Danger signs during labor 85
Danger signs during labor
• waters break but
labor does not start
• baby lying sideways
• bleeding before the
baby is born
• too long labor
• green or brown waters
• fever
• convulsions or “fits”
Waters break but labor does not start
Most women will give birth within 24 hours after their
waters break. If labor has not started after 12 hours, the
woman and her baby could get a serious infection.
What to do:
• The mother must not put anything in her vagina. She
should not have sex. This could cause an infection.
• If she has a fever or there is a bad smell in the vagina, an
infection is starting. She needs intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Even if labor starts, the woman and her baby could die.
Go to a health center or hospital.
• Try to get labor started.The woman should swallow
2 tablespoons of castor oil, roll her nipples, or have
someone suck them for a while every few hours until labor
starts. There may also be special local teas that women use
to start labor. If labor still does not start after a few more
hours, she should go to a health center or hospital.
DANGER!! Do
not use injections
to start labor.
They can cause
contractions that
are so strong that
they can kill the
woman or the baby.
TRANSPORT!
Baby lying sideways (transverse)
If labor has started and the baby’s arm comes out
first, it almost always means the baby is sideways.
Check the baby’s position (see pages 75 and 77).
A baby lying sideways cannot be born without an
operation. Do not try to change the position of the
baby once labor has started. This can tear the womb
or separate the placenta from the womb wall.
What to do:
Take the mother to the hospital.
Bleeding before the baby is born
Some light, pink-colored fluid, or mucus and brown blood
during labor is normal. But if the mother is bleeding bright red
blood, it could mean that the placenta is separating from the
womb wall or is covering the opening of the womb. This is
very dangerous.
What to do:
Take the mother to the hospital right away. If possible, start
an IV and give her IV fluids.
TRANSPORT!
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012