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Postpartum Warning Signs

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

You should call your doctor or midwife if you have any of the following signs after giving birth:

  • You have bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for two hours.
  • You have a foul odor coming from your vagina.
  • You have no bleeding whatsoever.
  • You feel like your uterus is swelling or getting larger.
  • You have a fever of 101 or higher.
  • Your pain doesn't get better or you are still in pain after you run out of pain medication.
  • You have swelling, redness or discharge from your cesarean incision or episiotomy site.
  • Pain in your abdomen that gets progressively worse.
  • Problems urinating including inability to urinate, burning while urinating, or extremely dark urine.
  • You have any type of visual disturbance.
  • Severe headaches.
  • You have flu like symptoms.
  • Pain or redness in one or both of your breasts.
  • Pain, warmth or tenderness in your legs.
  • Frequent nausea and vomiting.
  • Problems breathing. (Call 911)
  • Signs of postpartum depression.

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