11 Danger Signs of Postpartum That Mothers Need to Know

Recognizing the danger signs of postpartum period is crucial for every new mother. After giving birth, some mothers experience complications that affect both physical and mental health. Identifying these postpartum warning signs early allows mothers to seek timely help from their partner or a healthcare professional.

While some unusual symptoms may resolve within a few weeks, others require medical attention. That’s why it’s important for mothers to understand which symptoms are considered serious warning signs of postpartum distress.

11 Danger Signs of Postpartum

If you experience any physical symptoms that feel painful or unusual, discuss them immediately with your partner, family, or a healthcare professional. Here are some warning signs of postpartum hemorrhage that can occur in new mothers:

1. Postpartum Bleeding

Bleeding after childbirth is normal, as it occurs when the uterus sheds its pregnancy lining, known as lochia. However, excessive bleeding can be one of the danger signs of postpartum period and may require immediate medical attention.

Vaginal bleeding immediately after delivery or up to 12 weeks later is considered postpartum hemorrhage. This can happen if the uterus doesn’t contract effectively after birth, if there are retained pregnancy fragments, if you have a bleeding disorder, or due to a tear in the uterus or birth canal.

Because heavy bleeding is one of the danger signs of postpartum period, contact a healthcare provider right away if it doesn’t slow down after three days, if you’re passing large clots (larger than a golf ball), passing bright red blood after the third day, or soaking through more than one sanitary napkin in an hour.

2. Postpartum Incontinence

Incontinence is a condition where a person loses bladder control, causing them to leak urine involuntarily. This is also common in new mothers. This condition is also known as stress incontinence because during pregnancy, your bladder becomes stressed due to increased pressure. This incontinence can begin as early as pregnancy.

After pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles become increasingly weakened. This can lead to continued incontinence, especially if you have nerve damage or have had an episiotomy .

For most women, urinary incontinence gradually improves within a few weeks after delivery. However, some women require a longer recovery period.

If this condition doesn’t improve within two weeks, consult your doctor immediately. They may then perform an exam to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI). If symptoms suggestive of this condition are found, your doctor may refer you to a urogynecologist for further evaluation or pelvic floor rehabilitation physical therapy for treatment.

Damage to the pelvic floor muscles and/or nerves during childbirth can also cause bowel incontinence. This condition can cause distress if the sufferer has a sudden urge to defecate. Symptoms of bowel incontinence include diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating.

It may take several months for bowel incontinence to show improvement along with the affected area. In the meantime, if you experience discomfort, discuss it with your doctor. They may refer you to a pelvic floor rehabilitation physical therapist.

3. Constipation

In the early postpartum period, you may experience frequent constipation as your body adjusts. It may take some time for this to return to normal. However, you should also recognize whether this constipation is a warning sign of postpartum distress.

Several factors can contribute to the constipation you’re experiencing. These include perineal pain from an episiotomy, taking iron supplements (as found in vitamins during pregnancy), and taking medications during labor (which can slow down your digestive system).

To speed up recovery from constipation during the postpartum period, you can do several things. Start by eating high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables. Take a brisk walk to increase your mobility. Also, remember, Mom, never take laxatives without a doctor’s prescription.

Constipation is a warning sign of postpartum hemorrhage if it doesn’t subside within a few days and is accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhea. Furthermore, if you notice blood or mucus in your stool, this is also a cause for concern. Consult a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur with your constipation during postpartum.

4. Breast Pain

After giving birth, your breasts will fill with milk. This process can cause discomfort in the breast area, as your breasts will be swollen for at least 3 to 5 days after delivery.

However, this discomfort doesn’t usually escalate into pain. Therefore, you should remain vigilant for mastitis . This is a painful inflammation of your breast tissue. It can be caused by engorgement, blocked milk ducts, or infection, and you may need antibiotics.

Consult a doctor immediately if you notice your breasts becoming red and warm or hot to the touch, develop a fever, experience flu-like symptoms, or have flattened nipples. These could be warning signs of postpartum hemorrhage that require further medical attention.

5. Swollen Feet

Swollen feet can persist after you deliver your baby as your body continues to rid itself of excess fluid from pregnancy. This is called postpartum edema and usually resolves on its own within about a week. This condition may persist longer if you have preeclampsia , which causes excessive swelling in your feet and hands later in pregnancy.

However, if the swelling doesn’t go away, or if you have other symptoms, you may havedeep vein thrombosis(DVT). DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg (although it can occur elsewhere). The risk of DVT is highest in the first week after delivery. If the clot travels to the pulmonary artery, it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.

Symptoms that indicate postpartum warning signs include swelling in one arm or leg (often the calf), pain that doesn’t improve with movement, and skin that’s warm to the touch. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

6. Low or High Blood Pressure

A drop in blood pressure after delivery can occur due to postpartum hemorrhage. However, a drastic spike in blood pressure can also signal a problem.

A serious blood pressure disorder that can affect your organs after delivery is called postpartum preeclampsia. While preeclampsia typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it can occur for the first time after delivery.

These symptoms will develop within the first 48 hours after delivery and can persist for up to six weeks. If left untreated, they can lead to seizures, stroke, and other serious problems.

7. Depression

In addition to physical ailments, new mothers can also experience mental illness. It’s common for mothers to experience grief after their baby is born. This occurs in approximately 80 percent of new mothers. The types of grief vary, from postpartum blues, or baby blues, to postpartum blues, which occurs immediately after delivery.

Baby blues usually resolve when hormone levels stabilize, but if they don’t go away within a few weeks or are accompanied by other symptoms (such as trouble sleeping or changes in appetite), you may be experiencing postpartum depression ( PPD).

According to a large global study published in 2021, postpartum depression affects one in five mothers worldwide after giving birth. Don’t worry, PPD is treatable. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll feel better.

8. Cardiovascular Problems

Peripartum cardiomyopathy PPCM, also called postpartum cardiomyopathy, is a rare cause of heart failure that affects women late in pregnancy or within five months of giving birth. This condition causes the heart to enlarge, weakening the heart muscle and making it harder for it to pump blood to other organs.

PPCM can occur even in mothers without pre-existing heart disease. Most women with PPCM will recover some heart function with diligent follow-up care, including medication and dietary changes.

This condition can be difficult to identify because some of the symptoms are similar to those you might experience in the third trimester of pregnancy. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath during activity or when lying down, an irregular heartbeat, or palpitations, even fainting.

9. Fever 

If you continue to feel chills or your body temperature rises above 38 degrees Celsius, you should also be concerned. This could be a sign of endometritis, an inflammation of the uterine lining caused by infection — one of the danger signs of postpartum period that requires medical attention.

This condition can affect the entire lining of your uterus. The uterus is normally aseptic, or free from infection. However, the passage of microbes from the cervix and vagina can cause inflammation and infection. This condition usually occurs due to the rupture of the membranes during labor.

10. Vomiting

Just like in early pregnancy, post-pregnancy hormonal fluctuations can also cause some women to experience morning sickness again . Vomiting can also be a sign of infection.

If you continue vomiting for several days and are preventing food from passing through your body, it’s important to consult a doctor immediately. You don’t want to become dehydrated.

11. Infection

Several types of bacterial infections can develop after childbirth. If left untreated, these infections can quickly become serious. One possible infection is a breast infection.

This condition occurs when bacteria enter your milk ducts (through cracked nipples, for example), or if milk doesn’t drain completely from your breast and becomes stagnant. This infection can easily progress if not treated promptly.

These are the warning signs of postpartum that mothers need to recognize so they can take immediate action. We hope you stay healthy, Mom.

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia