Maternal sepsis

What is maternal sepsis?

Infections are common during pregnancy, birth and after birth. Sometimes, these infections can enter the blood, spread quickly through the body and damage major organs. When this happens, it is called maternal sepsis. If it is not treated quickly, maternal sepsis can be very dangerous and even life-threatening.

Why is it important to know about maternal sepsis?

Maternal sepsis is one of the main causes of death in women during pregnancy, childbirth and after birth. It can also affect your baby, causing an early birth or sometimes infections in the baby or death.

It can be lifesaving to learn about sepsis so that you know when to go to a healthcare facility if you think that you have sepsis. With the proper care, sepsis can be treated and your life and your baby's can be saved.

What are the causes of maternal sepsis?

Infections are the most common cause of maternal sepsis. These infections can happen:

• in wounds, especially after cesarean section
• in the womb after birth
• in the water around the baby during pregnancy
• elsewhere in your body, for example, in your kidneys, breasts or chest

You may also be more at risk of maternal sepsis if you

• have an untreated infection
• have a cesarean section or vaginal tear during birth
• give birth in a place without access to clean water or where it is hard to keep clean
• give birth in a place that is overcrowded
• have a long birth
• your waters break more than a day before the baby is born
• have a weak immune system, for example, because of HIV
• have urine infections during pregnancy
• are overweight
• have diabetes

What are the symptoms of maternal sepsis?

You might have maternal sepsis if you

• have a fever or feel cold and shivery
• have a fast heartbeat
• have trouble breathing or are breathing fast
• feel very weak, tired and dizzy
• feel confused

Especially if you

• notice bad-smelling discharge passing from your vagina
• notice swelling, redness, pain and discharge from your cesarean section wound

If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to go to your nearest healthcare facility straight away. Do not wait. Sepsis can get worse quickly and can even end your life.

How is maternal sepsis treated?

If you think you have maternal sepsis, your healthcare worker will check you and your baby and

• ask you some questions about how you feel
• examine you to assess your general wellbeing
• measure your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing rate
• arrange some tests such as blood tests

To treat maternal sepsis, your healthcare worker may give you

• antibiotics through a drip to fight the infection
• salty water through a drip to keep you hydrated

Treatment for sepsis should start as soon as possible, preferably within an hour of it being recognized. You may need to stay in the hospital to be monitored, and the baby may be born early.

How to prevent maternal sepsis?

You can lower your chances of maternal sepsis by

• treating any infections early
• going to all of your pregnancy check-ups
• staying up-to-date with your vaccinations
• washing your hands often with soap and having good hygiene
• keeping any wounds clean, especially cesarean section wounds, by washing them with clean water
• giving birth in a clean and safe space
• making sure that your healthcare worker washes their hands before touching you or your baby

These steps can help protect you and your baby from dangerous infections that cause sepsis.