Maternal Sepsis: Infection Warning Signs During Pregnancy and After Birth
Maternal sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection during pregnancy, childbirth or after birth. Learn warning signs that need urgent assessment, how to seek help in India and what care may involve.
In this guide
What is maternal sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to infection that can injure the body’s organs. When it occurs during pregnancy, childbirth, after birth or after an abortion, it is called maternal sepsis. It can worsen quickly, so severe illness or a worrying combination of symptoms needs urgent medical assessment.
An infection can worsen during or after pregnancy
Possible infection sites include the uterus, urinary tract, lungs, skin, a surgical wound or another part of the body. A person may become seriously ill during pregnancy or after leaving hospital. Recent birth or abortion is important information for the clinician, not a reason to delay or withhold care.
Sepsis may not look like a single textbook symptom
Warning signs can include fever or an unusually low temperature, chills, rapid or difficult breathing, a fast heartbeat, very little urine, pale or mottled skin, severe pain, confusion or feeling dramatically worse. Fever may be absent. Symptoms can resemble other illnesses, so this list cannot diagnose or rule out sepsis.
The woman’s sense that something is seriously wrong matters
Tell a clinician if she is deteriorating, unusually drowsy, confused or much weaker than expected, even if a temperature reading appears normal. She should be listened to directly and assessed without blame about her pregnancy, birth or reproductive decisions.
| Pregnancy / birth / abortion date | Symptoms and start time | Temperature if known | Breathing, alertness, urine | Known infection or medicines | Who contacted emergency care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
When should you seek emergency help?
If someone who is pregnant or recently gave birth is very unwell, confused, struggling to breathe, fainting or getting worse quickly, treat it as an emergency.
Call 112 for severe illness or rapid deterioration
Call India’s 112 emergency service or go to an emergency department now for difficulty breathing, confusion, fainting, collapse, very little urine with severe illness, cold or mottled skin, or a rapid decline. Say that she is pregnant or recently gave birth and that infection or sepsis is a concern.
Contact maternity or medical care urgently for suspected infection
A fever or chills after birth, worsening pelvic or wound pain, foul-smelling discharge, painful urination or a new cough should be discussed promptly with a clinician, especially if she feels worse. If symptoms are severe, do not wait for a clinic callback; use emergency care.
Bring the timeline, not just the temperature
Tell staff when symptoms began, the pregnancy or birth date, any procedure or wound, medicines and allergies, and how breathing, alertness and urination have changed. Share the information while help is being arranged; do not delay travel to collect records.
How is maternal sepsis assessed and treated?
Only a care team can assess whether infection has caused sepsis and identify where it began. The team may need to investigate and treat at the same time because waiting can be dangerous.
Assessment may include observations and tests
Clinicians may check blood pressure, pulse, breathing, temperature, urine and blood tests, and look for an infection source. They may collect samples when useful, but urgent treatment should not be held up when a clinician believes sepsis is likely.
Treatment is time-sensitive and clinician-directed
Care may include antibiotics, fluids, oxygen, monitoring or a procedure to control the infection source, depending on the findings. The woman should not start leftover antibiotics or wait for a home remedy to lower a fever; the correct medicine and dose depend on clinical assessment.
Ask who is coordinating care and follow-up
Once immediate care is underway, ask who will update the woman, what infection is suspected, which results are pending, and what signs mean she must return. If she is discharged, request the follow-up time, medicine instructions and a safe number to call.
Maternal sepsis: frequently asked questions
Does sepsis always cause a high fever?
No. WHO lists both fever and low body temperature among possible signs. A normal temperature does not make severe confusion, breathing difficulty or rapid deterioration safe to ignore.
Is every postpartum infection sepsis?
No. Many infections do not progress to sepsis. But an infection with severe illness or signs of organ dysfunction needs urgent assessment because only a clinician can determine whether sepsis is present.
Can sepsis happen after an abortion?
Yes. WHO includes sepsis arising during pregnancy, childbirth, after birth or after an abortion in its description of maternal sepsis. Share recent care and symptoms with clinicians; urgent care should be respectful and non-judgmental.
Should we wait for test results before going to hospital?
No, not when she is seriously unwell, confused, short of breath, fainting or rapidly worsening. Call 112 or go to emergency care. Tests help clinicians guide treatment but should not delay urgent assessment.
Words you can use
Report possible maternal sepsis
Calling a hospital or emergency service
“She is [pregnant / gave birth / had an abortion] on [date]. Since [time], she has [fever or low temperature, chills, breathing changes, confusion, low urine, pain or wound symptoms] and is [getting worse / very unwell]. Infection or sepsis is a concern. We are at [location]. Please arrange urgent assessment.”
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Sources and publication record
Clinical sources checked 27 September 2026; medical and human Hindi editorial review pending · Sources checked .
- Sepsis: maternal sepsis definition, signs and urgent responseWorld Health Organization
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs