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During the puerperium, bleeding and pain usually occur like menstruation. However, there are some danger signs of puerperal to watch out for. By recognizing the danger signs of postpartum, proper and safe handling can be done immediately
The puerperium occurs for 4-6 weeks after giving birth. Apart from vaginal discharge or lochia, there are several things that commonly occur during the puerperium, ranging from discomfort during sex, changes in body shape, the appearance of stretch marks, hair loss, to constipation.
Although these complaints will generally decrease towards the end of the puerperium, you still need to be aware of the danger signs that may occur during the puerperium.
Recognizing Danger Signs of Postpartum
Some of the danger signs during the puerperium to pay attention to, namely:
1. Excessive postpartum bleeding
Postpartum bleeding can be a warning sign. This is suspect if you have to change pads more than once per hour. This condition can also be accompanied by dizziness and an irregular heartbeat.
If you experience this, you are advised to immediately seek medical attention to the nearest doctor or hospital. This condition may indicate that there is still a placenta or placenta left in the uterus, so curettage is necessary as a treatment.
2. High fever over 38°C
High fever and chills can be signs of infection. This complaint can also be accompanied by pain in the abdomen, groin, breasts, or stitches, when giving birth by surgery. In addition to fever, puerperal blood that smells pungent can also be a symptom of infection.
3. Severe headache
Headaches that occur in the first week of the puerperium may be a residual effect of administering anesthetic drugs during childbirth. However, if the headache is very annoying accompanied by blurred vision, vomiting, heartburn, or swollen ankles, you need to be careful.
This condition can be a sign of complications, such as postpartum preeclampsia.
4. Unbearable pain in the calf
Unbearable pain in the calf accompanied by heat, swelling, and redness can be a sign of a blood clot. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and can be fatal if the blood clot travels to another part of the body, such as the lungs.
5. Difficulty breathing and chest pain
Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath can be a sign of pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a condition where blood flow to the lungs is blocked due to a blood clot. This condition can be life threatening, especially if accompanied by vomiting of blood or loss of consciousness.
6. Urinary disturbance
Can't urinate (BAK), can't control the urge to urinate, want to urinate constantly, pain during urination, and dark urine can be a sign of certain medical conditions.
Depending on your BAK disorder, this problem could be a sign of dehydration, intestinal or pelvic muscle disorders, or even bladder or kidney infections.
7. Feeling sad constantly
Changes in hormone levels and the emergence of responsibility after giving birth can make mothers experience the baby blues. Symptoms can include feelings of restlessness, anger, panic, fatigue or sadness. This condition generally goes away within a few days or weeks.
However, if these feelings don't go away, even accompanied by hatred, suicidal ideation, and hallucinations, it may be a sign of postpartum depression. This condition is classified as dangerous and needs to be treated immediately.
Those are the danger signs of the postpartum period that you need to know. If you experience any of these, you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
