Pregnant or recently gave birth: Causes, Home Care, and When to Get Help

If you think it's an emergency, call 911.Thinking about suicide? Call or text 988.

Overview

Being pregnant or recently pregnant changes which conditions are likely and how fast you should get care. Problems like very high blood pressure, blood clots, infection, heavy bleeding, and depression can happen during pregnancy or in the weeks and months after birth.

If something doesn't feel right, contact your doctor or midwife. When you get care anywhere, tell them you are pregnant or were pregnant in the last year.

When to get medical care

Call 911Trouble breathing. Chest pain or a fast-beating heart. A seizure or fainting. Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby (you can also call or text 988). Bleeding that soaks through 1 or more pads in an hour, or clots bigger than an egg, after birth.

Get care todayA headache that won't go away or gets worse. Dizziness, or changes in your vision like flashing lights or blind spots. A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Extreme swelling of your hands or face. Severe belly pain that doesn't go away. Severe nausea and vomiting: you can't drink for more than 8 hours or eat for more than 24 hours. During pregnancy: your baby moves less, or you have vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid. Swelling, redness, or pain in one leg or arm. Overwhelming tiredness.

See a doctor soonFeeling sad, hopeless, or very worried for more than 2 weeks. Any symptom that worries you.

Causes

Some conditions only happen during pregnancy or after birth. Others are more likely or more serious at this time.

OwieClear has pages on these conditions. Each shows how soon to get care.

Common causes

C-section recovery and wound problemsOften needs care today
Recovery after a cesarean birth usually takes about 6 weeks.
False labor (Braxton Hicks contractions)Often treated at home
Tightening of the belly that comes and goes, often in the third trimester.
Tearing during birth (perineal tear)See a doctor if it doesn't get better
A tear of the skin and muscle between the vagina and anus during birth, which is very common.
Depression during or after pregnancySee a doctor if it doesn't get better
Sadness, worry, tiredness, or loss of interest during pregnancy or after having a baby that lasts more than 2 weeks or makes it hard to care for yourself or…
Itchy rash or itching in pregnancyOften needs care today
Itching is common in pregnancy from stretching skin.
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (morning sickness)Often treated at home
Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, which can happen at any time of day.
Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy (SPD)Often treated at home
Pain at the front of the pelvis, groin, hips, or lower back in pregnancy, often worse when walking, climbing stairs, or turning in bed.
Possible pregnancySee a doctor if it doesn't get better
A missed period with breast tenderness, nausea, or tiredness can be early signs of pregnancy.
Infection after giving birth (postpartum infection)Often needs care today
An infection of the uterus, birth wound, bladder, or breast in the weeks after birth.

Less likely causes

Toxoplasmosis (cat litter or raw meat in pregnancy)See a doctor if it doesn't get better
An infection from a parasite found in cat poop, soil, and undercooked meat.

What you can do at home

Learn the urgent warning signs and share them with the people close to you.
Go to every prenatal and postpartum visit, even if you feel fine.
Speak up. If something doesn't feel right, say so, and keep asking until you get answers.
Check before taking any medicine or supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding.

At the doctor

Care depends on your symptoms and how far along you are or how long ago you gave birth.

Questions you may be asked

Whether you're pregnant, how far along, or when you gave birth
Your symptoms and when they started
Any problems in this or past pregnancies
Health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes

The exam

A check of your blood pressure, temperature, and pulse, and an exam based on your symptoms.

Tests

Blood and urine tests
An ultrasound
Monitoring the baby's heartbeat during pregnancy

Check your symptoms

Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.

Start the symptom checker

Sources

CDC: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

Last updated 2026-11-13.

Pregnant or recently gave birth