Some symptoms in pregnancy or the year after birth can signal life-threatening complications and should not wait for a routine appointment.
What to know
Urgent signs include trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, seizures, severe persistent headache, vision changes, high fever, severe abdominal pain and thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby.
Heavy bleeding, leaking fluid, a major reduction in baby movement, one-sided leg swelling, severe vomiting and sudden extreme swelling of the face or hands also need prompt assessment.
Key points
Seek urgent careDo not wait for symptoms to become unbearable.
Say you are pregnantMention pregnancy or birth within the past year.
Describe the changeExplain onset, severity and what feels different.
Take supportAsk someone to help you travel, communicate or care for the baby.
Signs and symptoms
Urgent maternal warning signs can occur during pregnancy and for up to a year after pregnancy. One severe symptom is enough to seek help.
Brain and circulation signs
A severe worsening headache, vision change, fainting, seizure or sudden extreme swelling of the face or hands needs urgent care.
Breathing and chest signs
Trouble breathing, chest pressure, a fast or irregular heartbeat, coughing blood or one-sided leg swelling can be emergencies.
Bleeding, pain and infection
Heavy bleeding, leaking fluid, severe persistent abdominal pain, fever of 38°C or higher or foul discharge needs prompt assessment.
Mental health and baby movement
Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby and a major reduction or stop in baby movement require immediate support.
Causes and contributing factors
These signs can be linked with high blood pressure disorders, blood clots, severe infection, haemorrhage, heart problems, ectopic pregnancy and other serious complications.
Hypertensive disordersPreeclampsia can involve severe headache, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, swelling or seizures.
Blood clots and heart problemsPregnancy and postpartum changes increase clot and cardiovascular risk.
Haemorrhage and infectionHeavy bleeding or sepsis can worsen quickly during pregnancy or after birth.
Mental-health emergenciesSevere depression, anxiety, psychosis or intrusive thoughts need urgent, non-judgemental care.
How healthcare professionals assess it
Assessment is individual. Not every person needs every test, and results must be interpreted alongside symptoms, history and examination findings.
Immediate vital signs
Blood pressure, pulse, breathing, oxygen level, temperature and bleeding are assessed rapidly.
Pregnancy and birth history
Tell staff gestational age or delivery date, birth type, complications and medicines.
Focused tests
Blood, urine, heart tests and imaging depend on the symptom and must not be delayed when illness is severe.
Baby assessment
During pregnancy, fetal heartbeat, movement and other monitoring may be needed alongside the mother’s care.
Treatment and management
This topic is about recognition, not self-treatment. Emergency teams treat the underlying cause while supporting breathing, circulation and pregnancy needs.
Emergency response
Use the nearest appropriate emergency or maternity service for severe symptoms.
Rapid stabilisation
Treatment may include oxygen, fluids, blood products, blood-pressure or seizure medicines and urgent procedures.
Mother and baby care
The safest plan considers both, but stabilising the pregnant or postpartum woman is essential.
Mental-health safety
Stay with someone having thoughts of harm and obtain emergency professional help.
Practical steps you can take
Save the nearest maternity and emergency contact numbers before they are needed.
Tell every clinician that you are pregnant or gave birth within the past year.
Write down symptom onset, severity, bleeding amount, temperature and baby-movement change when possible.
Do not drive yourself if faint, severely unwell or at risk of losing consciousness.
If your concern is dismissed but you feel seriously unwell, repeat the warning signs clearly and seek another urgent assessment.
Questions to ask at an appointment
Writing questions down can make a consultation more useful, especially when symptoms are stressful or complex.
- Could this be an urgent maternal warning sign?
- What serious causes are being ruled out now?
- Do I need observation, repeat blood pressure checks or baby monitoring?
- Which symptoms mean I should return immediately after discharge?
Common questions
Should I wait for several warning signs?
No. One severe or worsening warning sign is enough to seek urgent care.
Can complications happen after birth?
Yes. Serious pregnancy-related problems can occur days, weeks or months after delivery.
What if I only feel that something is wrong?
Contact a healthcare professional. You know your body, and the warning-sign list does not cover every serious condition.
When to speak with a healthcare professional
Arrange an assessment if symptoms concern you, affect daily life, persist, worsen or are different from what is normal for you.
You have chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, fainting or thoughts of harmContact a qualified healthcare professional for individual assessment.
There is heavy bleeding, leaking fluid or severe persistent abdominal painContact a qualified healthcare professional for individual assessment.
Baby movement stops or becomes noticeably less than usualContact a qualified healthcare professional for individual assessment.
This guide is educational. It does not diagnose a condition or replace care from a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical references
This guide was prepared from authoritative public-health and professional medical resources.
Have questions about this topic?
Discuss your symptoms, history and next steps privately with Dr. Benny.