Third trimester: Signs to call your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have:

• sudden vaginal bleeding
• sudden weight gain
• sharp or severe pain in your abdomen
• headache unrelieved by acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
• blurred vision
• spots before your eyes
• a sudden swelling of your hands and face
• a noticeable change in your baby's activity (See Fetal movement counts.)

You should also call your health care provider right away if you have signs of labor.

Preterm labor

If you begin labor before your baby is 37 weeks old, it is called preterm labor. Signs are:

• change or increase in vaginal discharge
• ruptured membranes (a slow leak, steady trickle, or sudden gush of amniotic fluid from the vagina)
• six or more uterine contractions in 1 hour in a regular pattern
• menstrual-like cramps for more than 1 hour
• dull backache below the waist for more than 1 hour
• increased pelvic pressure for more than 1 hour
• throbbing in the vagina, cramps in the thighs, or feeling your baby pushing down
• intestinal cramping, with or without diarrhea or indigestion, for more than 1 hour

Related Links

How do you know you're in labor?

When to call your health care provider: Preterm labor

Allina Pregnancy Care

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

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts