After birth, questions can come up at any hour: Is this bleeding expected? Is feeding going well? Does this soreness need attention? You do not need to wait for a scheduled checkup to ask your midwife about a change or concern. Contact them when something feels wrong, worsens, or is difficult to manage. Some symptoms call for emergency care rather than a routine call. Knowing the difference can help you act promptly and feel supported through recovery and the early weeks with your newborn.
Recovery symptoms to discuss
Call your midwife about bleeding that becomes heavier, develops a bad smell, or includes large clots, especially if it changes suddenly. Also mention increasing pain, a fever, chills, or concerns about healing after a vaginal birth or cesarean. Your midwife can help assess whether the pattern fits expected recovery or needs an in-person evaluation. If symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening, seek urgent medical care instead of waiting for a reply.
Contact your midwife if you have trouble urinating, painful urination, worsening constipation, or breast pain and redness. Share when the symptom started, whether it is getting better or worse, and any temperature reading. Do not stop or change prescribed medication without guidance. Your midwife can advise on next steps and whether another health professional should assess you.
Feeding and newborn questions
Reach out if breastfeeding is painful, your baby has difficulty latching, or you are unsure whether your baby is getting enough milk. If you use formula, ask about safe preparation, feeding amounts, or a change in your baby’s feeding pattern. Describe how often your baby feeds, the number of wet and dirty diapers, and any signs that concern you. A midwife can help you identify practical adjustments or arrange further support.
Call about a newborn who is unusually sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, has fewer wet diapers than expected, seems to be feeding poorly, or develops jaundice. Contact your midwife promptly if your baby has a fever or seems unwell; newborns can need quick assessment. If your baby has difficulty breathing, turns blue or gray, or is unresponsive, call emergency services immediately.
Your emotional well-being matters
Tell your midwife if sadness, anxiety, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed is interfering with sleep, eating, daily care, or your connection with your baby. You can ask for help even if you are unsure whether what you feel is part of adjustment. Be specific about how long it has been happening and whether it is becoming harder to cope. Your midwife can listen, check your safety, and connect you with appropriate care.
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby need immediate attention. If you may act on those thoughts or cannot keep yourself or your baby safe, call emergency services or go to an emergency department now. Ask a trusted person to stay with you and help care for the baby. Do not wait for a routine appointment or rely on a message that may not be seen quickly.
Make contact easier
When you call, explain that you recently gave birth and state your main concern first. Include when it began, what has changed, your temperature if relevant, and any medicines you have taken. For a newborn concern, mention the baby’s age, feeding pattern, diapers, and symptoms. Keep your midwife’s contact details and any after-hours instructions somewhere easy to find.
If you are uncertain whether a symptom can wait, call and ask rather than trying to decide alone. Follow the care plan your midwife gave you, since advice may depend on your birth and health history. If you cannot reach the practice and symptoms are urgent or worsening, contact local urgent or emergency services.
You deserve support with both physical recovery and the adjustments of caring for a newborn. Contact your midwife about changes, feeding concerns, or emotional distress, and seek emergency help for severe symptoms or immediate safety risks. Keep your care team’s contact instructions close, and ask your midwife what follow-up support is available.