Decision support
Signs to Watch
This page does not diagnose anything. It helps you decide whether to monitor at home, call a provider, ask for same-day advice, seek urgent care, or call emergency services.
This app provides education and decision support. It cannot rule out a medical emergency.
Commonly monitored at home
Keep watching. Note anything that stops improving.
- Mild expected soreness
- Gradually improving discomfort
- Normal postpartum fatigue
- Mild breast fullness
- Light bleeding that is decreasing
- Temporary emotional tearfulness in the early postpartum period
If something feels wrong or symptoms are worsening, contact a healthcare professional even if the symptom appears on this list.
Contact a healthcare professional
Call today, or request same-day advice if it is worsening.
- Increasing rather than improving pain
- Breast pain that persists
- New breast redness
- Painful breast swelling
- Cracked or bleeding nipples
- Feeding-related pain that does not improve
- Possible incision infection
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Painful urination
- Persistent severe constipation
- Worsening pelvic pressure
- Severe anxiety
- Inability to sleep even when the baby sleeps
- Persistent sadness or emotional distress
- Concerns about milk transfer or infant intake
- Dizziness
- New or worsening swelling
- Symptoms that interfere with caring for oneself or the baby
Urgent or emergency help
Call emergency services or go to the emergency department now.
This app provides education and decision support. It cannot rule out a medical emergency.
Newborn red flags
- · Rectal temperature of 100.4F (38C) or higher in a baby under 3 months
- · Difficulty breathing, grunting, flaring nostrils or blue lips
- · Limp, floppy, or extremely difficult to wake
- · Fewer than 6 wet diapers a day after day 5
- · Repeated forceful vomiting, or green or bloody vomit
- · Inconsolable crying for more than 2 hours, or a weak high-pitched cry
- · Yellowing that is deepening or reaches the arms and legs
- · Cord stump or circumcision site that is red, swollen, foul-smelling or draining pus
Related
This app provides education and decision support. It cannot rule out a medical emergency.