Maternity emergencies

​​​​​If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice via phone to on-call consultant/registrar.

This emergency criteria are not an exhaustive list of maternity emergencies. Health professionals should refer to HealthPathways for more information.

On this page​​

  1. Maternity
    1. Preconception care
    2. Pregnancy care
    3. Postnatal care

Maternity - Adult patients (aged 16 years or over) ​

Preconception care

 

  • ​Nil emergency criteria

 

Pregnancy care

  • Abdominal pain or back pain
  • Any concerns of high blood pressure
  • Chest pain and/or shortness of breath
  • Deteriorating mental state including suicidality, thoughts of harm to baby or psychosis
  • First trimester pain and bleeding
  • Headaches
  • Hyperemesis
  • Leg swelling and tenderness
  • Preterm labour
  • Preterm, pre labour rupture of membranes
  • Reduced or no fetal movement
  • Sudden swelling of the hands, face and feet
  • Symptoms and signs suggesting abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, pain, rigors and/or sepsis
  • Vaginal bleeding at any gestation

Postnatal care

  • Abdominal, pelvic, or perineal pain, fever, shivering, or vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell
  • Chest pain
  • Deteriorating mental state including suicidality, thoughts of harm to baby or psychosis
  • Disclosure of domestic and/or family violence
  • Eclampsia
  • Leg swelling and tenderness, or shortness of breath
  • Mastitis
  • Persistent or increased vaginal bleeding
  • Persistent or severe headache
  • Secondary postpartum haemorrhage
  • Sepsis
  • Sudden or very heavy vaginal bleeding
  • Thromboembolism
  • Wound infection from lower uterine segment caesarean section or perineum post-birth
Current as at: Monday 30 March 2026
Contact page owner: System Purchasing