While a certain amount of bleeding and fatigue is to be expected after delivery, there are some conditions that require more intense medical attention. No matter how much care you may try to take, sometimes catching an infection is inevitable. There are many open wounds in the uterus and also open lacerations around the vaginal area and the cervix after delivery. This makes the body weaker and more prone to catching infections.
Infections that are caused by delivery, vaginal or caesarean, and even during breastfeeding are called postpartum infections. This happens when bacteria infect the uterus and surrounding areas after a woman gives birth. Postpartum infections are also called puerperal infections.
Today, about two percent of women who undergo normal vaginal deliveries develop postpartum infections. This rate increases to about ten percent in the case of difficult deliveries and to fifty percent in the case of caesarean delivery if preventative antibiotics are not given.
Women who have had caesarean deliveries, premature membrane ruptures, prolonged use of internal foetal monitoring and those suffering from anaemia are prone to getting these infections.
Postpartum infection symptoms do not always appear when the mother is in the hospital. They may start to show up anytime within ten days after delivery. Some of the signs of postpartum infection are as follows:
Some of the most common postpartum infections are as follows:
Proper diagnosis is based on the results of some physical examinations. Sometimes a diagnosis can be made when women have a fever and no other symptom. Usually, urine samples are taken to be cultured and then checked for bacteria that may be causing the problem.
If infections go undetected or untreated they can lead to blood clots, infections in the kidneys, which cause kidney problems and infections in the bloodstream can sometimes cause sepsis. Most often though, the infections can be treated, and the biggest problem lies with it taking time away from bonding and caring for your baby. Seek medical help if you have even the slightest feeling that something is not right.
The treatments for postpartum infections are:
Bed rest, drinking a lot of fluids, maintaining a balanced diet, and medicines. If in the case of breast infections that are serious, the mother may pass it along to the newborn and so it is better that she does not breastfeed her baby. A breast pump can be utilised to express the milk to prevent breast engorgement or breast abscess.
2. Local Treatment:
In the case of episiotomies, the stitches will need to be removed so that the puss can be drained.
Sometimes there are some tissues that have been retained in the uterus causing a uterus infection after birth. These should be removed very gently. If the uterus is too fragile, the mother should be put on antibiotics for a couple of days before removal is attempted.
Clean vaginal pads must be used and changed regularly.
Educate yourself on the proper care of wounds after delivery as taking care of this will reduce the chances of developing any kind of infection. Make sure to wash your hands before handling your wounds and always wipe from front to back when needed. In order to manage your postpartum bleeding, do not use tampons as these are meant to be inserted into the vagina and if they are contaminated, they will carry infections directly inside. Always remember to see your doctor at the first sign of fever and keep them informed of any discomfort you may be feeling. This way you can be sure of whether you are experiencing normal postpartum pains, or if the case is more serious.