While I am available to be contacted by phone (business day hours), by email and by social media messaging you can also contact the Birth Unit 24 hours per day and if she is concerned the midwife will contact me. If you think the matter is an emergence then phone the Birth Unit for advice, irrespective of the time of day.
I strongly advise to not seek answers from social media. The information on social media is usually inaccurate and will only increase your anxiety.
Specific reasons for contacting the Birth unit include…
Labour
Contact the midwife when contractions start. The midwife should give you advise that is reassuring.
Usually, you should wait until you have regular contractions are each 5 – 10 minutes before going to the hospital. If you have history of rapid labour, or you are planned to a caesarean section you should go to the hospital when contractions start.
Some women have false labour pains. These will be more irregular and will settle over time. Some women have an irritable uterus for many weeks before labour starts.
Rupture of membranes
This is when the fluid around the baby (amniotic fluid) starts to leak for the sac because of small puncture in the sac wall and causes you to have watery vaginal loss.
You should contact the Birth Unit midwife immediately this happens and attend the Birth Unit immediately for assessment.
There is risk of infection starting in the sac (which is very serious adverse development for baby), of a loop of umbilical cord coming down with the liquor (this can be umbilical cord prolapse or sometimes the umbilical cord is squashed between the baby’s head and the wall of the uterus. Both these situations can result in reduced or no blood flow in the umbilical cord which puts your baby’s life at risk.)
Foetal movement concern
If the baby is unusually quiet or unusually excessively active, then give the Birth Unit a call. Both can indicate foetal distress. The midwife will ask you to attend and use the foetal monitor (CTG) machine to check baby’s wellbeing. If you are concerned in the night don’t wait until the morning to call as it may be too late. The midwives are there 24 hour per day.
Baby’s normally move at least 10 minutes in 12 hours. Some babies are more active or quieter throughout the pregnancy. I suggest the level of actively in the womb is guide to the level of activity after birth and the personality of your child.
Vaginal bleeding
A show is mucous streaked with blood and is normal before the onset of labour. It is due to early cervical changes. It can happen days before labour. It is of no concern and there is no need for you to attend the Birth Unit if you have a show.
More blood than this is concern and is usually due to a placental problem. It could be your placenta is too low (Placenta Praevia) of there is some degree of placental separation for the wall of the uterus when it is attached. Both situations are very dangerous for both your baby and you. You should call the Birth Unit and attend immediately if you have bleeding in advanced pregnancy.
Other situations when you should call the Birth unit include…
- Fever.
- Repeated vomiting.
- Persistent headaches that won’t go away.
- Blurred vision, or spots before your eyes.
- Sharp pains in the abdomen (with or without bleeding).
- Have experienced trauma such as an assault, a car accident or a serious fall.
- If you are no longer comfortable at home.
- If you are concerned or anxious.
