At any time during your pregnancy
Contact your general practitioner or the hospital with the following symptoms at any time during your pregnancy:
- After a fall or accident: come directly to the hospital.
- In case of illness, especially from 38 °C fever.
- You're vomiting so often that you can no longer keep food down.
- Sudden severe abdominal pain or regular abdominal pain.
- Stomach pain.
- Burning sensation during urination.
- Blood loss, even if it is only a little.
- Fluid loss.
- Headache above the eyes.
- Eye problems such as seeing 'floaters' or seeing lightning bolts.
From 20 weeks of pregnancy
Go straight to the delivery ward if you experience the following symptoms from your twentieth week onwards:
- Blood loss, even if it is only a little.
- Fluid loss.
- A painful hard abdomen (uterine contractions) or sudden severe abdominal pain.
- The baby moves markedly less than usual.
- A headache above the eyes, seeing 'lightning bolts' or experiencing pronounced stomach problems.
If you have any doubts or questions, you may contact a doctor or midwife at the delivery ward by telephone.
What to do if...
In case of blood loss during your pregnancy, contact the delivery ward by phone.
Blood loss may occur after a vaginal examination or after intercourse. You may also have mucousy blood loss when you lose your mucous plug.
If you have not had a previous examination or intercourse and the blood loss does not have a mucousy aspect, make your way to the hospital.
You can recognise contractions as regularly recurring pain, similar to menstrual pain You feel your abdomen becoming hard and this is accompanied by lower abdominal or back pain. You may also have slimy (red or brown) loss.
If you can still relax at your home, it is okay to stay there for a bit.
- Provide a cosy environment with low light and soft music.
- Make it nice and warm in the house.
- Put on socks if your feet are cold.
- Place a warm water bag or a cherry pit pillow on your stomach or against your back.
- A warm bath or shower (possibly sitting on a stool) will work wonders.
- Change your posture regularly and walk around.
- For as long as you can, try to do things that distract you from the discomfort and pain.
Make your way to the hospital as soon as you no longer feel comfortable at home. You are welcome at any time.
The intensity of the contractions is more important than the frequency.
When in doubt, always come to the hospital. You should feel your baby move at least 10 times a day.
Do you have the impression that your baby is moving less?
- Eat or drink something sugary.
- Rest for a while in the left side position.
- Put your hands on your tummy.
This will help you to better feel your baby's movements.
If you have fluid loss (much, a little or dripping), make your way to the hospital.
If you have clear fluid loss and feel your baby moving well, you can still calmly take your suitcase, notify your partner, possibly wait for them to reach you and then come to the hospital.
If your fluid loss is coloured green, come straight to hospital immediately.
Appointments and contact
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Head midwife: Bernadette Bijnens