When should I call the midwife during pregnancy?

Call your maternity unit same day for: sudden severe headache, any vaginal bleeding, reduced fetal movement, sudden significant swelling of the face or hands, burning when urinating, severe upper abdominal pain, or sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing.

What does reduced fetal movement mean in pregnancy?

Reduced fetal movement — when your baby moves less than their usual pattern — needs same-day contact with your maternity unit from around 24 weeks. Do not use apps to count movements instead of calling. Do not wait until morning.

Can a headache in pregnancy be serious?

Most pregnancy headaches are benign. A sudden severe headache unlike any you have had before — especially with visual disturbances, swelling, or upper abdominal pain — can indicate pre-eclampsia and needs urgent assessment.

When is chest pain in pregnancy an emergency?

Sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a rapid heart rate coming on without exertion can indicate a pulmonary embolism. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately. Gradual breathlessness in late pregnancy from the baby pressing on the diaphragm is common and different.

7 Pregnancy Symptoms That Need Same-Day Attention

Most symptoms in pregnancy are benign. Nausea, back pain, pelvic discomfort, headaches, fatigue, heartburn — all extremely common and rarely serious. This guide is not about those. It covers the seven symptoms that need same-day attention and cannot wait for a scheduled appointment.

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Sudden severe headache unlike any you've had before

A headache that comes on suddenly and is significantly more severe than a normal pregnancy headache — especially if combined with visual disturbances (flashing lights, blurred vision, or seeing spots), swelling of the face or hands, or upper abdominal pain — can indicate pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia can deteriorate quickly and needs urgent assessment.

📞 Call your maternity unit now

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Vaginal bleeding (at any stage)

Any bleeding in pregnancy should be reported to your midwife or maternity triage on the same day it occurs. Light spotting in early pregnancy is common and often benign — but it needs to be assessed. Heavier bleeding, bleeding with pain, or bleeding at any point after 12 weeks needs urgent attention. Don't wait to see if it stops.

📞 Contact maternity triage same day

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Reduced fetal movement

You should feel your baby move regularly from around 24 weeks onwards. Every baby has its own pattern — what matters is a change from your baby's normal. If you feel fewer movements than usual, or if your baby stops moving for a period that concerns you, contact your maternity unit. Do not use an app to count movements instead of calling. Do not wait until morning. Do not accept 'it's probably fine' without assessment.

📞 Contact your maternity unit — do not wait

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Sudden swelling of face, hands or feet

Some swelling in late pregnancy is normal. Sudden, significant swelling — particularly of the face and hands, or swelling that comes on quickly rather than building gradually over days — can indicate pre-eclampsia. If combined with headache or visual disturbances, this is an emergency. If isolated, it still needs same-day assessment.

📞 Call maternity triage same day

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Burning or pain when urinating

Urinary tract infections are common in pregnancy and are more likely to progress to kidney infection (pyelonephritis) than outside pregnancy. Pyelonephritis in pregnancy can trigger preterm labour. A UTI in pregnancy needs antibiotic treatment — don't manage it with fluids alone. Contact your GP or maternity unit the same day symptoms start.

📞 Contact your GP same day

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Severe upper abdominal pain or epigastric pain

Pain in the upper abdomen or just below the ribs — especially if it feels like severe indigestion that doesn't respond to antacids, or if it's accompanied by nausea and vomiting — can indicate HELLP syndrome (a serious variant of pre-eclampsia) or liver complications. This symptom is often overlooked because it resembles heartburn. Take it seriously.

📞 Call maternity triage now

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Sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing

Breathlessness that comes on gradually in late pregnancy is common (the baby is pressing against the diaphragm). Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid heart rate that comes on without exertion is different — it can indicate a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), which is a medical emergency. Pregnancy significantly increases clotting risk.

📞 Call 999 or go to A&E immediately

When in doubt, call. Your maternity triage line is there for exactly this. You will never be judged for calling about a symptom that turns out to be benign. You cannot over-report. The outcome the team is trying to prevent is far worse than a reassurance call. Read the full guide to pregnancy complications →

📖 Want to go deeper?

Pregnancy Complications & Warning Signs: When to Call — the full guide

Every significant pregnancy symptom covered — what each might indicate, who to call, and how to advocate for yourself when something feels wrong.

Read the full guide →

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