Mother Safety & Birth Readiness
Know the warning signs. Prepare for birth. Get help early.
Get urgent help now if you have:
Heavy bleeding, seizures, severe headache with vision changes, breathing difficulty, labor problems, high fever, or loss of consciousness.
Call local emergency services or go to the nearest health facility immediately.
Danger Signs
Know when to act – during pregnancy, labor, and after birth
During Pregnancy
Heavy bleeding
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ May indicate miscarriage or placenta problem
▶ Go to a health facility immediately
Severe headache
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ Could be a sign of pre‑eclampsia
▶ Seek urgent care – do not wait
Blurred vision
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ Also linked to pre‑eclampsia
▶ Urgent medical evaluation needed
Swollen face/hands + headache
🟡 Act today⚠️ Classic pre‑eclampsia warning
▶ Go to a clinic today
Severe abdominal pain
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ May signal ectopic pregnancy or other complications
▶ Emergency assessment required
Fever
🟢 Same day care⚠️ Could indicate infection
▶ See a doctor promptly
Reduced baby movement
🟡 Act today⚠️ Baby may be in distress
▶ Contact a midwife or go to hospital
Convulsions / seizures
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ Life‑threatening
▶ Call emergency services now
Difficulty breathing
🔴 Emergency now⚠️ Possible heart or lung complication
▶ Seek immediate help
During Labor & Birth
Labor lasting too long (over 12 hours)
🔴 Emergency now▶ Go to a hospital – obstructed labor is dangerous
Heavy bleeding
🔴 Emergency now▶ Emergency – seek care immediately
Convulsions / seizures
🔴 Emergency now▶ Call emergency services
Placenta not delivered after 30 minutes
🔴 Emergency now▶ Urgent medical help needed
Baby not coming despite strong contractions
🔴 Emergency now▶ Go to a facility with surgical capacity
Foul‑smelling discharge
🔴 Emergency now▶ Possible infection – get help now
Extreme weakness or collapse
🔴 Emergency now▶ May indicate severe blood loss – emergency
After Birth (First 6 Weeks)
Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad every hour)
🔴 Emergency now▶ Go to a clinic – may be postpartum hemorrhage
Fever
🟢 Same day care▶ Could be uterine infection – seek care
Foul‑smelling discharge
🟢 Same day care▶ Sign of infection – get help
Severe abdominal pain
🟡 Act today▶ Not normal – see a doctor
Severe headache
🔴 Emergency now▶ Postpartum pre‑eclampsia is possible – urgent
Convulsions
🔴 Emergency now▶ Emergency – call for help
Difficulty breathing
🔴 Emergency now▶ May indicate heart or lung complication
Chest pain
🔴 Emergency now▶ Could be a blood clot – go to ER
Severe sadness or thoughts of self‑harm
🔴 Emergency now▶ Postpartum depression – seek mental health support immediately
Prepare Before Labor Starts
- Know your expected due date
- Choose where to give birth (health facility recommended)
- Know the nearest facility with emergency obstetric care
- Save emergency numbers (ambulance, midwife, hospital)
- Arrange transport (a car, taxi, or community member)
- Save small emergency money if possible
- Pack a clean cloth, clothes, and supplies for mother and baby
- Identify a birth companion (family member or friend)
- Know your blood type and potential donor
- Know the danger signs (see above)
How Families Can Help Save Mothers
- ✅ Take danger signs seriously – do not dismiss them
- ✅ Do not delay seeking care – hours matter
- ✅ Help plan transport before labor starts
- ✅ Go with her to appointments and stay during labor
- ✅ Support rest, good food, and hydration
- ✅ Protect her from stress and violence
- ✅ Help with household chores after birth
- ✅ Never ignore severe pain, headache, bleeding, or weakness
- ✅ Encourage breastfeeding and watch for signs of infection
- ✅ Listen to her mental health – postpartum depression is real
The First Days and Weeks After Birth Matter
Many serious complications happen during childbirth and in the first days and weeks after birth. Watch for these physical warning signs:
- Heavy bleeding – more than a pad per hour
- Fever or chills
- Foul discharge from the vagina
- Severe abdominal pain
- Pain or swelling in one leg
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Severe headache or vision changes
- Convulsions
- Extreme weakness or fainting
- Inability to urinate or incontinence
- Redness or discharge from a C‑section wound
🧠 Your mental health matters too
Feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, or unable to care for yourself or baby? Having thoughts of harming yourself or the baby? These are emergency signs. Tell a health worker or call a mental health helpline immediately.
Your Rights During Pregnancy and Birth
- ✅ To be treated with dignity and respect
- ✅ To be listened to and believed
- ✅ To ask questions and receive clear answers
- ✅ To have privacy during examinations and birth
- ✅ To seek emergency care without permission
- ✅ To have a companion of your choice (where allowed)
- ✅ To be free from abuse, discrimination, and neglect
- ✅ To give birth in a clean, safe environment
If your rights are violated, you can report to a patient advocate or call a human rights hotline.
⚠️ In an emergency: What to take and what NOT to do
✅ What to take (if possible):
- Health card / antenatal records
- Phone and small emergency money
- Clean cloth or pad
- ID if available
- A trusted companion
❌ What NOT to do:
- Do not wait for bleeding or seizures to stop on their own
- Do not stay home hoping severe symptoms will pass
- Do not rely only on herbs or home remedies for emergencies
- Do not let family pressure delay urgent care
- Do not drive yourself if you are very weak or bleeding heavily
What Should I Do?
Select a symptom for immediate guidance
Downloadable Tools
Print and share these resources. Keep them handy for emergencies.
These files are placeholders. Actual PDFs can be added to /public/downloads/ folder.
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