Learn the urgent warning signs: they matter during pregnancy and for a year afterward

Nothing. Spend five minutes learning them and share them with someone you live with.

The CDC's urgent maternal warning signs include a headache that persists or worsens; dizziness or fainting; vision changes; temperature of 38°C or above; extreme swelling of the hands or face; thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby; trouble breathing; chest pain or a fast heartbeat; severe nausea or vomiting; severe persistent abdominal pain; stopped or slower fetal movement; vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage during pregnancy; abnormal bleeding or discharge after pregnancy; and severe swelling, redness, or pain in one arm or leg. Serious problems can arise throughout the first postpartum year, beyond the traditional first-month recovery period.

This list distinguishes symptoms that need immediate assessment from those you might otherwise try to tolerate. Headache with visual disturbance and upper abdominal pain can indicate preeclampsia. A swollen painful calf can indicate deep vein thrombosis; see chapter 13. WHO warns that severe postpartum bleeding can kill an otherwise healthy woman within hours. Seek urgent care when any warning appears instead of waiting overnight.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hear Her—Urgent Maternal Warning Signs. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html; World Health Organization. Maternal mortality fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality