Warning Signs After Giving Birth That Need Care Immediately

Short answer: After giving birth, go to a health facility immediately, at any hour, if you have heavy bleeding, fever, a severe headache or blurred vision, a painful swollen leg, difficulty breathing or chest pain, smelly discharge, a wound that is red or opening, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. In an emergency, call 999 or 112.

The first weeks with a new baby are busy and tiring, and it's tempting to put your own aches aside. Most discomfort is normal. These signs are not.

Go immediately if you have

• Heavy bleeding: soaking a pad in an hour or less, or passing large clots.
• Fever or shivering, which can signal infection of the womb, a wound or the breast.
• A severe headache, blurred vision, seeing spots or a fit (convulsion). High blood pressure can develop for the first time after birth.
• Pain, swelling or redness in one calf or leg, which can be a blood clot.
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain, which can mean a clot has moved to the lungs.
• Smelly vaginal discharge or worsening pain in your lower belly.
• A tear, stitches or caesarean wound that is red, swollen, oozing pus or coming apart.
• A breast that is red, hot and painful, especially with fever.
• Pain or difficulty passing urine, or not passing urine at all.
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feeling you cannot cope. This is a medical emergency, not a weakness.

What to do

• Don't wait until morning or your next clinic date.
• Ask someone to bring you, or call 999 or 112.
• Bring your Mother & Child Health booklet and ID, and tell the nurse at the door you recently gave birth.

Help her get there

Partners and family often notice first. If a new mother seems confused, very unwell or not herself, help her get care straight away.

Primegala Medical Centre at Maili Sita is open 24 hours; see our urgent care and maternity services.