During pregnancy and postpartum, serious complications can occur that must be addressed immediately by a doctor, so recognizing the signs is key to seeking help. It is important that both the pregnant woman and the new mother know them, as well as the people who live or work with them, in order to be alert.
In the United States, there are 700 deaths related to complications during or after pregnancy each year, a really high rate compared to other countries, so the CDC launched the HAER HER campaign to identify the warning signs in the pregnancy or postpartum that could indicate something serious is going on.
Warning signs in pregnancy and postpartum
If you present these symptoms during pregnancy or in the year after delivery, urgently consult your doctor:
- Severe headache that does not go away or increases over time.
- Continual dizziness , fainting or lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness or memory.
- Vision changes : seeing flashes of light or bright spots, blurred vision, double vision, or momentary loss of vision.
- Fever over 38º
- Difficulty breathing : pressure in the throat or chest, shortness of breath when lying on your back.
- Extreme tiredness: feeling tired and chronic weakness, no matter how much you sleep, you always feel tired, lack of energy to perform daily tasks.
- Chest pain or fast heartbeat – feeling of pressure in the center of the chest, pain that radiates to the back, neck, or arm. Palpitations Irregular heart rate
- Severe abdominal pain: sharp, stabbing pain, similar to colic, that does not go away, severe pain that worsens.
- Vaginal fluid leakage or bleeding in pregnancy : Any bleeding that is heavier than spotting, leakage of vaginal fluid, or discharge that smells bad.
- Postpartum vaginal bleeding or leakage : heavy bleeding that soaks through one or more pads within an hour. Clots larger than an egg or tissue passes. Vaginal discharge that smells bad.
- Severe nausea and vomiting: Severe nausea and vomiting that does not allow you to hold anything in your stomach You cannot drink for more than 8 hours or eat for more than 24 hours.
- Pronounced swelling of the hands, mouth or face : Difficulty closing the eyes or folding the fingers, mouth and lips swollen or loss of sensation.
- Significant swelling, redness, or pain in one leg or arm : pain in the legs (usually calf) or leg, pain when flexing the foot to stand or walk. The painful area is red, swollen, or feels hot to the touch. Arm pain, tenderness, or swelling, usually on only one side of the body.
- Thoughts about hurting yourself or the baby : you feel sad, hopeless or not a good enough mother, without control over your life; scary thoughts.
More information | CDC- HAER HER
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