Pregnancy and Postpartum Warning Signs: Call Now

Grounded in: widely published urgent maternal warning signs (for example the CDC's "Hear Her" list and ACOG guidance) and the "check with your practitioner" habit of the What to Expect series. General information - when in doubt, call.

Call the practitioner, labor & delivery, or emergency services (911 in the US) right away for

• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy.
• The baby's movements stopping or clearly slowing, especially in the third trimester.
• A headache that won't go away or keeps getting worse, dizziness or fainting, or changes in vision (spots, blurring) - possible signs of preeclampsia.
• Sudden or severe swelling of the face or hands.
• Fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher.
• Severe belly pain that doesn't go away.
• Trouble breathing, chest pain, or a racing heartbeat.
• Severe nausea and vomiting (can't keep fluids down).
• Regular contractions before 37 weeks (possible preterm labor).
• After birth: heavy bleeding (soaking a pad an hour) or foul-smelling discharge; a swollen, red, painful leg; a painful, red area of the breast with fever; extreme exhaustion.

Mental health emergencies

• Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby are an emergency: call 911, or 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US).
• The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (US) is 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), free and confidential, 24/7. Postpartum Support International also offers a helpline.
• Outside the US, use the local emergency number and ask the practitioner for local resources.

Why this card exists

These are situations where general information is the wrong tool. A calm answer must not come before "call now".

Themes

pregnancy warning signs, bleeding, fluid leaking, reduced fetal movement, baby not moving, headache, preeclampsia, swelling, fever, contractions, preterm labor, postpartum bleeding, postpartum depression, suicidal, harming the baby, emergency