Danger signs for the mother in the first few days after birth 247
If the mother starts to have a seizure and you know she does not have epilepsy:
• Put something under her head to protect it, and put her on her left side if
possible. But do not try to hold her down.
• Keep her cool.
• Take her to the nearest hospital.
A woman who has epilepsy can also get toxemia—see page 231
for more information about epilepsy.
Danger signs for the mother
in the first few days after birth
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 on
page 248.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007