HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

POSTPARTUM

WARNING: Postpartum Warning Signs

CARE

It’s normal to have discomforts such as soreness and fatigue after you give birth. But if you develop more serious symptoms, you may need to call your health care provider or go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center.

Call 911 immediately if you have: • Bleeding you can’t control or stop • Chest pain • Trouble breathing • Sudden onset of arm or leg weakness

Call your provider if you have: • Soaked more than 1 pad in an hour • Passed blood clots the size of an egg or bigger • Bright red bleeding after day 4 • Noticed your lochia has a bad odor • A fever over 100.4°F • Incision or abdominal pain that will not go away • Swelling, redness, discharge, or bleeding from your cesarean incision or episiotomy site • An incision that begins to separate • Problems urinating, including inability to urinate, burning or extremely dark urine • No bowel movement within 4 days after giving birth • Any type of visual disturbance (double vision, blurring, etc.) • Severe headache • Pain in the upper right area of your belly • Excessive swelling of hands, feet, or face • Flu-like symptoms • Pain or redness in one or both of your breasts • Pain, warmth, tenderness or swelling in your legs, especially the calf area

• Sudden facial drooping (may be on one side) • Slurred speech, trouble speaking, can’t speak • Chills, clammy skin, dizziness, fainting, racing heartbeat

• Dramatic emotional changes such as insomnia, severe agitation, confusion

• Frequent nausea and vomiting • Signs of depression or anxiety

Chapter 8: Postpartum Care

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