Pregnancy: When to Call Your Healthcare Provider

pregnant person relaxing

If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider immediately, as these are considered emergencies:

  • Continuous leaking of fluid (water broken)
  • Abdominal trauma or car accident
  • Fever greater than 101° F
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Decreased fetal movement
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Headache with vision changes
  • Painful contractions greater than 6 times in an hour (if less than 36 weeks)

    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.


    Go to Pregnancy Resource Guide