Antepartum Care & Danger Signs

Routine prenatal visits track fetal growth and screen for complications before they become emergencies, but certain patient-reported symptoms always warrant prompt evaluation regardless of how routine the pregnancy has been so far: vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid (possible rupture of membranes), severe or persistent headache, visual disturbances (blurred vision, spots, flashing lights), sudden swelling of the face or hands, epigastric or right upper quadrant pain, a significant decrease in fetal movement, and fever. Several of these — severe headache, visual changes, sudden swelling, and epigastric pain — cluster together as classic warning signs of preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific hypertensive condition, and reporting any of them promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit is a core piece of patient teaching throughout pregnancy.