Should I go to an urgent care for problems during pregnancy?

Darcy Slizewski, MD

Obstetrics and Gynecology

There are many strange symptoms that happen during pregnancy, including the famous strange food combination cravings, cramps, spotting, mood swings and more. How can you know if your symptoms need to be seen by a doctor, and when can you go to an urgent care for problems during pregnancy instead of the emergency room?

OB/GYN Darcy Slizewski, MD, answered questions about common pregnancy problems and how to know where to go for care.

What are some common pregnancy complications or problems?

“Common complaints during pregnancy include abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, constipation, vaginal bleeding or leakage, contractions and painful or frequent urination,” said Dr. Slizewski. “These could indicate pregnancy-related concerns, although not always. Evaluating those concerns for whether they could potentially be more serious begins with a visit to your OB/GYN’s office.”

Dr. Slizewski also noted that evaluation would take place during obstetric triage at the hospital when you’re outside of your regular obstetrician’s office hours. In some cases, symptoms may be due to a medical condition unrelated to your pregnancy, like appendicitis, which also causes abdominal pain and nausea or vomiting, but tends to present with a fever.

In the event of abdominal pain, your doctor will want to rule out preterm labor before considering other conditions.

When is it appropriate to go to an urgent care for pregnancy problems?

“If your OB/GYN office is closed and an issue has developed that involves heavy vaginal bleeding, persistent leakage of fluid, constipation or nausea and vomiting that does not respond to medicine, an inability to keep down any food or fluids, or mild to moderate pain, the safest plan would be to seek care at an urgent care facility if one is nearby,” said Dr. Slizewski. “If your concerns are primarily based around your pregnancy, like heavy vaginal bleeding or contractions, OB triage at the emergency room is likely the best place for evaluation.”

 Dr. Slizewski added that if your concerns are not clearly pregnancy related, an urgent care may be the best, most affordable option to be evaluated outside of your physician’s regular office hours. Things like a mild respiratory illness, concerns about bronchitis or a persistent cough, ear infections and more are better served by urgent care than a visit to the emergency room.

However, if your OB/GYN office is closed and you’ve developed severe symptoms like fast, shallow breathing, severe constipation, confusion, drowsiness or fatigue, severe nausea or vomiting that lasts more than one day, dehydration, or a fast or irregular heartbeat, the emergency room is the safest place to be seen, as they are prepared for emergency situations. Pain severe enough that it makes it difficult for you to function and high fevers that aren’t responding to over-the-counter medicines also need to be evaluated at the emergency room.

If you’re in a motor vehicle accident during pregnancy, make sure to head to the emergency room. Even seemingly mild accidents could cause injury that isn’t immediately obvious.

If I’m injured while pregnant, where should I go?

“The best advice for an injury during pregnancy depends on the severity of the injury. If in doubt, the ER would be the safest bet,” said Dr. Slizewski. “If the injury isn’t severe enough that you need to immediately head to the ER, I’d say to call your OB/GYN office.”

When you call your OB/GYN, listen to the various options you have. You should be able to choose to speak to the nurse on call. Let the nurse know the symptoms you’re feeling and they’ll help you to know what the best option is for seeking treatment.

If I have morning sickness, when should I seek care and where should I go?

“If you have morning sickness and you’re less than 20 weeks along, you can be seen at an emergency room, even if you are not established yet with an OB/GYN group,” said Dr. Slizewski. “If you have been seen by an OB/GYN group and are getting routine prenatal care, most groups prefer you see them for further IV medications and fluid rehydration if needed.”

Dr. Slizewski added that you can also always call their office, as they may be able to work you in for an appointment during the day to ensure you are seen by your primary obstetric group. A more familiar setting can be more relaxing for you and help you feel more comfortable seeking care.

If I have spotting, where should I go? How much bleeding is a sign of a serious problem?

“Painless spotting in pregnancy can be normal,” said Dr. Slizewski. “Minimal spotting does not require a visit right away, but it’s worth a phone call to your OB/GYN to speak to their nurse on call and let them know.”

If you’re bleeding and also feeling pain, speak to the nurse on call and consider being seen by their OB triage unit. Typically, they’ll want to evaluate you if you have bleeding heavy enough to go through a pad in less than two hours.   

If I have a fever, when should I seek care and where should I go?

“If you have a fever, we recommend home testing for COVID first,” said Dr. Slizewski. “If that test is negative, we can direct you to be seen at an urgent care or emergency department. Typically, we avoid bringing feverish patients into the labor and delivery unit unless other sources have been ruled out, or directly pregnancy-related concerns also exist to be evaluated.”