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When to Page Your Midwife

 

Common reasons to page your midwife: [urgent pregnancy related concerns]

  • If you are considering going to the hospital; please page your midwife FIRST

  • Vaginal bleeding more than 2 teaspoons

    • Note: light bleeding (spotting) after an internal vaginal exam or sexual intercourse may be normal

  • Severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

  • Severe headaches, dizziness or visual disturbances (blurred vision, black spots, or white spots)

  • Less than 6 baby movements in 2 hours (after 28 weeks of pregnancy)

  • Fever greater than 38⁰C or 100.4⁰F

  • Signs of labour before 37 weeks (preterm labour)

  • Water breaks (note the colour, time, and smell)

  • Contractions, menstrual like cramps, low back pain

 

Common reasons to call the office: [non-medical/administrative concerns]

  • The office is staffed Monday to Friday 9-5 and can be reached at 416-609-8187

  • To book, change or inquire about an appointment

  • To talk to a midwife about a non urgent matter (like routine ultrasound and lab results)

  • PLEASE DO NOT PAGE FOR THESE ADMINISTRATIVE REASONS (unless instructed otherwise) AS MIDWIVES COULD BE SLEEPING OR MANAGING AN EMERGENCY AT ANY TIME OF DAY

 

 

DIAL 1 for TEAM A

Mehrnaz Azad / Grace Yu/Laurie Hintzen/Nicole Romeiko/Amanda Samaroo/Sodere Djirata

WHEN TO PAGE YOUR MIDWIFE AFTER THE BABY IS BORN

 

If your baby is blue or gray in the face or chest, please call 911 and try to get the baby to cry by rubbing their back or changing their position, Then page us.

 

PLEASE PAGE IMMEDIATELY IF:

 

BABY

  • Has not urinated or had a bowel movement in the first 24 hours of life

  • Has a fever higher than 37.4⁰C even after removing a blanket or layer of clothing

    • Note: normal temperature under the armpit should be 36.5 - 37.4⁰C

  • Is continuously breathing rapidly or grunting

  • Is very sleepy and cannot be woken to feed after 6 hours

  • Appears yellow in the first 24 hours

  • Is vomiting (forceful throwing up of stomach contents) after every feed

    • Note: Spitting up (easy flow of stomach contents out of the mouth) is normal

  • Skin around the umbilical cord is red, swollen or hot to the touch, oozing pus or foul smelling discharge

 

YOU

  • Bleeding is heavy enough that you soak through a maternity pad in half an hour or you pass a blood clot bigger than the size of your fist

  • Bleeding smells foul

    • Note: normal bleeding should smell like menstruation/a period

  • Have a fever  higher than 38⁰C

  • Have a sore, red, hot tender area on your leg (especially lower leg or calf)

  • Uterus/lower abdomen is very painful to the touch

  • Are feeling depressed, very anxious or unhappy, crying without a reason, cannot sleep or eat

  • Are feeling sick, have headaches, dizziness and visual disturbances

 

We cannot list every condition or concern here, please don’t hesitate to page even if something is not listed here; however, please be sure to also take a look at the laminated sheets in your midwife folder that describe normal newborn and mother care.

When to Page After Birth
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