OB Instructions
Call us immediately at 772-288-2992, if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Any vaginal bleeding (unless small amt. after vaginal exam)
- Swelling of hands or face
- Blurring of vision
- Severe or continuous headaches
- Abdominal pains that don’t go away with heat and rest or a bowel movement
- Fever over 100
- Persistent vomiting
- Pain or burning upon urination
- Absence of fetal movement for a 24 hour period late in pregnancy
- Sudden or slow escape of fluid from the vagina
SYMPTOMS MEDICATION
Headache, minor pain or fever Tylenol
Constipation Metamucil, Fiberall, Citracal, Surfak, Colace
Heartburn or indigestion Tums, Mylanta, Maalox
Congestion, cold or cough Sudafed, Tylenol Sinus, Actifed, Robitussin, nasal sprays
Hemorroids Preparation H, Anusol, Nupercainal
Yeast infections Monistat
Diarrhea Kaopectate
Call us regarding any other medications or questions before taking anything. Avoid use of herbal preparations without discussing with your doctors.
You Should prepare to leave for the hospital if your “water breaks” or when your contractions are 5 minutes apart. Always call first, so the doctor expects you. It is important to know the difference between true and false labor so you don’t run to the hospital needlessly several times. We may first see you in our office if it is during normal hours of operation.
FALSE LABOR
- No “bloody show”
- Contractions are irregular and do not consistently get closer together
- Walking or changing positions relieves or stops the contractions
- No change in cervix upon exam
- Contractions are often felt in the abdomen
TRUE LABOR
- “Bloody show” may be first sign
- Contractions get stronger
- Walking or changing activity doesn’t affect the intensity or frequency of the contractions
- Cervix is dilated upon exam
- Contractions usually felt in back around to the front
- Contractions come at regular intervals and get closer together
- Contractions last abour 30-70 seconds
After having a pelvic exam, some scant spotting in pregnancy is not unusual. However, if ever the bleeding is as much as a period, or if you experience bright red vaginal bleeding, either painless or with cramping, please call us at 772-288-2992
If you are having more than 5-6 contractions in an hour before 36 weeks gestation, please call us at 772-288-2992 call to report.
If you are having more than 5-6 contractions in an hour and you are over 36 weeks, please measure out 32 ounces of water and drink it within an hour, have a snack and rest. If contractions continue to come more frequently than every 5 minutes from the start of one until the start of the next, call us at 772-288-2992 to report, or if after office hours, proceed to Labor and Delivery at St. Lucie Medical Center.
When a women’s water breaks, it is not always in a huge gush of fluid. Amniotic fluid should be clear and odorless. If you are in your last month of pregnancy and you believe your water broke, you may proceed to Labor and Delivery at Martin Memorial North and they will notify us upon your arrival. If you are not sure about trickling fluid loss, put on a pad for an hour, and if saturated after checking, call us at 772-288-2992 to report.
It is important not to walk around for several hours or days with ruptured membranes. If you are unsure, call to discuss.
After 28 weeks gestation, it is expected that you will notice increased fetal movement in the two hours after having a full meal. If you feel fewer than 10 fetal movements in 2 hours after a full meal and hydration, talking to baby, or otherwise encouraging movements, please call 772-288-2992 to report.
Hormonal changes in your body cause you to feel happy one minute then in tears the next. There are a lot of issues that tend to cause anxiety in pregnant women, such as the health of her baby, adjusting to being a mother, and the anticipation of labor pain. Most of your anxieties can be relieved by:
- Asking medical questions and discussing your worries
- If depression really gets you down, don’t hesitate to ask for help
- The key to working through depression and anxiety is to talk
- If you feel anxious, take a warm bath; keep thoughts on today’s events not tomorrow
- Make a point to get out of the house everyday, even if for a short walk
- Read books on pregnancy and child care
- Mood swings are very common in pregnancy!
The CDC recommends special precautions for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant.
Visit these link for more information:
Do NOT go to Saint Lucie Medical Center or Lawnwood Medical Center to preadmit due to a hurricane or hurricane warning UNLESS YOU ARE IN LABOR OR HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
SHELTERS SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT.
1st– Stay home if safe.
2nd-Stay with local friends.
3rd-Relocate outside the area.
4th-Go to Red Cross Shelter:
Only go to an Emergency Hurricane Shelter during a hurricane warning if you are in an unsafe structure (i.e. mobile/manufactured homes) and are unable to stay with friends or relocate. Do NOT go to a shelter simply because you are pregnant. If you are in weeks 36-40 when a hurricane strikes and you need to go to a shelter, you must go to a Special Needs Shelter. Call your local Red Cross for details on preregistering for a Special Needs Shelter. Martin Red Cross-287-2002; St Lucie Red Cross-461-3950
Listen to 1450 A.M. WSTU for shelter openings and information.
*Please see the following list of shelters in your area.
Martin County Special Needs Shelter Location
David L Anderson Middle School 7000 Atlantic Ridge Drive
Martin County Shelter Locations
Hidden Oaks Middle School 2801 SW Martin Highway
Indiantown Middle 16303 SE Farms Road
Jensen Beach High 2875 NW Goldenrod Road
Port Salerno Elementary 3260 SE Lionel Terrace
Seawind Elementary 3700 SE Seabranch Blvd
Warfield Elementary 15261 SW 150th Street
Willoughby Learning Center 5152 SE Willoughby Blvd
J.D Parker Elementary 1050 SE 10th Street
Citrus Grove Elementary 2527 SW Citrus Blvd
St. Lucie County Special Needs Shelter Locations
Havert L Fenn Center 2000 Virginia Ave
PSL Community Center 2195 SE Airoso Boulevard
St. Lucie County Shelter Locations
Bayshore Elementary 1661 SW Bayshore Blvd
C.A Moore Elementary 827 N 29th Street
Floresta Elementary 1501 SE Floresta Drive
Ft Pierce Central 4101 S 25th Street
Lakewood Park Elementary 7800 Indrio Road
Morningside Elementary 2300 SE Gowin Road
Oak Hammock Elementary 1251 SW California Blvd
Parkway Elementary 7000 NW Selvitz Road
Samuel Gaines K-8S Jenkins Road
Treasure Coast High 1000 SW Darwin Blvd
Village Green Elementary 1700 SE Lennard Road
Weatherbee Elementary 800 E Weatherbee Road
West Gate K-8 1050 NW Cashmere Blvd
Westwood High 1801 Panther Lane
Indian River County Special Needs Shelter Location
Treasure Coast Elementary 8955 85th Street
Indian River County Shelter Locations
Indian River Academy 500 20th Street
Oslo Middle School 480 20th Avenue SW
Osceola Magnet School 1110 18th Avenue S.W
Gifford Middle School 4530 28th Court
Elementary School 4940 8th Street
Freshman Learning Center 1507 19th Street
Beach Elementary School 1770 12th Street
Fellsmere Elementary School 50 North Cypress Street
Pelican Island Elementary School 1355 Schumann Drive
Sebastian Elementary School 400 County Road 512
Sebastian River Middle School 9400 County Road 512