Danger signs and symptoms

Ask her about any danger symptoms that she has noticed. (A symptom is something that a person experiences and can tell you about; a sign is something that only a trained health professional will notice, or can discover from an examination or test.)

Danger symptoms include:

• vaginal bleeding (heavier than show),
• persistent headache,
• blurring of vision, convulsions,
• loss of consciousness,
• epigastric or severe abdominal pain,
• fever,
• leakage of amniotic fluid before the onset of labour, and
• abnormal vaginal discharge.

If she reports any of the above danger symptoms, refer the mother to the nearest health facility as soon as possible.