Contact your midwife (or specialist doctor) straight away if you have any of the danger signs listed below.
Most women feel some aches and pains during their pregnancy (see the Common complaints in pregnancy page). But sometimes there are problems during pregnancy that need urgent medical attention.
Danger signs
Contact your midwife (or specialist doctor) straight away if you have any of the danger signs listed below.
- You have bleeding from your vagina, or you have vaginal discharge that is unusual for you.
- Your ‘waters’ leak or break before labour starts or, once they have broken, the fluid is dirty-looking, greenish or brown.
- If, once you are regularly feeling your baby move, your baby moves less than usual or you cannot feel your baby move at all.
- If, after the first few weeks of your pregnancy, you have pains or cramps in your abdomen (tummy).
- Your hands, feet or face suddenly swell.
- You have pain or burning when you wee/mimi – especially if you also have a fever and a sore back.
- You have a very bad headache and this lasts for more than a few hours.
- You can’t see well – you have blurry vision or you start to see white lights, flashes or dots in front of your eyes or you have double vision.
- You have a fever of over 38°C – you may have a virus, so check with your midwife (or specialist doctor) or pharmacist before you take any medicines. If your fever lasts for longer than a day, check with your midwife (or specialist doctor), or doctor or nurse.
- You fall on or hurt your abdomen (tummy) – get this checked, even if you don’t feel hurt or sore.
- You are very thirsty but you can’t wee/mimi.
- You start feeling sick and throwing up in late pregnancy – especially if you have pain and a fever.
- You itch all over – especially if you have dark-coloured wee/mimi and pale poo/tuutae.
Remember: if you are worried at any time during your pregnancy, talk to your midwife (or specialist doctor).
