Pregnancy Warning Signs: When Should You Call Dr. Leveno?
Pregnancy creates a long list of “Is this normal?” questions. You are not expected to know every answer. What matters is knowing which symptoms Dr. Leveno and team want to hear about before your next scheduled visit and how to reach them after hours.
No online article can replace the instructions provided for your individual pregnancy.
Why shouldn't every concern wait for the next prenatal visit?
Prenatal visits happen on a schedule, but symptoms do not. Significant bleeding, severe or unusual abdominal pain, trouble breathing, severe headache or vision changes, signs of premature labor, or a significant reduction in fetal movement later in pregnancy are examples of symptoms that can warrant contacting an obstetric care team.
The CDC's urgent maternal warning signs list also includes dizziness or fainting, a fever of 100.4°F or higher, extreme swelling of the hands or face, chest pain or a fast-beating heart, and fluid leaking from the vagina. The CDC advises seeking medical care immediately for any of these.
Your pregnancy history and individual risk factors may change the instructions you receive. Follow the plan given by Dr. Leveno.
Save the contact plan before you need it
Put your OB office and after-hours instructions in your phone now. A partner or support person should know where to find them too. When something feels wrong, searching for contact information only adds stress.
Dr. Joseph Leveno provides high-risk obstetric care in Plano as well as routine pregnancy care at Medical City Plano.
What information helps when you call?
Be prepared to explain what you are experiencing, when it started, whether it is changing, and what other symptoms are present. Dr. Leveno and team may ask about gestational age, contractions, fluid leakage, bleeding, or fetal movement depending on the concern.
What if it feels like an emergency?
Severe symptoms or a medical emergency require urgent evaluation. Do not rely on social media, a blog, or a routine online message when emergency care may be needed.
Questions are part of prenatal care
At a prenatal visit, ask one practical question: “What should make me call before my next appointment?” Knowing the answer can make an uncertain moment much clearer.
Dr. Leveno operates and delivers exclusively at Medical City Plano, allowing his obstetric practice to remain focused at one hospital location. View the Plano office location and appointment information.
Looking for individualized prenatal care? Schedule an obstetric appointment with Dr. Joseph Leveno.
This article offers general education and is not a substitute for personalized medical care. If you think you are having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.