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The Global Library of Women’s Medicine
Enhancing the Welfare of Women
Expert Health Information for Women
Danger signs in pregnancy
Most women will have a safe pregnancy. However, it is important that you know about the main danger signs during pregnancy, so that you are well prepared.
The danger signs to be alerted to during pregnancy are:
A headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time.
Sudden changes to your vision or blurred vision.
If you feel very dizzy or faint.
If you lose consciousness or have uncontrollable jerking or shaking of your limbs (a seizure or fit).
If you are feeling low or having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
If you have very bad swelling of your face, arms or, most often, legs.
If you feel very hot or cold and have a temperature over 38°C or 100.4°F. You might be sweating or shivering.
If you become short of breath suddenly, have to stop to catch your breath more than usual, or find it hard to breathe in.
If you have chest pain, pain on breathing in or feel like someone is sitting on your chest.
Bad stomach or belly pain that doesn’t go away.
If your baby stops moving or moves less often than usual.
If you start bleeding from your vagina.
Or leaking fluid from the vagina.
If you have any of these symptoms during your pregnancy, please seek urgent medical attention at your nearest healthcare facility.
Urgent usually means as soon as possible, in the next few hours or sooner if you can.
Seeing your healthcare worker quickly means you can be treated more easily and stop more serious health problems, for you and your baby.
The authors of this DANGER SIGNS IN PREGNANCY programme are:
- Dr Anna Rowe
Clinical Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, UK - Dr Anita Yadav
Associate Professor, AIIMS Nagpur, India - Dr Kate Lightly
Clinical Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, UK
The Welfare of Women programme has been created under the General Editorship of Dr Kate Lightly, University of Liverpool, UK and is overseen by an expert International Editorial Board