When to Call the Doctor During Pregnancy

It’s normal to have anxiety during your pregnancy about the physical changes you’re experiencing.

So many of these sensations during pregnancy can seem ambiguous:

Is light spotting during early pregnancy normal, or is it a sign of an early miscarriage?

Is a nagging headache just from stress, or is it something more serious?

How can you tell the difference between what is normal during pregnancy and when you should take action?

Is my weight gain during pregnancy normal, or is it due to OHSS during pregnancy?

Symptoms During Pregnancy	When to Call the Doctor?
Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting During Pregnancy
Slight spotting that goes away within a day	Next visit
Any spotting or bleeding that lasts more than a day	Same day
Moderate to heavy bleeding during pregnancy	Immediately
Any amount of bleeding during pregnancy accompanied by pain, fever, or chills	Immediately
Pain During Pregnancy
Occasional pulling, twinging, or pinching sensation on one or both sides of the abdomen	Next visit
Occasional mild headaches	Next visit
Moderate, bothersome headache that won’t go away	Same day
Severe or persistent headache, especially with dizziness, faintness, or visual disturbances	Immediately
Moderate or severe pelvic pain	Immediately
Any degree of pelvic pain that doesn’t subside	Immediately
Pain with fever or bleeding	Immediately
Vomiting During Pregnancy
Occasional	Next visit
Once every day	Next visit
More than two or three times a day	Immediately
With pain or fever	Immediately
Other Symptoms During Pregnancy
Chills or fever (temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit/38.8 Celsius or higher)	Immediately
Painful urination	Immediately
Steady or heavy discharge of watery fluid from the vagina	Immediately
Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet	Immediately
Visual disturbances (dimness, blurring)	Immediately

In making these judgments, your doctor is your primary resource.

At your very first visit, ask for a list of the symptoms that she or he wants to hear about right away. Then you’ll have an idea of what your doctor considers an emergency.

If you’re still unsure about other symptoms, you can rely on the other care providers in your doctor’s office.

At your office visits, learn the names of the nurses, nurse-practitioners, physician assistants (PAs), and other staff you see most often.

Then, if something comes up that has you worried, you can ask for someone by name or by title. The staff will know from your symptoms whether to consult your doctor.

The bottom line, though, is this:

When in doubt, call your doctor.

It’s better to have a needless worry eased than to have a real source of concern ignored out of embarrassment or fear.