Postpartum

Postpartum Warning Signs Every New Parent Should Know

May 27, 2026

Key takeaways: Serious complications can happen up to a year after birth. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Call your provider for heavy bleeding, a severe headache, vision changes, fever, or a swollen, painful leg. Always say you recently gave birth.

After a baby arrives, attention naturally shifts to the newborn. But the weeks and months after birth are also a time of risk for the birthing parent. CDC data show that most pregnancy-related deaths happen after delivery, many in the weeks to months postpartum, and most are considered preventable.

Call 911 If You Have

  • Chest pain.
  • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
  • Seizures.
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.

Call Your Provider Right Away If You Have

  • Bleeding that soaks through one pad an hour, or blood clots the size of an egg or larger.
  • An incision that isn’t healing: redness, swelling, warmth, opening, or drainage.
  • A red or swollen leg that’s painful or warm to the touch (possible blood clot).
  • A temperature of 100.4°F or higher.
  • A headache that doesn’t get better even after medicine, or a severe headache with vision changes (possible postpartum preeclampsia).
  • Vision changes: blurriness, spots, or flashing lights.
  • Swelling of the face or hands.
  • Severe belly pain.
  • Nausea or vomiting that won’t go away.
  • Extreme tiredness that seems unusual.
  • Feeling very sad, anxious, or disconnected for more than two weeks.

The AWHONN POST-BIRTH warning signs and the CDC’s Hear Her campaign teach these signs to families and providers.

Postpartum Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia, a condition with high blood pressure, can develop up to 6 weeks after birth, even if your blood pressure was normal during pregnancy. Warning signs include severe headache, vision changes, shortness of breath, upper belly pain, and swelling. It’s a medical emergency.

Blood Clots

Pregnancy and the postpartum period raise the risk of blood clots, especially after a cesarean. A clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) can cause pain, swelling, and redness. A clot that travels to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) causes chest pain and trouble breathing and needs emergency care.

Heart Problems

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare weakening of the heart muscle that can develop in the last month of pregnancy or the months after birth. Signs include shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Infection

Signs of infection include fever, chills, foul-smelling discharge, a red or draining incision, or a painful red area on the breast.

Mental Health

Postpartum depression, anxiety, and, rarely, psychosis can develop anytime in the first year. Help is available 24/7 through the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), or call or text 988.

Speak Up

When you call or seek care, say you’ve recently given birth and when. This helps providers recognize postpartum complications. If you feel something is wrong, trust yourself and ask for help. Bring a partner or friend to help advocate.

Your Postpartum Care

ACOG recommends contact with your care team within the first 3 weeks after birth, and a comprehensive visit no later than 12 weeks. If you had high blood pressure, ask about blood pressure checks within the first days after discharge.

The Bottom Line

The postpartum period carries real risks. Know the warning signs, trust your instincts, and always mention that you recently gave birth when seeking care.

Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.

Sources

  1. Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). POST-BIRTH Warning Signs education program. https://www.awhonn.org
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hear Her campaign: urgent maternal warning signs. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnancy-related deaths: data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality
  4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing postpartum care. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(5):e140-e150.
  5. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 222: Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(6):e237-e260.
  6. Health Resources and Services Administration. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.

Leave a Reply