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.
Emergency Steps: What to Do Now
Call for help
Arrange transport
Take companion
Bring records
Go immediately
Every minute counts. Do not wait at home.
🚑 Delay kills – plan your transport now
Identify a vehicle, driver, or community member who can take you to a clinic at any time.
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
❌ Do not wait at home
📍 Call emergency transport
Severe headache
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Could be a sign of pre‑eclampsia
✅ Seek urgent care – do not wait
❌ Avoid self-medicating
📍 Go to a hospital now
Blurred vision
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Also linked to pre‑eclampsia
✅ Urgent medical evaluation needed
❌ Do not delay
📍 Call a midwife
Swollen face/hands + headache
🟡 Act today
⚠️ Classic pre‑eclampsia warning
✅ Go to a clinic today
❌ Do not wait for it to pass
📍 Contact your antenatal clinic
Reduced baby movement
🟡 Act today
⚠️ Baby may be in distress
✅ Contact a midwife or go to hospital
❌ Do not assume it is normal
📍 Go for a check‑up
Convulsions / seizures
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Life‑threatening
✅ Call emergency services now
❌ Do not try to stop it yourself
📍 Get ambulance immediately
During Labor & Birth
Labor lasting too long
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Obstructed labor dangerous
✅ Go to a hospital immediately
❌ Do not stay home
📍 Seek emergency obstetric care
Heavy bleeding
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Postpartum hemorrhage risk
✅ Emergency – seek care
❌ Do not wait
📍 Call ambulance
Convulsions
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Life‑threatening
✅ Call emergency services
❌ Do not try to stop
📍 Get help now
Placenta not delivered
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Retained placenta
✅ Urgent medical help needed
❌ Do not pull cord
📍 Go to facility
Foul discharge
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Infection
✅ Get help now
❌ Do not ignore
📍 See a doctor
After Birth (First 6 Weeks)
Heavy bleeding
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Postpartum hemorrhage
✅ Go to a clinic immediately
❌ Do not wait
📍 Emergency care
Fever
🟢 Same day care
⚠️ Uterine infection
✅ Seek care
❌ Do not ignore
📍 Same day clinic
Severe headache
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Postpartum pre‑eclampsia
✅ Urgent evaluation
❌ Do not self-medicate
📍 Go to hospital
Sadness / self-harm thoughts
🔴 Emergency now
⚠️ Postpartum depression emergency
✅ Seek mental health support immediately
❌ Do not keep it secret
📍 Call helpline
Prepare Before Labor Starts
Practical Steps
- 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)
For Mother & Baby
- Pack a clean cloth, clothes, and supplies
- Identify a birth companion
- Know your blood type if possible
- Save emergency money if possible
- 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
- Protect her from stress and violence
- Never ignore severe pain, headache, bleeding, or weakness
- 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
- Severe headache or vision changes
- Convulsions
- Extreme weakness or fainting
- 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 seek emergency care without permission
- To have a companion of your choice (where allowed)
- To give birth in a clean, safe environment
⚠️ 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
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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