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How to use this page
This page is for fast triage, not diagnosis. If a symptom clearly fits an emergency pattern, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency setting now. If it is concerning but not clearly emergent, contact the clinician or nurse line the same day 12.
Pregnancy
Call promptly for heavy bleeding, decreased fetal movement, severe headache with vision changes, severe abdominal pain, fluid leakage, or anything your prenatal team has already labeled urgent 23.
Birth and hospital
Go in or call the labor unit if contractions, bleeding, fluid changes, or fetal movement concerns match the instructions your team gave you. If the pain pattern is changing fast or the birthing parent seems unwell, do not wait for the perfect contraction interval 2.
Newborn period
A newborn fever, poor feeding, hard-to-wake behavior, dehydration signs, breathing trouble, or blue or gray color change should not wait. Newborns can worsen quickly, so a low threshold for calling is appropriate 14.
Older infant
Persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, dehydration, unusual lethargy, seizure activity, or a child who looks noticeably worse than expected needs prompt care. If the child is getting steadily worse, the threshold for action should be lower, not higher 14.
Parent symptoms
Heavy bleeding, chest pain, severe headache, severe mood changes, thoughts of self-harm, or symptoms that feel significantly worse than a normal recovery day deserve immediate attention. Recovery is not the time to troubleshoot a true emergency by optimism 23.