Pregnancy A to Z - When to Call Your Provider

When to Call Your Provider

Fever over 100.4 degrees
Foul smell or an unexpected change in your lochia flow (there should not be any bright red blood or clots in the lochia after about the fourth postpartum day)
Heavy lochia/bleeding, saturating a sanitary pad in one hour or passing blood clots larger than a ping-pong ball
Sharp pains in your perineum, abdomen, breast, or chest
Blurred vision or dizziness, appearing alone or with a headache
Pain in your legs, particularly in the calf muscles when you walk or extend your feet
Appearance of a large blue or purple lump on your vulva or vaginal area or around the perineum [such lumps may be blood clots called hematomas; small lumps may disappear on their own, large lumps (greater than a quarter size) usually need medical treatment]
Any sign of swelling, redness, or pus around your cesarean incision or your genitals, especially at your episiotomy site
Separation of episiotomy or abdominal incision
Swelling, red streaks, and tenderness in your breasts, accompanied by fever greater than 100.4 F may indicate an infection of your breast tissue
Discomfort or burning when you urinate, inability to urinate, or the inability to completely empty your bladder when you urinate
Feeling weak, lightheaded, or confused and having cold or clammy skin
Any sense that "something is wrong" with you physically
Crying spells, mood swings that leave you feeling out of control
Any thoughts of harming yourself, your baby or any other family members