每位伴侶應該知道的5個懷孕紅旗

突然的劇烈頭痛——尤其是與她之前的任何頭痛感覺不同——加上視力變化（模糊視力、看到斑點或閃光、暫時失去視力）是子癇前症的標誌性警告徵兆，這是一種潛在危及生命的懷孕併發症。

子癇前症影響5-8%的懷孕，並涉及危險的高血壓，可能損害肝臟、腎臟和大腦。它通常在20週後發展，並可能迅速惡化。其他徵兆包括面部和手部的突然腫脹（不僅僅是懷孕期間正常的腳踝腫脹）、上腹部疼痛（特別是在右肋下——這表明肝臟受累）、在懷孕後期突然出現的噁心或嘔吐，以及因液體滯留而突然增加的體重。

伴侶需要知道這一點的原因：子癇前症可以在幾小時內進展為子癇（癲癇發作）或HELLP綜合症（危及生命的肝臟和血液凝固障礙）。懷孕者可能會淡化症狀，因為頭痛和腫脹在懷孕中是「正常」的。如果她描述的是她一生中最糟糕的頭痛，無法正常視物，或在肋骨下有疼痛——不要等待醫生辦公室的回電。請前往急診室。子癇前症是全球母親死亡的第二大原因，及早干預可以挽救生命。

懷孕期間的任何大量陰道出血都是緊急情況。雖然輕微的點滴出血在早期懷孕中可能是正常的，但大量出血——定義為在一小時內浸透一片衛生巾——在任何懷孕階段都需要立即醫療評估。

在第一孕期，大量出血可能表明流產或異位妊娠（受精卵在子宮外著床，如果破裂可能危及生命）。在第二和第三孕期，大量出血可能是前置胎盤（胎盤覆蓋宮頸）或胎盤早剝（胎盤從子宮壁脫落）的信號，這兩者都威脅著母親和嬰兒的生命。

伴侶應該做的事情：不要等著看出血是否停止。讓她側躺在左側，記下出血開始的時間和她浸透衛生巾的速度，保存任何排出的組織或血塊（放在乾淨的容器中——醫院可能需要檢查它們），並前往急診室。如果她感到頭暈、面色蒼白或心跳加速，請撥打911。

不要給予阿司匹林或布洛芬來緩解任何相關的疼痛——對於懷孕期間，對乙醯氨基酚（Tylenol）是唯一安全的非處方止痛藥。

在約28週後，大多數醫療提供者建議注意胎動模式。每個寶寶都有自己的節奏——有些是體操運動員，有些是輕柔的動作——但關鍵在於一致性。從寶寶正常的運動模式中明顯減少是需要撥打醫療提供者的理由。

經典的指導是「踢數」：選擇一個寶寶通常活躍的時間，側躺，計算感覺到10次運動（踢、翻滾、戳都算）。大多數寶寶在2小時內會達到10次。如果需要更長時間，或者懷孕者說「寶寶今天動得不多」，請認真對待。

伴侶應該做的事情：鼓勵她喝一些冷的甜飲，側躺在左側，並專注於運動一小時。如果在2小時內少於10次運動——或者如果她只是覺得有些不對——請撥打醫療提供者或前往分娩監測。不要等到明天。

胎動減少可能表明寶寶因臍帶問題、胎盤功能不全或其他併發症而處於困境。在許多情況下，寶寶只是睡著，一切都很好。但在某些情況下，當出現真正的問題時不檢查的後果遠遠超過額外一次醫院就診的不便。相信她的直覺——母親對減少運動的感知是許多死胎預防案例中最早的警告信號。

懷孕期間體溫超過100.4°F（38°C）的發燒需要迅速的醫療關注。發燒本身可能對發育中的寶寶有害——特別是在第一孕期，持續的高體溫與神經管缺陷有關。懷孕後期，發燒可能是感染的信號，可能引發早產。

懷孕期間發燒的常見原因包括尿路感染（非常常見，並且在懷孕中可能迅速進展為腎感染）、流感或COVID-19、李斯特菌病或其他食源性疾病、絨毛膜羊膜炎（羊水感染——一種嚴重的緊急情況）以及其他病毒或細菌感染。

伴侶應該做的事情：用真正的體溫計測量她的體溫（而不是用手放在額頭上）。如果超過100.4°F，請撥打婦產科醫生的辦公室或前往急診。給予對乙醯氨基酚（Tylenol）來降燒——在懷孕中是安全的。不要給予布洛芬（Advil/Motrin）或阿司匹林，這些在懷孕期間不建議使用。保持她的水分攝入，並注意其他紅旗：寒顫、背痛（可能表明腎感染）、異味的陰道分泌物或宮縮。

ACOG建議在懷孕期間接種流感和COVID疫苗，因為這些感染在懷孕期間的風險更高。如果她尚未接種疫苗，值得與她的醫療提供者討論。

Perinatal mood disorders — including depression and anxiety during pregnancy, not just after birth — affect up to 1 in 5 pregnant women. Suicidal ideation is more common than most people realize: suicide is a leading cause of maternal death in the first year after pregnancy, and the risk can begin during pregnancy itself.

Warning signs that partners should watch for include withdrawing from activities she used to enjoy, persistent sadness or hopelessness lasting more than two weeks, expressing feelings of worthlessness or being a burden, talking about death, not wanting to be alive, or wishing she could "go to sleep and not wake up," giving away possessions, dramatic mood swings beyond normal pregnancy hormones, inability to sleep even when exhausted (or sleeping excessively), loss of interest in the pregnancy or the baby, and increased substance use.

What partners should do: if she expresses any thoughts of self-harm or suicide, take it seriously every single time. Don't minimize it ("it's just hormones") and don't panic. Stay calm, listen without judgment, and take action. Call a suicide and crisis line for immediate guidance — findahelpline.com lists them by country. Postpartum Support International also supports people during pregnancy, and has volunteers in many countries. Contact her OB or midwife to report what's happening.

Perinatal depression is highly treatable. Therapy, medication (several antidepressants are safe in pregnancy), and support groups can make an enormous difference. Your role as a partner is to be the bridge between her and professional help.

Being prepared turns panic into action. Every partner should have these things ready by the third trimester — but ideally earlier.

On your phone: your OB/midwife's office number AND after-hours emergency line, the hospital's labor and delivery direct number (not the main switchboard), the address of the hospital where you're delivering (programmed into your GPS — you don't want to be typing it in an emergency), your local emergency number, a crisis line from findahelpline.com, and your local poison control centre.

In the car or by the door: the hospital bag (packed by 36 weeks), her insurance card and ID, a phone charger, and a printed copy of her birth plan and medication list.

Knowledge in your head: her blood type (especially if Rh-negative), any pregnancy complications or risk factors, her current medications and allergies, the name of her OB/midwife, and the five red flags from this article — severe headache with vision changes, heavy bleeding, decreased fetal movement, high fever, and thoughts of self-harm.

The most important thing a partner can bring to any emergency is calm, confident action. She may be scared, in pain, or unable to advocate for herself. You are her voice. Knowing what to watch for and how to respond is one of the most meaningful ways you can show up during pregnancy.