Danger Signs in Pregnancy You Should Never Ignore

Most pregnancies go well. But some problems begin quietly, and the women who do best are the ones who recognise the warning early and reach care quickly. You do not need medical training to do that. You need to know a short list of signs — and to trust yourself when one of them appears.

Go to a health facility straight away if you have

• Bleeding from the vagina, at any stage of pregnancy, whether light or heavy.
• A severe headache that does not ease, especially with blurred vision, flashing lights or spots before your eyes.
• Fits or convulsions, or losing consciousness.
• Swelling of the face and hands that comes on suddenly.
• Severe pain in the belly that does not go away.
• A high fever, with or without chills, or feeling too weak to get out of bed.
• Fast or difficult breathing.
• Your baby moving much less than usual, or not moving at all.
• Water breaking — a gush or a steady leak of fluid — before labour has started.

Why these signs matter

Each one can point to a condition that grows more dangerous by the hour. Bleeding may mean a problem with the placenta. A severe headache with swelling and changes in vision can be a sign of very high blood pressure in pregnancy, which can lead to fits. Fever can mean an infection such as malaria, which is more dangerous when you are pregnant. A baby who has stopped moving may be in distress.

None of these can be judged at home. They need a health worker who can check your blood pressure, examine you and listen to your baby.

If the road is not safe

In many communities, reaching a facility is the hard part. That is exactly why it helps to decide in advance: which facility you would go to, who would take you, how you would pay for transport, and who would look after your other children. A plan made on a calm day is much easier to follow on a frightening one.

Tell the people you live with what the danger signs are. A warning recognised by two people is acted on faster than one recognised by you alone.