Information for women who are pregnant or were pregnant in the last year.
Tips for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
When it comes to your health during and after pregnancy, you know your body best. If you are pregnant or were pregnant in the last year, talk to your health care provider if something doesn’t feel right.
Your symptoms might be physical, mental, or emotional. Like feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that make it hard to care for yourself or others. Some of these symptoms can also mean something more serious.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Get help.
Look for Urgent Maternal Warning Signs
Urgent maternal warning signs are symptoms that may indicate you have a serious medical condition. Symptoms can occur during pregnancy and for a year after. If you experience an urgent maternal warning, get medical care immediately. If you can’t reach your health care provider, go to an emergency room, or call 9-1-1.
During Pregnancy
Prenatal care can improve the chances of having a healthy pregnancy. It is important to go to all prenatal care visits. These visits are the perfect time to discuss your health history with your doctor or midwife. Talk about preexisting conditions, medications, family history, and any concerns. Make a plan with your health care provider to help manage potential problems based on your personal risk factors.
After Pregnancy
While your new baby needs a lot of attention and care, it’s important to take care of yourself, too. Remain aware of your body and attend your postpartum appointments. It’s normal to feel tired and have some pain, particularly in the first few weeks after having a baby. But, there are some symptoms that could be signs of more serious problems.
Get Help If Something Doesn't Feel Right
Get medical care immediately if you are pregnant or were pregnant in the last year, and are experiencing an urgent maternal warning sign. Do not ignore it. Getting medical care could help save your life.
If you can’t reach your health care provider, go to an emergency room, or call 9-1-1.
Start the Conversation with Your Provider
You know your body best. If something doesn’t feel right, get help. Share your concerns until you feel heard, and your questions answered.
When talking with your health care provider, describe the symptoms you are experiencing. Share other health conditions (like high blood pressure or diabetes). Describe any complications you experienced during or after pregnancy. If you can, bring a friend or a family member with you to help ask the questions you need answered.
- Be prepared for your appointment, write down your questions and concerns beforehand.
- Share any concerns and questions you have with your health care provider.
- Be sure to let them know that you are pregnant or have been pregnant in the last year.
- Tell your health care provider about any medications or supplements you are taking or have recently taken.
- Take notes and ask follow-up questions. Clarify anything you don’t understand.
Sample questions to ask:
- What could these symptoms mean?
- Is there a test I can have to rule out a serious problem?
- At what point should I consider going to an emergency room or calling 9-1-1?
Use This Guide to Start the Conversation: “A Guide to Talk with Your Health Care Provider During and After Pregnancy"
Learn About Risks to Maternal Health
Women can experience pregnancy-related complications anytime within the first year after their pregnancy. Without timely identification and treatment, some complications can become life-threatening. Certain health conditions before pregnancy can worsen or cause pregnancy-related complications. Learn more about common conditions that can increase maternal health risk. Sometimes, otherwise healthy women with no known previous health risks experience pregnancy-related complications. It’s important to look for urgent maternal warning signs during pregnancy and for a year after. Listen to your body and get help if you have concerns.
Relationships and Safety
Every woman has the right to live her life safely and free of violence. Yet, one in four women in the U.S. experiences violence from an intimate partner. Intimate partner violence includes domestic abuse, sexual assault, verbal and emotional abuse, coercion, and stalking. Pregnancy can be an especially dangerous time for people in abusive relationships. Abuse can often begin or escalate during pregnancy. Physical abuse can cause immediate injury and increase risk for pregnancy complications. Violence and abuse can cause physical and emotional problems that last long after the abuse.
More than 700 women die each year in the U.S. from pregnancy-related complications up to one year after giving birth. In Texas, approximately 4 out of 5 of these deaths are preventable. 
Each year in Texas, thousands of women experience severe maternal morbidity. As a health care provider, you can play a critical role in eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.
