When to seek medical care for mothers
When to contact your healthcare provider
- Pain that is not improving or is becoming harder to manage
- Redness, swelling, warmth, discharge, or an unpleasant smell from a wound or stitches
- A wound that appears to be opening
- Pain, burning or difficulty passing urine
- Ongoing constipation or bowel concerns that are causing significant discomfort
- Heavy bleeding that is increasing rather than decreasing
- New or worsening problems controlling your bladder or bowels
- Concerns about your emotional wellbeing, mood, anxiety, or ability to cope
- Feeling generally unwell
When to seek urgent medical attention from an urgent care clinic, Victorian Virtual ED, or an Emergency Department
- Heavy vaginal bleeding, including soaking a pad in an hour or passing large blood clots
- Severe or worsening pain in your abdomen, pelvis, vagina, perineum, or wound
- Fever (38°C or above)
- Signs of a serious infection, such as fever, chills, severe pain, increasing redness, swelling, or discharge from a wound
- Severe pain, redness or swelling in your leg/s
- Persistent vomiting or inability to keep food or fluids down
- Severe headache, changes to your vision, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or legs.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
When to Call Triple Zero (000) immediately
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- A seizure, collapse, or loss of consciousness
- Persistent thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, seeing or hearing things that others do not, feeling very confused, or having thoughts that are frightening or out of character for you and do not feel you can remain safe at home
Remember: You know your body best. If you are worried about your health or feel something is not right, seek medical advice, even if your symptoms are not listed here.
Where to seek medical care
If you require emergency assistance, call Triple Zero (000) or go to your closest Emergency Department.
If you need help urgently but your regular GP is not available, you can use the following options instead:
Urgent care clinics
Urgent care clinics can provide care for health concerns that needs immediate attention but are not life-threatening and do not require treatment in an emergency department.
To find your nearest urgent care clinic, visit:
Urgent Care Clinics | Better Health Channel
Virtual Emergency Department
The Virtual Emergency Department (VED) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The VED provides free access to emergency doctors and nurses via video call. You can access the service from your computer, tablet or mobile phone and no referral is required.
Nurse-on-call
Nurse-on-call is a free telephone service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can speak with a registered nurse who can provide health advice, help you understand your symptoms, and advise whether you should seek medical care and how urgently you should do so.
Maternal and Child Health Line
Maternal and Child Health Line provides confidential information and advice about the care and health of your child from birth to 6 years old. You can call to speak to a qualified Maternal and Child Health Nurse 24 hours a day.
When to seek medical care for your baby
It can be hard to know what is normal in the early weeks. Trust your instincts.
If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, Maternal and Child Health Nurse, maternity care team, or call the Maternal and Child Health Line (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) on 13 22 29 for advice.
Remember: if you are concerned about your baby, seek medical advice. Do not give paracetamol or ibuprofen to a newborn under one month of age unless advised by a healthcare professional.
Contact your healthcare provider if your baby
- is feeding less than usual or feeding poorly
- has fewer wet nappies than expected
- is difficult to settle or is crying more than usual
- seems less alert or difficult to wake
- has ongoing vomiting or frequent large vomits
- has worsening reflux symptoms or difficulty feeding
- develops a rash that you are concerned about
- has sticky eyes with worsening redness, swelling or discharge
- has constipation, diarrhoea, or significant changes in bowel habits
- is not waking regularly for feeds
- you have concerns about their growth, behaviour or development
- has a temperature between 37.5°C and 38°C.
Get urgent medical attention if your baby
- has a temperature of 38°C or higher or below 36.5°C
- is refusing feeds or unable to keep feeds down
- has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth, or extreme sleepiness/difficult to wake
- is vomiting repeatedly or has green vomit
- has increasing yellowing of the skin or eyes
- has breathing that seems laboured, fast, or unusual
- appears pale, mottled, or generally unwell
- has a seizure or unusual movements.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your baby
- has difficulty breathing or stops breathing
- has blue, grey or very pale skin, lips or tongue
- is unresponsive, unusually floppy or difficult to wake
- has their first seizure
- has a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
- appears seriously unwell and you are concerned for their immediate safety.