Take your time with this information
When to seek medical care
The journey to pregnancy comes with a lot of different emotions. It's important to keep checking in with yourself about how you're coping emotionally. If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, speak to your healthcare provider for additional support.
Trying to get pregnant:
During the conception journey, it is widely recognised that couples (where the woman is <35 years old) should seek medical advice if they have not conceived within 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse (defined as every 2–3 days). If older than 35 years, couples should seek medical advice if they have not conceived within 6 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.1
During pregnancy:
There are so many changes experienced during early pregnancy, you may wonder what's normal and when you should seek medical advice. You should always speak to your healthcare provider even if you just feel something is wrong.2
However, it is important to contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:2
- Severe headaches that don't go away with treatment, or persist over time
- Dizziness and fainting
- Changes in vision (flashes, light spots, blurred or double vision)
- High fever (≥100.4 °F / 38 °C)
- Swelling of hands or face
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Breathing problems
- Chest pain or fast-beating heart
- Severe abdominal pain that doesn't go away or gets worse over time
- Severe nausea and vomiting where you are unable to keep down fluids or unable to drink for 8 hours, or eat for 24 hours
- Reduced or slowed foetal movement
- Severe swelling, redness or pain in arms or legs
- Overwhelming tiredness
- Vaginal bleeding
Pregnancy loss:
If you have experienced at least three pregnancy losses, it is recommended that a referral to a reproductive specialist should be offered to investigate if there are any underlying issues affecting pregnancy.3 Once you have been referred to a specialist, they can offer different tests to try and determine any underlying cause.3,4