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Prenatal Panic: When To Call The Doctor?
During pregnancy you are likely to experience a variety of physical symptoms, most of which are perfectly normal and don’t require any intervention. Occasionally, something more serious may crop up and at these times receiving prompt and thorough medical care is crucial. The dilemma many expectant mothers face is knowing just when it is necessary to call their doctor or midwife.
Routine symptoms such as muscle cramps, hemorrhoids, cravings, nausea and skin discoloration can usually be handled with self treatment and needn’t be brought to your doctor or midwife’s attention until your next regular checkup. There are some symptoms, however, which can be indicators of something far more serious and these require an immediate medical response.
These symptoms include bleeding or spotting; sharp one-sided pain or intense pain that does not go away with movement; swelling that is sudden or doesn’t go away after a night of rest and a gush of a fluid at any time during your pregnancy. While some women will experience early contractions, known as Braxton Hicks contractions, if you begin to experience contractions less than 10 minutes apart before your 37th week of pregnancy, you should call your doctor or midwife immediately. Other serious symptoms to be on the lookout for include a decrease in the baby’s movements or the development of sudden or severe headaches which are out of context for you.
When you call, be ready to give all your vital information including your due date, date of your last menstrual cycle, a full description of the symptoms you are experiencing and the length of their duration and the name of your doctor or midwife, in case you reach a receptionist or answering service. You may also want to be prepared with the name of the hospital closest to you and the name and number of your pharmacy.
If you have an emergency and can not reach your care provider, always proceed directly to the emergency room and let them contact your doctor or midwife. You should never hesitate to seek help if you feel the need. When it comes to the health of you and your baby, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
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