Preparing for labor: Signs to call your health care provider

Call your health care provider if...

• your water breaks
• you are bleeding from the vagina
• you have extreme, sharp pain
• your contractions are 5 minutes or less apart and have been that way for at least an hour
• you have any specific pregnancy problems

Note: Your health care provider may ask you to call the hospital, rather than the clinic, when these signs occur.

Related Links

When to tell your health care provider that you're in labor

When you arrive at the hospital

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 06/19/2003

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts