If you are pregnant or if you have had a baby within the last year, you are likely experiencing joy from having a new little one to love. It is also important to pay attention to your body and your health. This applies not only during pregnancy, but also throughout the year after you give birth.
There are warning signs you need to keep in mind, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have any of these signs during or after pregnancy, you need to contact a medical provider.
- Extreme fatigue
- A large amount of swelling in your face or hands
- Pain, redness or swelling in a leg
- Discharge or heavy bleeding from the vagina while you are pregnant or after birth
- Slower movements from your baby during pregnancy, or an absence of movement
- Extreme vomiting and nausea
- Extreme, persisting pain in your abdomen
- Fast heartbeat or chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever of 100.4 F or higher
- Changes in your eyesight
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming your baby
- Fainting or feeling dizzy
- Worsening or persisting headache
Any of the symptoms listed above warrant a visit to your primary care provider or your OB/GYN provider. These can be signs of serious conditions such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy), that may affect both the health of you and your baby.
These signs don’t always mean something is wrong, but it’s important to check it out as soon as possible to make sure both you and your baby are OK.
If you don’t have a medical provider, visit a UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus location or a UofL Health – Emergency Department. Make sure to say that you are pregnant or have had a baby within the past year.
UofL Health – UofL Hospital – Center for Women & Infants offers services to meet your needs for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies. We offer the most advanced and innovative maternity care available, and we are open 24 hours a day. Contact the Center for Women & Infants by calling 502-562-3325.
For non-emergent maternity care, call UofL Physicians – OB/GYN & Women’s Health at 502-588-4400 or UofL Health – Center for Women’s Health at UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital at 502-977-5907.
