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What are the warning signs during pregnancy?
Pregnancy warning signs that need care fast, from bleeding and severe headaches to preeclampsia signs and reduced baby movements, and who to call.
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In short
What are the warning signs during pregnancy?
Get medical help right away in pregnancy if you have vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid, a severe headache that won't go away, vision changes, sudden swelling of your face or hands, severe belly pain, trouble breathing, chest pain, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or your baby is moving less than usual. Trust your instincts: you know your body best.
Written by the Gyne team · Medical review: pending
Key takeaways
- Some symptoms in pregnancy need care the same day, even at night.
- A bad headache, vision changes and sudden swelling can be signs of preeclampsia.
- If your baby is moving less than usual, call your doctor or labor unit right away.
- Warning signs can also appear in the weeks after birth.
- When you call, say that you are pregnant, or when you gave birth.
What are the urgent warning signs in pregnancy?
The CDC's Hear Her campaign lists urgent warning signs during and after pregnancy. If you have any of these, get medical care right away:
- A headache that won't go away or gets worse over time.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Changes in your vision, like blurring or seeing flashing lights.
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- Extreme swelling of your hands or face.
- Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby.
- Trouble breathing.
- Chest pain or a fast-beating heart.
- Severe nausea and throwing up.
- Severe belly pain that doesn't go away.
- Your baby's movements stopping or slowing during pregnancy.
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy.
- Vaginal bleeding or discharge after pregnancy.
- Severe swelling, redness or pain in your leg or arm.
- Overwhelming tiredness.
What are the signs of preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition. It usually starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy, often in the third trimester, but it can happen earlier and in the weeks after birth.
High blood pressure means a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Preeclampsia may cause no symptoms at first, which is why your blood pressure is checked at every visit. Signs can include:
- A severe headache that doesn't go away with simple pain relievers.
- Blurred vision, seeing flashing lights or spots.
- Pain under your ribs, usually on the right side.
- Sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet.
- Heartburn that doesn't go away with heartburn medicine.
- Throwing up, or feeling very unwell.
What if my baby is moving less?
Most people start to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks. In a first pregnancy it's often after 20 weeks.
There's no set number of kicks that is normal. What matters is your baby's usual pattern, and movements should continue right up to and during labor.
If your baby is moving less than usual, the pattern changes, or you can't feel movement, call your doctor or labor and delivery unit right away. Don't wait until the next day, and don't use a home heartbeat monitor to check, because it isn't reliable.
Is bleeding during pregnancy an emergency?
Light spotting can happen early in pregnancy and doesn't always mean a problem. Still, tell your doctor about any bleeding.
Bleeding with belly pain, shoulder tip pain or feeling faint can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. Bleeding later in pregnancy can come from the placenta, the organ that feeds your baby. Both need care right away.
What are the signs of preterm labor?
Preterm labor means labor that starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Early care can sometimes slow it down or prepare your baby for an early birth.
Call your doctor or labor unit right away if you notice any of these before 37 weeks:
- Regular tightening or contractions.
- Pelvic pressure or cramping, like period cramps.
- Back pain that spreads to your belly.
- More vaginal discharge than usual, or fluid leaking from your vagina.
Are there warning signs after giving birth?
Yes. Serious problems, including preeclampsia, can develop in the days and weeks after birth, and many of the signs are the same as in pregnancy.
Watch for heavy bleeding, a fever, a bad headache, swelling or pain in one leg, trouble breathing, chest pain and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Tell any health care worker you see that you gave birth recently.
When should I call 911 instead of my doctor?
Call 911 or your local emergency number for chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, fainting, heavy bleeding or severe belly pain.
For other warning signs, call your doctor, midwife or labor unit right away. If you can't reach them, go to the emergency room.
When to see a doctor
- You have chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure or you faint: call 911 or your local emergency number.
- You have heavy vaginal bleeding, or bleeding with severe belly or shoulder pain: call 911 or your local emergency number.
- You have a severe headache, vision changes, pain under your ribs or sudden swelling of your face or hands.
- Your baby is moving less than usual, or the pattern has changed.
- You have fluid leaking from your vagina, or regular tightening or cramps before 37 weeks.
- You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or one leg is swollen, red or painful.
- You have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby: call or text 988 (the US crisis line) or your local crisis line.
How Gyne helps
In pregnancy, Gyne keeps the danger signs one tap away, with a one-tap way to call for help. Its kick counter and contraction timer are simple tools for the moments that matter.
PregnancyThis guide is general information, not medical advice. Only a doctor can diagnose a condition.