In plain words
Endometritis is an infection of the lining of the uterus. It can happen after a vaginal birth, and it is more common after a , especially if labor was long or the water broke early. Signs include fever, chills, belly tenderness, a fast heartbeat, and bleeding that smells bad or changes color. Some mothers feel generally unwell, like they have the flu. It is treated with antibiotics given by a provider, so it is not something to wait out. A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher after birth is a threshold many clinicians use to call the same day. If you feel very unwell, or have a fever with chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911 or go to the emergency room now.
The deeper version
Postpartum endometritis is a polymicrobial infection of the and , most often involving anaerobes, , and enteric gram-negative organisms. Incidence is about 1 to 3 percent after vaginal birth and 5 to 10 percent or more after cesarean without prophylaxis, with the risk strongly linked to labor duration, membrane rupture, and operative delivery. ACOG Practice Bulletin 199 (2018) on use of prophylactic antibiotics in labor and delivery specifies the prophylaxis in cesarean birth and the diagnostic approach. The diagnosis is clinical, based on fever, uterine tenderness, and foul , with exclusion of other sources. Persistent or recurrent fever warrants imaging for retained products or abscess.
Where it comes up
- Signs of infection after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- Postpartum warning signs: the one-page listPostpartum: Your Body
- What happens in a cesareanBirth and the First Days
- Cesarean recovery, week by weekPostpartum: Your Body
- Afterpains: cramping while nursingPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about endometritis
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 199: Use of prophylactic antibiotics in labor and delivery, 2018
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Postpartum infection warning signs, guidance for clinicians