After Hours/When To Call The Doctor After 5 p.m. and on weekends and holidays there is someone on call to handle urgent medical problems. If you call the office number (205) 397.8850 after office hours you will be given the number to our answering service, which will locate the person on call for our group.
Narcotics will not be prescribed after hours. Routine prescriptions (such as birth control pills) should wait until regular office hours.
If you are a pregnant patient, please follow the instructions below: When To Call The Doctor:Rhythmic Contractions:
Contractions will be irregular at first. When contractions become regular and are 5 - 7 minutes apart for an hour, please call.
Broken Bag Of Water:
If your water breaks, call for instructions. With ruptured membranes, you will feel a "gush" of fliud which continues to leak.
Heavy Bleeding:
Bleeding heavier than the first day of a period can be significant. Blood mixed with mucus or the "mucus plug" should cause no alarm. Also, bleeding after intercourse is typically is no cause for alarm.
Decreased Fetal Movement:
If you notice a significant decrease in the baby's movements from what you are accustomed to, please let us know. A decrease in the intensity of movement near term is normal.
Severe Pain:
If you experience constant, severe, progressive pain which is not rhythmic or contraction-like, please call your doctor. This should not be confused with the normal, progressive aches and pains of pregnancy toward term.
ALWAYS call the doctor on call BEFORE coming to the Emergency Room or to Labor and Delivery. A PHONE CALL MAY SAVE YOU A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL. If you call with a problem, you may be asked to come to the hospital.
Almost never will an ambulance be needed for transport to the hospital.
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