Job Aid #5: Warning Signs During Pregnancy

1 Job Aid #5: Warning Signs During Pregnancy Note: All Warning Signs require immediate medical attention. A mom experiencing any of these Signs should immediately call her health care provider. sign What it can mean Sudden gush of fluid from the vagina Premature rupture of the membranes with impending premature labor and the potential for the fetus to get an infection. It is important for the woman to be able to describe what the fluid looks like. Is it reddish, greenish, brown with black streaks, or does it have white particles? Does it have a foul smell?

2 Vaginal bleeding Early in the Pregnancy , it can indicate a threatened or impending spontaneous abortion. Later in the Pregnancy , it can indicate that the placenta is separating and the baby is in great danger. The woman should be able to describe the color of the bleeding, bright red to darker purple or brownish and estimate the amount. Temperature greater than While the mother may have an infection such as the flu that can be treated with fluids, bed rest and other home remedies, she may have an infection that requires antibiotics. Some infections can put the baby at great risk.

3 Severe headache especially if it is accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, spots before the eyes, muscle twitching, and swelling of the hands, feet and face Everyone gets headaches from time to time. If a headache persists and is accompanied by any of the other symptoms, it is important for the mother to have her blood pressure checked. An elevated blood pressure is a sign of hypertension of Pregnancy (preeclampsia). It is dangerous for the mother, causing life threatening problems if not treated. It is also dangerous for the baby, causing lack of adequate oxygen because blood flow through the placenta is compromised.

4 Persistent, severe vomiting Some morning sickness is common During the first trimester of Pregnancy and beyond. When the mother cannot keep any solids or liquids down, she is a risk for dehydration and malnutrition. This dehydration and malnutrition can harm both the mother and baby. She may need to be admitted to the hospital if the condition is severe. Decrease in the amount of urine, with swelling of hands, feet, and face This can be a symptom of hypertension of Pregnancy (preeclampsia) and needs to be treated. March 2006 1 Job Aid #5: Warning Signs During Pregnancy sign What it can mean Pain, burning, and discomfort with urination These are Signs of a urinary tract infection and can cause premature labor if not treated.

5 Some women mistake symptoms of a urinary tract infection for premature labor and do not realize that they have an infection until their urine is examined. A urinary tract infection always needs to be treated with antibiotics. A follow-up visit is essential to be sure the infection is cleared and does not have to be retreated. Abdominal pain, pressure, cramping and/or backache before 37 weeks It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a stomach ache, cramps, and ordinary gas pains and premature labor.

6 A backache can also be a sign of premature labor. If a woman delays getting diagnosed with premature labor, it can be too late to stop the birth. When in doubt, it is better to go to the hospital for nothing than to miss a chance of stopping the labor and delaying the birth until the baby is more mature. Changes or absence of fetal movement Babies go through a sleep cycle that last approximately 20 minutes. If a mother feels that the baby has become less active than usual or has not moved for a while, she can try to stimulate movement.

7 She can do this by drinking fluids, especially sweet fluids such as orange juice, and gently pushing on her uterus to wake the baby. If she is not reassured by definite fetal movement where the baby has been active in the past, (beyond 20 to 22 weeks), she should have the baby s well being checked by a health care provider. This is another example where it is better to be safe than sorry. March 2006 2