EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
PATIENT INFORMATION FOR YOUR CARE
Care of the Patient with First Trimester Vaginal Bleeding
The first trimester means approximately the first 13 weeks of your pregnancy. First trimester
vaginal bleeding occurs in 4 out of every 10 pregnancies, and is generally not caused by anything
the mother did or did not do. In half of these cases the pregnancy will end in a miscarriage,
while the other half go on to a normal pregnancy. Which one of these outcomes will occur in
your case is very difficult to predict based on the assessment and bloodwork during a single ER
visit.
You have been booked for an ultrasound as an outpatient on _________________ (date) at
_____________ (time). You should come to the ER about 30 minutes before this time to B
be triaged and registered.
First trimester patients usually do not require a full bladder for the ultrasound, unless you have
specifically been told otherwise.
You should return to the ED if you:
1. Are soaking one full pad every hour for 2 hours
2. Become dizzy when you stand up or are passing out
3. Are experiencing severe pain
4. Pass any material that looks like tissue. Put the tissue in a clean container and bring it
with you to the ED
5. Develop a fever (temperature over 38°C or 100.4°F).
You may engage in your usual activities if you feel up to it, but you should not have sexual
intercourse until the bleeding has completely stopped and you have had your ultrasound.
These instructions are not intended to be all-inclusive, and may not cover all possibilities. If a new problem develops, or if you have any further
concerns or questions please contact your primary care provider, Telehealth Ontario at (866) 797-0000, or return to the ER.
Royal Victoria Hospital of Barrie, 201 Georgian Drive, Barrie, Ontario L4M 6M2 (705) 728-9802 www.rvh.on.ca
RVH-3296 (Rev Nov 29, 2006)