3 Pregnancy Emergencies
Recognize urgent pregnancy-related warning signs and follow key steps for seeking emergency care and supporting someone while help is on the way.
Recognize an emergency
Pregnancy emergencies can threaten the pregnant person’s life and require prompt professional care. In the United States, call 911 for severe bleeding, fainting, severe or sudden pain, a seizure, trouble breathing, or other signs of immediate danger. Do not wait for symptoms to pass or drive yourself if seriously ill.
Tell responders that the person is pregnant or recently gave birth and, if known, how many weeks pregnant they are. Serious pregnancy-related problems can also arise after birth.
Bleeding during pregnancy
Bleeding has many possible causes and cannot be safely diagnosed by appearance alone. Contact an obstetric care professional promptly for any bleeding. Bleeding heavier than spotting, bleeding later in pregnancy, or bleeding with pain, weakness, dizziness, or fainting needs urgent assessment. Heavy bleeding, collapse, or signs of —such as pale, cold, clammy skin or confusion—are emergencies.
For heavy bleeding or signs of , call 911. Have the person lie down and stay warm; if they feel faint, help them lie on their side. Use a sanitary pad to observe the amount of bleeding, but do not delay care to estimate blood loss. Do not put anything into the vagina. Stay with the person and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
and high blood pressure
is a serious pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition that can develop during pregnancy or after birth. Warning signs include a severe or persistent headache, changes in vision, pain in the upper abdomen or shoulder, sudden swelling of the face or hands, nausea or vomiting in the second half of pregnancy, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms need urgent medical assessment, even if no blood pressure reading is available.
A reading is an emergency: call emergency services or seek immediate obstetric emergency care. Do not wait for symptoms or try to lower the pressure with someone else’s medication.
Seizure and possible
A seizure during pregnancy or soon after birth is a medical emergency. is a seizure associated with , but a first seizure can have other causes too; emergency assessment is essential.
Call 911. Protect the person from nearby hazards, cushion their head, loosen tight clothing around the neck, and time the seizure. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. When the convulsions stop, place them on their side if possible, check their breathing, and stay with them. If they are not breathing normally, follow the dispatcher’s instructions for CPR.
Suspected
An implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. It may cause vaginal bleeding and pelvic or abdominal pain, sometimes on one side. Sudden severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, weakness, dizziness, or fainting may indicate rupture and internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening.
Call 911 for sudden severe pain, fainting, marked weakness, or suspected rupture. Keep the person lying down and warm, do not leave them alone, and do not let them drive. If symptoms are milder but pregnancy is possible and there is pain or bleeding, seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a home test result.
Act promptly and support the person
Call 911 for heavy bleeding, collapse, severe pain, breathing difficulty, or any seizure. Pregnancy bleeding, severe headache, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, or sudden swelling call for urgent obstetric care; escalate immediately if symptoms are severe or worsening.
A blood pressure reading at or above systolic or diastolic requires emergency assessment. With possible , shoulder pain, fainting, or sudden severe pain may indicate internal bleeding and require a 911 call. While help is coming, protect the person from injury, keep them accompanied, and follow emergency-dispatch instructions.