Danger Signs & When to Call Us
Even though most women never have serious problems in pregnancy, there are signs of trouble you must watch for:
- Burning or pain when you are passing urine or much less urine than usual.
- Vomiting when you can't even keep liquids down for a whole day.
- Passing out or falling.
- Headaches that do not go away with medicine or rest.
- Swelling or puffiness of your hands or face.
- Blurring vision, flashing lights, or spots of light in your eyes.
- Pain in your belly — either sharp pain, or pain that comes and goes.
- Chills and fever.
- Itching, burning, or bad-smelling vaginal discharge.
- Sores around your vagina.
- No fetal movement.
How to Contact Us
If you are a nurse-midwife patient:
Always try to talk to a midwife at the hospital before coming, as this may prevent unnecessary trips to the hospital. First try your clinic, and if you are unable to reach someone then you may page the nurse midwife on call at the hospital.
Instructions to page the nurse midwife:
Please dial 312.996.2242; this is an automated page operator. It will ask you for the page ID number — enter 2511#. You will hear the recoding stating that you have reached the UI Health Nurse Midwifes. You will then hear "Please dial your call back number." Please enter your phone number with the area code, and hang up.
If you receive prenatal care from the OB or MFM clinic:
Please call UI Health Labor and Delivery at 312.996.4175 or 312.996.4188 and talk to the resident physician on call.
If you receive prenatal care from the Family Medicine Center at University Village:
Please call your regular clinic number: 312.996.2901. You also may call Mile Square Health Center (Main Location) at 312.996.2000.
If you cannot reach anyone, please call 911 if you feel it is an emergency.
Some signs can mean danger to you and the baby. If you have these signs, call the hospital or go to the emergency room right away:
- Bleeding like a period.
- Labor pains more than a month before your due date.
- Baby not moving or moving less than normal.
- Water leaking (a gush or trickle) from your vagina.
If you are not sure, it is safer to go to the hospital and get checked.
