Emergencies

In this section, you will find information on emergencies that can happen in early pregnancy. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact your healthcare team.

If you are in Cork, the Emergency Room in CUMH can advise you on 021 492 0545 or 021 492 0500.

Heavy Bleeding and/or Severe Lower Abdominal Pain

In early pregnancy if you experience heavy vaginal bleeding (i.e., you need to change a sanitary towel (pad) that has filled with blood clots every 15 minutes for over an hour (or 4 soaked pads in the course of an hour)), you should contact your GP/South Doc or contact the Emergency Room in CUMH. Severe lower abdominal pain is not normally experienced in early pregnancy.

If this occurs you need to contact your GP/South Doc or contact the Emergency Room in CUMH for advice.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition that affects 1 in 70 pregnancies. It means that the pregnancy implants itself outside the uterus. 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube; but implantation can also occur in the ovaries, cervix, abdomen, or in a previous caesarean section scar. This pregnancy will not survive and if left untreated it can lead to rupture and bleeding with severe consequences such as maternal collapse and even death.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy that you should look out for are:

Vaginal bleeding
Lower abdominal pain
Faintness/dizziness
Shoulder tip pain
Gastrointestinal symptoms - diarrhoea or pain on defecation
Amenorrhoea (missed period).

If this occurs you need to contact your GP/South Doc or contact the Emergency Room in CUMH for advice.