Postpartum Danger Signs
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms:
- Fever more than 100.4°F
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain or burning during urination
- Bleeding that’s heavier than a normal menstrual period or that increases
- Severe pain in your lower abdomen
- Pain, swelling, and tenderness in your legs
- Chest pain and coughing or gasping for air
- Red streaks on your breasts or painful new lumps in your breasts
- Pain that doesn’t go away or that gets worse from an episiotomy, perineal tear, or abdominal incision
- Redness or discharge from an episiotomy, perineal tear, or abdominal incision
- Vaginal discharge that smells bad
- Feelings of hopelessness that last more than 10 days after delivery
Postpartum Depression
Most new mothers experience feelings of sadness.
Many feel depressed, anxious, and upset after the birth of a child.
These emotions, however, are very common. Many people experience a range of unexpected emotions after giving birth.
It can be helpful to talk to your health care provider about your feelings.
For about 10-15% of women, these feelings are more intense and don’t go away in a few weeks. This can signal a more serious condition called postpartum depression.
