If you are 16 weeks pregnant or more, contact your maternity unit straight away if you have any of these symptoms. These could be a sign of a serious health issue for you and your baby.
- Bleeding from your vagina.
- Watery fluid from your vagina.
- Vaginal discharge which is coloured, smelly, or unusual for you.
- A severe headache not helped by drinking water or paracetamol.
- Severely swollen hands, ankles and face.
- Constant abdominal pain.
- Feeling very unwell.
- Severe itching, particularly hands and feet.
- Any changes in your baby’s movements (from 28 weeks of pregnancy).
- You are not yet 37 weeks pregnant and have signs of labour.
At any stage in pregnancy, contact your maternity unit if you have severe sickness and
- you have not kept down any food or drink for 24 hours
- you have severe dizziness or fainting
- you are losing weight
- you feel very unwell.
Please see below urgent contact numbers for maternity units in Kent and Medway
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Maternity Triage |
01892 633500 | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Medway NHS Foundation Trust Call the Midwife |
01634 825277 | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Maternity Assessment Unit |
24 hours, 7 days a week | |
| East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust William Harvey Hospital Maternity Triage |
01233 616638 | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital Maternity Triage |
01843 234483 | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
Please phone your GP if you experience significant bleeding in pregnancy before 16 weeks and have concerns. Heavy or prolonged bleeding is likely to be a sign of miscarriage. Your GP may refer you to a hospital Early Pregnancy Unit depending on what is needed.
A small amount of bleeding within a few weeks of your last proper period can be normal. This is known as an implantation bleed when a fertilised egg enters the lining of the womb.
Light bleeding in the early weeks of pregnancy is common and does not necessarily mean there is a problem. You can call the unit if you have urgent concerns, or you can wait and speak to your midwife.
More information on miscarriage is provided by NHS.uk or go to Tommy’s for more support and detail.
It’s very important to get seen by your GP within a day or two if it’s painful to have a wee, or if your wee is cloudy or smelly. This is probably a sign of a urine infection. Urine infections are common in pregnancy, and usually harmless, but left untreated they can develop into a kidney infection and serious illness.
As long as you are generally well, your GP is the best place if you have signs of a urine infection. Your GP can prescribe a course of antibiotics suitable during pregnancy.
If in doubt, call your maternity unit. Local midwives will be glad to talk through your concerns. They may be able to reassure you over the phone once you have given full details. You may be asked to come in to make sure everything is as it should be. Every concern is important to us whether or not a visit is needed.
