After Hours Guidance

Pregnancy 

At 37 weeks and beyond, go to the hospital if you: 

  • Are leaking fluid from the vagina. 
  • Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad. 
  • Are having painful contractions every 5 minutes for at least an hour. 
  • Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain. 
  • Are feeling the baby move less and have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours. 
  • Have had any injury to your abdomen. 

If you are less than 34 weeks, go to the hospital if you: 

  • Are leaking fluid from the vagina. 
  • Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad. 
  • Are having more than 4 contractions an hour x2hours. 
  • Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain. 
  • Are feeling the baby move less and after 28 weeks if you have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours. (Kick counts can be performed from 28 weeks and beyond.)

Have had any injury to your abdomen.

Post Partum 

Please go to the hospital if you: 

  • Have heavy bleeding that is filling a pad every hour x2 hours. 
  • Have a fever greater than 100.4 F/38.0C. 
  • Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain. 
  • Worsening pain, drainage or redness of c-section incision. 
  • Breast pain, redness and fever that may indicate infection in the breast.
  • Severe depression or thoughts of suicide.

Gynecologic concerns 

Please go to the hospital if you: 

  • Have had a recent procedure/surgery and have a fever and/or severe pain at an incision site.
  • Have an early pregnancy and have severe abdominal pain with or without bleeding.
  • Have severe vaginal pain or swelling.

Please call the office during business hours or message your healthcare provider through the Athena portal to  

  • Review of test results 
  • Request prescription refills 
  • Clarify medications that you can take during pregnancy
  • Schedule or reschedule appointments
  • Discuss irregular periods
  • Discuss yeast/vaginal infection symptoms or concerns
  • Discuss contraceptive needs/concerns

 

The guidance offered below is not meant to be all inclusive or apply to all medical scenarios. It is impossible to provide direction in advance for every medical scenario. If at any time you feel you need to be seen by a doctor, you should come to the emergency room or call an ambulance irrespective of the guidelines below.