Concerning Symptoms and When to Call: During and After Pregnancy

While changes to your body and some discomfort can be a normal part of pregnancy and postpartum, it’s important to be aware of what isn’t normal. In this post, we’ll cover:

• Urgent maternal warning signs
• Recognizing preterm labor

I also include a reminder at the end that you should never hesitate to call if you have concerns!

Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

Let’s start with urgent maternal warning signs. If you experience any of these during or after pregnancy, it requires an immediate call to your care provider (or emergency room if you can’t reach them). Here’s the list (from Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health):

• Headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time
• Dizziness or fainting
• Thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
• Changes in your vision
• Fever
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain or fast-beating heart
• Severe belly pain that doesn’t go away
• Sever nausea and throwing up (not like morning sickness)
• Baby’s movements stopping or slowing during pregnancy
• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking during pregnancy
• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking after pregnancy
• Swelling, redness, or pain of your leg
• Extreme swelling of your hands or face
• Overwhelming tiredness
• If you need more information on any of these warning signs, check out the link below:

🔗 Urgent Maternal Warning Signs | Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health

💡 Tip: Bookmark the link above in case you need to access this information later. This website also has a downloadable PDF you can print out, if you’d like. Your care provider may also provide you with a list of when they’d like you to call. Make sure to place this where you can easily find it.

Recognizing Preterm Labor

At some point in the second or third trimester, you may start experiencing “warm-up” or “practice” contractions. This is normal. These are called Braxton Hicks or pre-labor contractions, which will not cause any major changes to the cervix.

Here’s what these tend to feel like:

• They are typically irregular and unpredictable.
• They are typically mild and not painful, although they can sometimes be uncomfortable.
• They are usually felt right in the front of your belly or in one particular spot. Sometimes they are felt more on one side of your belly than the other.
• Prelabor contractions won’t increase in intensity over time, and they’ll eventually slow down or stop.
• And you can usually get them to slow down or stop with a change in activity or position. If you’ve been active, try resting and relaxing. If you’ve been sitting for awhile, try moving around. A full bladder can bring these on, so try going to the bathroom. Drinking water can also help, because they can be caused by dehydration. 

True labor contractions are different. Here’s what these might feel like:

• Labor contractions are usually regular and predictable, following a pattern. The contractions will last longer and occur more frequently over time.
• Labor contractions usually feel intense. Birthing people often experience sensations of tightening, cramping, aching, and pressure in the pelvic area. They may start out as simply uncomfortable, but the intensity will increase over time, requiring increased focus and attention.
• They are felt all through the abdomen and may extend to the lower back and into the thighs.
• Contractions will not stop or slow down with a change in activity. So if you were sitting for awhile and tried some movement, they will continue. Or if you were active and then tried resting, again, they aren’t going to stop or slow.

True labor contractions work to thin and open the cervix and signify that labor has begun.

When true labor contractions begin earlier than 37 weeks, this is called preterm labor. This will require immediate medical attention. Even if you’re not sure but have concerns, make sure to give your care provider a call right away.

Don’t Hesitate to Get Help if you Have Any Concerns

If you’re currently pregnant, make sure you are aware of how to communicate with your care provider in urgent and non-urgent situations and at different times of the day. Ensure important phone numbers are readily available, when needed. Some providers have a way to send messages, ask non-urgent questions, and receive test results online. Make sure those accounts are set up and easily accessible.

Any time you have symptoms that are making daily life difficult or unmanageable, make sure to consult with your care provider for help right away. You can do the same any time you have questions or concerns, especially if something doesn’t seem quite right. And even if you haven’t had your first prenatal appointment yet.