When to Call the Doctor
When to Call the Doctor
Two kinds of women drive doctors crazy: those who call for every little twinge and those who wouldn’t call if they were staked to an ant hill because “I didn’t want to bother you.” Here are some hints to help you avoid falling into these two categories.
Any Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding doesn’t automatically mean disaster, but the source of the bleeding needs to be investigated. Panic usually follows if you’re on the toilet when you discover the bleeding because even a few drops will look like gallons as soon as they hit the water. Wipe with toilet paper and make note of the color-bright red or more reddish-brown? Did the bleeding start after some activity, such as intercourse or moving furniture? Is it associated with cramping or localized pain anywhere? Your doctor will ask you these questions and how much blood you think you lost. Just remember the difference between bleeding and hemorrhaging: If blood isn’t running down your leg and filling up your shoe, you’re not hemorrhaging. Keep calm and call your doctor.
Swelling of Face and Fingers-Generalized Swelling
Swelling of feet and ankles is common in pregnancy, so it’s no cause for alarm. Swelling of face and fingers along with feet and ankles may be a sign of preeclampsia (toxemia) and needs some follow-up with your doctor.
Severe or Continuous Headache
Headache that is severe or continuous is another possible sign of preeclampsia. Dimness or blurring of vision may accompany this type of headache. Migraine headaches also have these symptoms.
Abdominal Pain
Aches and pains are so common in pregnancy that you sometimes need help in deciding if your abdominal pain is something to be concerned about. Before calling your doctor, think about what kind of pain you’re having. Where is it? What does it feel like? Do you have any other symptoms besides abdominal pain, such as bleeding? Have you noticed an increase in your vaginal discharge? Does the pain come and go, or is it constant? It may just be the old round ligament pain again, but call your doctor and check it out.
Persistent Vomiting
You need help with this one so you won’t become too dehydrated and upset your body’s chemical balance. Don’t wait until you’re dried out that your tongue looks like the sands of the Sahara. Call your doctor.
Chills or Fever
This could be old garden variety f1u that no one can do much about, BUT, it could also be a kidney infection, which is serious. If your temperature is over 101 degrees, call your doctor. If you have a fever lower than 101 degrees but pain in the area of your kidneys and/ or frequency and burning on urination, call your doctor; you may have a kidney infection.
The garden variety flu with temperatures below 101 degrees with no other symptoms usually resolves itself within 24 hours. Try Tylenol and fluids. If your symptoms don’t resolve within 24 hours or you’re concerned, call your doctor.
Painful Urination
Most women don’t have to be encouraged to call the doctor for this one. You feel like your bladder is going to burst, but all you can manage are a few drops that feel like razor blades. A bladder infection, besides being painful, is a common cause of preterm labor symptoms and needs to be treated because you can’ t cure it yourself.
Accidental Injury
Generally, the baby is well protected from blunt trauma to the abdomen in early and middle pregnancy by the cushioning effect of the amniotic fluid. In late pregnancy, injury to the baby is more likely to occur when the head is fixed in the pelvis and amniotic fluid is normally decreased.
Seven percent of women experience some type of injury during pregnancy. The vast majority of these accidents don’t harm the baby. Occasionally, injury to the abdomen can seriously decrease oxygen to the baby. Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall and high stress levels associated with an auto accident or other trauma are thought to be contributing factors.
If you have an accident, and your abdomen receives a blow, call your doctor. Some reassuring tests can be done in the hospital. In addition to examining you, the medical staff can evaluate the baby. A contraction stress test and fetal monitor can detect signs of fetal distress. The Kleihauer-Betke blood test is done to detect fetal bleeding. The tests may take 2 or 3 hours to complete, but you’ll have some peace of mind to go with your bruises.
An ounce of prevention: Wear your three point seat belt restraint. The lap belt should be positioned on your thighs. Seat belts significantly decrease injury to both mom and baby.