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Injuries during pregnancy

Warning:

If you experience any injury to your abdomen (tummy) in your pregnancy — for example, from a sudden impact, a fall, violence or accident — contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for information and support.

Key facts

  • Injuries to your abdomen in pregnancy (tummy) can lead to serious complications.
  • If you are seriously injured, the best outcomes for your baby happen when you receive prompt medical care.
  • If your injury is not an emergency, you can contact your GP, obstetrician or Urgent Care Clinic first.
  • Even after a minor injury during pregnancy, go to hospital straight away if your baby is not moving as much as normal, you have vaginal bleeding or if you have pain in your abdomen.

What happens if I get injured while I'm pregnant?

If you are pregnant and experience trauma or an accident, contact your doctor, visit an Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab) or go to your nearest hospital. Even a minor injury during pregnancy can lead to complications and your injury needs to be assessed and treated. 

Types of injuries may include: 

  • car accidents
  • serious falls
  • being physically hurt by someone

If your injury is less urgent, you can contact your doctor first. However, as with any injury, you should go to hospital if: 

If you have an injury, your health team will work to ensure your safety first. As soon as they can, doctors will also check on your baby. If you are severely injured, getting the best care gives your baby the best chance of survival. Depending on your injury, you may have many professionals taking care of you and your baby, including:

  • obstetricians 
  • other specialist doctors, including neonatologists (newborn baby specialists)
  • trauma specialists

What complications might trauma have on my pregnancy?

Trauma to your abdomen can lead to serious complications in your pregnancy, including:

  • placental abruption (when some of the placenta separates from your uterus before birth)
  • preterm labour
  • feto-maternal haemorrhage (bleeding from your baby’s blood supply into your bloodstream)
  • pelvic fracture
  • death of the mother or baby 

How might I get injured?

There are many ways you may be injured in pregnancy, such as:

Things that increase the risk of experiencing physical trauma while pregnant include:

  • being younger than 25 years old
  • not wearing your seat belt correctly in pregnancy
  • experiencing domestic violence

How do I wear my seatbelt correctly during pregnancy?

When you are pregnant, the lap belt should be over your hips, but below your uterus (belly). The sash part of the belt should be between your breasts and above your uterus (belly).

If you experience any trauma to your abdomen (tummy) in your pregnancy — for example, from a sudden impact, a fall, violence or accident — contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

Injury from a mental health crisis

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis (Opens in new tab) or thinking about suicide (Opens in new tab), call triple zero (000) or Lifeline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 14. Don't leave the person alone until help arrives.

Injury from family violence

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, contact 1800 RESPECT (Opens in new tab) on 1800 737 732 at any time for information and support.

What symptoms should I look for if I think I'm injured?

If you are injured in pregnancy, you should look out for:

If you notice any of these symptoms after an injury, contact your doctor. If you need to see your doctor but cannot wait for an appointment, you may be able to get treatment at an Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab) or call triple zero (000) in an emergency. Use the Service Finder (Opens in new tab) to find your nearest one.

Abdominal trauma

You may experience a bump, impact or trauma to your abdomen from many causes. If you have any injury to your abdomen, you should go to the nearest hospital. Be sure to tell the staff that you’re pregnant — an obstetrician will check that you and your baby are OK.

A fall is another common cause of abdominal trauma. Falls can also cause other injuries such as broken bones or head injuries. Depending on how you fall, you will be asked about your symptoms, examined and may need imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound. Your healthcare team will explain any risks before these tests.

Placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth) is the most common serious complication after blunt abdominal trauma. After an injury, you may need to stay in hospital for at least 4 hours so your baby’s heart rate can be monitored. This is to make sure there are no signs of placental abruption.

Warning:

If you have had an injury to your abdomen and have pain in your abdomen, a firm or tightening uterus, or vaginal bleeding, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Be sure to tell the operator that you are pregnant.

Broken bones

If you break your hip or pelvic bones, it can have serious consequences for you and your baby. Symptoms associated with a fractured pelvis include:

  • abdominal pain
  • referred shoulder pain
  • blood in your urine
  • dizziness
  • loss of consciousness 
  • pale skin

If you need surgery, it will be done in a way that has the least risks to you and your baby. There will be several doctors involved in your care, including an anaesthetist, a surgeon, an obstetrician and potentially a neonatologist.

If you think you have broken a bone (Opens in new tab), you need to go to a hospital or see your doctor. 

Burns

You may get burnt while you are pregnant. Burns are usually caused by hot liquid touching your skin. Inhaling smoke can also cause complications during pregnancy.

If you get a scald or a small burn (Opens in new tab), your baby is usually not directly injured. Burns can usually be treated in the same way as if you weren’t pregnant.

If you have a large deep burn, it can also affect your baby. If a large area of your body is burned, your baby may need to be born early.

Electric shock

You may experience an electric shock during pregnancy. This can happen from:  

  • a faulty kitchen appliance
  • a damaged electrical cord
  • lightning strike

If this happens to you, it is important to go to the hospital immediately — even a small shock could affect both you and your baby.

Muscle and joint injuries

If you have injured a muscle or joint, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. They can help you manage the pain and care for your injury while you’re pregnant. They may also recommend you see a physiotherapist for exercises and support.

To find a physiotherapist or maternal, child and family health service near you, use the Service Finder tool.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Skin injuries

You may get cuts, grazes or wounds while you are pregnant. Sometimes this is from skin conditions in pregnancy that are itchy and cause you to scratch your skin. This can lead to skin breaks, bleeding and sometimes infection. 

If you can’t stop scratching, you should urgently see your doctor. Depending on the cause, you may need creams or medicines to help manage the symptoms.

Sprains

If you have a sprain (Opens in new tab) while you’re pregnant, you should see a doctor who can examine you or you can visit an Urgent Care Clinic. Sprains can make it difficult to put weight on the sprained limb and also may be confused with early labour.

A doctor will be able to assess your injury and suggest ways to recover. Sometimes an ultrasound, x-ray (Opens in new tab) or another form of imaging is needed. This is to check if you have any broken bones that need treatment with a cast or surgery. Your doctor may also recommend you see a physiotherapist.

Teeth problems

If you have bleeding gums or pain in your gums or teeth, it is safe to see your dentist for treatment in pregnancy. Just let them know that you are pregnant. Dental check-ups, root canal treatment and fillings can all be done safely if you are pregnant.

It is important to treat dental problems without delay. Poor dental health in pregnancy can lead to premature birth or low birth weight in babies.

Tests and scans for diagnosing and managing injuries during pregnancy

If you are injured, you may need to have tests, procedures or scans. Before you have a test or procedure while you are pregnant, your doctor will explain any risks to you or your baby. They will explain to you why the tests are necessary. They will ask if you agree to having the test or procedure. This is known as informed consent.

Ultrasound does not expose your baby to any radiation. It is safe for you and your baby.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is safe for you and your baby during pregnancy.

X-rays (Opens in new tab) that do not expose your baby to levels of radiation over the suggested limit are safe during pregnancy. You will usually be given protection for your abdomen during an X-ray if you are pregnant.

Dental x-rays are generally safe during pregnancy, due to the very low exposure your baby will have to radiation. Be sure your dentist knows that you are pregnant, so they can take extra care to protect your baby from harm.

Medicines for managing injuries during pregnancy

There are medicines for pain and antibiotics for infections that you can safely use if you are pregnant. However, not all medicines have been approved for use during pregnancy. If you are unsure whether a medicine is safe for you or your baby, ask your pharmacist, or contact Mothersafe (Opens in new tab) for more advice.

Resources and support

Languages other than English

Services Australia has information on domestic violence in languages other than English (Opens in new tab) (including audio resources and a checklist).

If you are assisting someone who does not speak English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50. They can connect you to the appropriate support service.

Information for sexually and gender-diverse families

QLife (Opens in new tab) offers anonymous, LGBTI support and referral on 1800 184 527.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) (Opens in new tab) or Affiliate near you.

You can find out more about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnancy health at Stronger Bubba Born (Opens in new tab) or watch the How to Have a Safer Pregnancy video.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: February 2026

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