When to call?

Feeling less movement:

From 28 weeks onwards, it is normal to feel your baby move every day. The pattern and amount of movements vary from person to person and from pregnancy to pregnancy. From 28 weeks, you will start to recognize a pattern. Are you unsure whether you feel your baby moving enough? It may help to lie on your left side and connect with your baby to encourage a response. If you’re concerned because you feel less movement than usual, call us for an extra check-up.

Vaginal bleeding:

It is common during pregnancy to experience a few drops of vaginal bleeding. Fortunately, this is usually harmless and can be caused by the rupture of a superficial blood vessel on the cervix. Due to pregnancy hormones, the cervix is more richly supplied with blood, making it easier for a blood vessel to rupture. This can happen, for example, when straining during coughing, sneezing, bowel movements, or during intercourse.
If the vaginal bleeding is more than just a few drops, or if you are concerned about it, please contact us.

Amniotic fluid loss:

Under the influence of pregnancy hormones, vaginal discharge becomes thinner as the pregnancy progresses. You may also experience involuntary urine loss.
When your water breaks, you will lose amniotic fluid. You may lose a big splash all at once, or small amounts several times. When your waters are broken, the amniotic fluid will continue to drain. Do you think you may be losing amniotic fluid? If so, please contact us.

Premature contractions:

In the Netherlands, 7 to 8 percent of all babies are born prematurely. A birth is considered premature when it occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Are you experiencing abdominal cramps or back pain that comes and goes? Is there a pattern to it, and does it become more intense over time? Do you recognize these as contractions from a previous pregnancy? If so, please contact us.

Are you unsure about this? Try to find rest and warmth. A warm shower or bath can help. Practice contractions often subside over time and remain constant in intensity. The dilation contractions associated with labor will become stronger and more frequent as time progresses.

Symptoms indicative of possible preeclampsia:

In 3-5 % of pregnancies, a mother develops preeclampsia.
It is important to be alert for symptoms that may fit with this.
If you experience any of the symptoms below and are beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy, contact us for an additional checkup.

– Headache / feeling like a tight band is being pulled around your head.
– Starry vision or decreased vision
– Nausea and/or vomiting
– Pain in the upper abdomen / feeling like a tight band is being pulled around the upper abdomen.
– Pain between the shoulder blades.
– Sudden fluid retention, especially in the face.

In the following cases, you MUST call us:

• With regular contractions, every 3 min, for 1 hour. If you have given birth before then call at regular contractions, every 5 min, for 1 hour.
• When your waters break, pay attention to the color of the amniotic fluid.
• In case of heavy bright red blood loss
• When you feel reduced fetal movement

In case of concern, you can ALWAYS call.

The mucus plug is not necessarily a sign of imminent labor. There is no need to call us about this.