Don't Suffer in Silence

Women tend to downplay symptoms so that they go unreported. When we do finally speak up, our concerns are sometimes dismissed and underplayed, even more so if we are not white or if we are not heteronormative. Unfortunately, this downplaying and dismissiveness has caused grave repercussions, particulary causing a huge increase in the maternal mortality rate in this country. This blog is going to hi-light some times throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey when you absolutely need to speak up and advocate for your care.

In pregnancy

If you are pregnancy and you experience ANY of the following things, go straight to the hospital:

Blurred vision
Extreme headache
Vaginal bleeding
Intrusive thoughts of wanting to harm yourself
Your water breaks before 37 weeks of pregnancy
You have decreased fetal movement
You have more than 4 contractions in an hour

In labor

Your water breaks and it is bright red, yellow, green, or brown
You have extreme pain in one localized area of your abdomen
You have decreased fetal movement
You experience heavy bright red bleeding
You have blurred vision
You have an extreme headache

In postpartum

You have blurred vision
You have an extreme headache
You have intrusive thoughts about wanting to harm yourself and/or your baby
You pass a blood clot larger than the size of a golf ball
You bleed enough to fill a pad within an hour
You develop a fever

These are all reasons to go immediately the hospital. If your care provider won’t listen to you or seems to dismiss your concerns, demand to see someone else. You have a right to ask for a different nurse and a different doctor if you feel your concerns are not being addressed with care and concern. If at all possible, bring someone with you to help empower you and to help you advocate for yourself. Teach your support person these warning signs so that they can also know when to demand care. If you don’t have someone in your life that can help you advocate for your needs, consider hiring a doula. While it is difficult at times to speak up for ourselves and our rights, keep in mind that you are also speaking up for your baby. Speak up and make your voice heard. Your life and your baby’s life may depend on it.