Non-Urgent Concerns

For non urgent concerns, you can either make a note to bring it up at your next appointment, or contact the office by email or phone. Please note in your email which Midwife Team you are followed by. Emails and phone calls to the office will be returned within 48-72 hours. If your concern needs attention sooner, please page. Regarding lab and ultrasound reports, please note that we only call clients with results if follow up is required prior to the next scheduled appointment.

“SHOULD I PAGE MY MIDWIFE? Is my concern urgent or non-urgent?”

When the paging system is used for non-urgent concerns, it can compromise safe, quality care by distracting the midwife from providing urgent or timely care to other clients or disturbing the rest needed to work safely. A specific list of reasons to page can be found below, but if your situation is not listed below, and/or you would want to go to the ER, page your midwife first.

SOME SPECIFIC REASONS TO PAGE

Prenatal 

  • Vaginal bleeding: 

    • Heavy, bright red bleeding

    • If light/spotting/scant bleeding, it may be appropriate to page during daytime hours rather than overnight, but if uncertain, please page

  • Loss of fluid from your vagina (signs of your water breaking) 

  • Reduced fetal movement/not feeling your baby move 

  • Signs of preterm labour (painful regular contractions, menstrual-type cramping/back ache, heavy pressure in the pelvis that comes and goes in a regular pattern and does not resolve with a warm bath and fluids) before 37 weeks gestation

  • Severe headache that does not resolve with 500-1000mg tylenol, visual disturbances, severe upper-abdominal pain that does not resolve with changing positions, comfort measures or antacids

  • Severe vomiting (unable to drink/eat) for over 24 hours

  • Abdominal trauma (motor vehicle accident, falls) 

  • Difficulty breathing (not explained by what you have been doing) 

  • Feeling unsafe

Labour 

  • Click here for more details.

Postpartum 

  • Excessive vaginal bleeding (your midwife will outline what to expect in terms of normal bleeding  after delivery)

  • Fever 38C (100.4F) or more

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Swelling in only one leg

  • Painful red, hot, tender area on your breast

  • Feeling unsafe

  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

  • To determine if you should page urgently for baby concerns, please refer to the Normal Newborn Behaviour handout found by clicking here