Danger signs for the mother in the first few days after birth

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HealthWiki > A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities > Chapter 11: Labor and birth > Danger signs for the mother in the first few days after birth

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Bleeding

Start breastfeeding your baby right away. This will help you stop bleeding sooner.

Bleeding that starts more than a day after the baby is born is usually caused by pieces of the placenta that have been left in the womb. Get medical help.

Danger signs of too much bleeding:

• soaks more than 2 pads or thick rags in an hour during the first day after birth
• soaks more than 1 pad or thick rag in an hour after the first day
• a continuous small flow of blood

What to do:

1. Rub the top of her womb until it gets very hard and the bleeding stops. Have the baby suck on her breasts, or have someone roll her nipples.
2. Give 0.2 mg of ergonovine by mouth every 6 hours as needed, but no more than for 4 to 7 days.
3. If the bleeding will not stop, get medical help. Continue to rub her womb as you take her to the hospital.
4. If she has signs of infection, give the same antibiotics as for womb infection.

Womb infection

Infection of the womb is very dangerous. If not treated, a woman can become infertile or die.

If the mother complains that she does not feel well, watch her carefully for signs of infection.

	Medicines for womb infection
Medicine	How much to take	When to take
ciprofloxacin	500 mg	by mouth, 2 times a day
and
doxycycline	100 mg	by mouth, 2 times a day
and
metronidazole	500 mg	by mouth, 2 times a day
Continue giving all of the medicines for 2 more days after the fever is gone. But if she does not start to feel better after 1 day, take her to the nearest hospital. She may need other medicines by injection or in the vein (IV).

IMPORTANT! Encourage her to drink a lot of fluids. Do not drink alcohol during the time you are taking metronidazole.

This page was updated:05 Jan 2024