Pregnancy brings many changes, and knowing when to communicate with your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) is a fundamental part of prenatal care. While many new sensations are normal, others require professional advice to ensure the health of both the parent and the developing fetus. Understanding the difference between a routine discomfort and a symptom requiring immediate intervention can streamline your care and reduce anxiety. Effective communication about your symptoms helps your healthcare team determine the appropriate response, whether it is a simple at-home remedy or an urgent evaluation.
Symptoms Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Certain symptoms during pregnancy signal a situation that cannot wait for regular office hours and necessitate an immediate call to your provider’s emergency line or a trip to the nearest hospital. A sudden, severe headache that persists even after taking an approved pain reliever is a serious concern. This, along with visual changes such as blurred vision, flashing lights, or seeing spots, may indicate preeclampsia, which involves high blood pressure and potential organ damage.
A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher should prompt an urgent call, particularly if accompanied by chills or body aches. An elevated temperature can pose risks to the pregnancy, and your provider needs to determine the source of the infection and prescribe safe treatment. Heavy vaginal bleeding, defined as soaking a menstrual pad completely within one hour for two or more consecutive hours, also requires immediate attention. While some light spotting is common, any passage of clots or bleeding resembling a heavy period must be reported at once to rule out complications like placental abruption or miscarriage.
Decreased or absent fetal movement after 28 weeks of gestation is a warning sign that should be assessed without delay. If you feel significantly fewer movements than usual, or fewer than 10 movements within a two-hour period, contact your maternity unit immediately. Preterm labor is a concern before 37 weeks, and signs include regular, painful contractions that occur every 10 minutes or less, a sudden gush of fluid indicating your water has broken, or persistent low back pressure. Severe or sudden pain in the abdomen, especially in the upper right quadrant, should also be treated as an emergency, as it could signal a problem with the liver or placenta.
Common Pregnancy Symptoms That Warrant Contact
Many common symptoms are not medical emergencies but still require guidance from your healthcare team during regular business hours. While mild morning sickness is expected, excessive nausea and vomiting that prevents you from keeping down liquids for more than four to six hours could lead to dehydration and hyperemesis gravidarum. Contact your provider if you are losing weight, cannot tolerate fluids, or notice signs of dehydration, such as dark urine.
Mild swelling in the ankles and feet is a normal consequence of increased body fluid and pressure from the growing uterus. However, call if the swelling is sudden, involves your hands or face, or is accompanied by a headache. Swelling that is significantly more pronounced in one leg compared to the other requires prompt evaluation to rule out a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clot.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), such as pain or burning during urination, a frequent urge to urinate, or cloudy and foul-smelling urine, should be addressed quickly. Untreated UTIs in pregnancy can lead to a kidney infection or preterm labor, so a urine culture and antibiotic prescription are necessary. Persistent heartburn that does not respond to lifestyle changes or approved over-the-counter antacids should also be discussed, as your provider can recommend stronger, pregnancy-safe medications.
Mental health concerns, including persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability, are important to discuss with your OB-GYN. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common, affecting up to one in five women. Your provider can offer resources, referrals, or prescribe appropriate treatment. Bringing up these emotional changes is a routine part of prenatal care.
Administrative and Scheduling Reasons to Contact Your Provider
Logistical questions that do not involve immediate medical risk should be directed to the office staff or managed through a patient portal, reserving the emergency line for urgent medical issues. Routine tasks like rescheduling a prenatal appointment or modifying a future visit fall under the administrative team’s purview. Using the main office number or the online portal for these requests ensures that phone lines remain open for medical triage.
Many offices utilize secure patient portals for non-urgent communication. This is the preferred method for requesting prescription refills or asking general questions about your care plan. The portal is also the appropriate place to follow up on routine lab results, such as blood work or screening test outcomes, after the expected processing time has passed. While the clinical team contacts you directly for any abnormal results, normal results are often posted to the portal first.
If you require medical documentation for work, such as a note for specific physical restrictions or a letter to support a short-term disability claim, contact the office staff. These requests often require forms to be completed by the provider and may necessitate a brief discussion during a scheduled appointment. Inquiries about billing, insurance coverage, or obtaining medical records should also be handled by the administrative staff.
Making Effective Communication with Your OB-GYN
When contacting your provider, especially for a medical concern, preparing your information ahead of time facilitates a faster and more helpful response. Always have your current gestational age, stated in weeks and days, ready, as this context is foundational to any clinical assessment. Also have a complete list of all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbal supplements, as these can affect symptoms or treatment decisions.
When describing a symptom, be concise and specific about the onset, severity, and duration. For example, instead of saying you have a bad headache, specify if it started suddenly, where the pain is located, and whether it has improved or worsened over a specific timeframe. Be prepared to take notes on the instructions you receive, and ask the nurse or provider to clarify any steps or recommended doses. Ensuring you understand the care plan is the final step in effective communication.