Pregnancy FAQs

Please call immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain.
• Profuse vaginal bleeding: saturating one large pad every hour or more often.
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and/or chest pain. If you have a history of asthma or cardiac disease, call 911.
• Bladder infection symptoms: burning with urination, blood in urine, bladder spasms, particularly if you have a history of kidney infections.
• Severe nausea and vomiting, particularly if you have been unable to keep food or fluids down for 12 hours. Symptoms may include dizziness and/or dark yellow urine.
• Diabetic patients with questions about medication or blood sugar control.
• Diabetic patients on INSULIN: if you are ill and vomit more than once, CALL IMMEDIATELY.
• Headache, blurry or spotty vision, pain near the ribs on the right side.
• Decreased fetal movement.
• If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and have had 6+ contractions per hour for two or more hours.
• Unexpected leaking of water from your vagina, loss of amniotic fluid.
• Any other condition for which your physician has instructed that you call.

Please call during office hours if your concern involves:

• Vaginal pink, red, or brown spotting during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy: this is a common symptom. We recommend: rest, no intercourse, and plenty of water. Call if spotting increases to heavy bleeding.
• Cold symptoms: fever less than 100.6, clear runny nose, dry cough. We recommend trying: (a) rest, (b) fluids, (c) saline nasal spray, (d) acetaminophen (Tylenol) if needed for pain, (e) Sudafed if needed for nasal congestion, (f) Robitussin, if needed for cough.
• Vaginal itching (yeast infection) without odor or vaginal spotting/bleeding: we recommend trying: over-the-counter medications such as Clotrimazole (GyneLotrimin) 1% vaginal cream, or Miconazole vaginal cream; use as directed on the package.
• Mild heartburn: We recommend trying over-the-counter medications such as TUMS, Maalox, or Mylanta.
• Constipation: We recommend trying overthe-counter fiber laxatives and increasing fruits (prunes), vegetables, and liquids.
• Mild headache: We recommend trying acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Gush or leak fluid from your vagina from breaking the bag of water.
• Have contractions every 5-8 minutes and lasting 30-45 seconds each for one hour or more.
• Heavy vaginal bleeding (no need to call for mucus plug or blood show).
• Sharp, consistent abdominal pain.

The following medications may be used safely during pregnancy, unless your care provider has instructed you specifically not to use them. Use as directed on packaging.

• Mild Heart Burn: TUMS, Mylanta, Maalox, Pepcid AG, and Zantac. We do NOT recommend Pepto-Bismol.
• Colds: Tylenol, Sudafed, Actifed, Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, Children’s Sucrets, Robitussin-Plain, Vicks Vapor Rub. If YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Do NOT use Actifed or Sudafed, use Coricidin HPBD instead.
• Constipation: Surfak, Colace, Citrucel fiber laxative, Metamucil fiber laxative. If they are not effective, try magnesium citrate (liquid): Drink ½ bottle. If you do not have a BM in 12 hours, drink the other half.
• Mild headache: Tylenol (Regular or Extra Strength)
• Vaginal Itching: Clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin) 1% vaginal cream, Miconazole (Monistat) vaginal cream — ONLY use if no vaginal odor or bleeding.