What is postpartum fever, and why does it occur? Typically, the fever lasts for more than 24 hours within the first 10 days after delivery. It was a common occurrence in centuries past, but in recent times has become less of a concern for delivering mothers. One of the major culprits of this fever was streptococcal bacteria, most commonly spread by unsanitary delivery techniques. Many mothers died as a result of these infections, but new technology and better medications have dramatically reduced these deaths. The high standards of hygiene in maternity wards and closer monitoring of women after delivery have been the major forces behind these improved outcomes.
Still, even 21st-century medicine cannot eliminate it completely. Infections of the genital tract and of the urinary system, especially the bladder, are the most common causes of fever following childbirth. Breast infections, blood clots in the legs and inflamed tissue can also cause elevated temperatures in the period after delivery. In most of these cases, the mother’s temperature will be at least 38.4 degrees Celsius in the first 24 hours or greater than 38 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days in the nine days following delivery.
These fevers cannot be ignored as they can represent serious infections. For doctors, the first task is to identify the source. This will allow them to administer the appropriate antibiotics. Infections, however, are not the only cause of these fevers. Some women experience atelectasis, a condition in which air is absent from a portion of the lungs. This condition typically doesn’t require any treatment other than a regimen of deep breathing to get the lungs inflated and the air recirculating.
One of the most worrying causes of postpartum fever is deep venous thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the legs or pelvic blood vessels. This should always be considered when looking for the source of fever, because overlooking or misdiagnosing such a cause can have fatal consequences. If these DVTs aren’t treated properly, small parts of the clot can break off and travel up to the heart through the veins. Once inside the heart, they can latch onto one or more of the valves that separate the heart’s four chambers. These mini-clots can also travel into the lungs where they can lodge and cause respiratory stress or, in more severe cases, sudden death. DVTs can also send smaller clot fragments into the blood vessels of the brain, which can cause strokes.
Those at highest risk for postpartum fever are mothers who have delivered via C-section, those who don’t practice adequate hygienic care after delivery and those suffering from obesity. With C-sections, doctors often give their patients at least one dose of antibiotics during the delivery, when a woman’s body is most susceptible to infection. Adequate cleansing is also important as blood clots or other bodily fluids can pool in the pelvic area after a delivery. Sarah Jessica Parker’s doctors did not disclose the cause of her infection and most mothers will deliver without any complications. Nonetheless, understanding the potential risks could be an important first step in starting this new phase of life.
