprofen* – okay in 2nd trimester only |
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Use this chart as a reference to determine how you should treat common illnesses or symptoms throughout your pregnancy.
If in doubt, call your OB/GYN or primary healthcare provider.
| Illness/Symptom | Bleeding/Cramping Some bleeding/spotting may occur after an internal exam |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Bleeding is less than a period with mild cramping; common in 1st trimester |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | Bleeding is heavy (using a pad every 2 hours) 2nd & 3rd trimester cramping or painless heavy bleeding Cramping is equal to or worse than menstrual cramps |
| Home Treatment | Rest Avoid heavy lifting (more than 20 pounds) |
| Illness/Symptom | Vomiting Common in 1st trimester |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Unable to keep down liquids and solids for more than a 24 hour period Weight loss of more than 3-5 pounds |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | Signs of dehydration occur (e.g. dry mouth fatigue/lethargy, poor skin turgor) Abdominal pain accompanied with vomiting |
| Home Treatment | Vitamin B6* Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast Rest Avoid hot sun |
| Illness/Symptom | Decreased Fetal (baby) Movements after 24 Weeks |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Baby moves less than 4 times in a 30-minute period while you are resting, during a normally active period for baby |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | No fetal movement if accompanied by severe abdominal pain |
| Home Treatment | Rest Drink juice or a soft drink Eat a small snack |
| Illness/Symptom | Urinary Urgency and/or Pain With Urination Frequency Common in early and late pregnancy |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Pain with urination Feeling of urgency to void with little urine produced |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | Temperature 101° F or higher Pain in upper back Contractions occur Blood in urine |
| Home Treatment | Urinate at regular intervals Increase fluid intake to 8-12 glasses daily |
| Illness/Symptom | Swelling |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Recent noticeable increase in feet and ankles Swelling of face and hands |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | Swelling accompanied with headache or upper abdominal pain Swelling with decreased fetal movement Elevated blood pressure if using home monitoring |
| Home Treatment | Lie on left side and elevate legs Avoid salty foods (e.g. chips, fries, packaged foods) |
| Illness/Symptom | Cold and Flu Talk with your provider before taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or any over the counter medications. |
| Call Your Provider’s Office | Temperature of 101° F or higher Green or yellow mucus develops Persistent cough for more than 5 days |
| Call Your Provider Immediately | Breathing is difficult or wheezing occurs |
| Home Treatment | Your Doctor may prescribe: Tylenol, Actifed, Sudafed and/or Robitussin DM* Increase Fluids Rest Use Vaporizer Ibuprofen* – okay in 2nd trimester only |
Your Doctor Is Here to Help
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to call because you don’t want to wake the doctor or you feel silly. Worrying only stresses you and the baby, so go ahead and call! Find out what’s wrong and relieve your anxiety.
