Does endometritis cause fever after birth?

Endometritis is infection and inflammation affecting the lining of the uterus after delivery. Fever may occur with chills, lower abdominal or pelvic tenderness, feeling generally unwell, a fast heartbeat, or vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell. Symptoms can follow vaginal birth or caesarean birth.

A raised temperature after birth can have causes other than endometritis, so a clinician may check your symptoms, abdomen, uterus, wound, urine, and blood tests. Do not rely on fever alone to identify the cause.

Contact your maternity unit, obstetrician, or doctor promptly if you develop a fever after birth, especially with pelvic pain, worsening bleeding, or foul-smelling discharge. If endometritis is diagnosed, treatment commonly involves antibiotics; the clinician will decide which medicine and whether hospital care is needed.

Take prescribed treatment for the full advised course and drink fluids as tolerated. Tell the clinician if you are breastfeeding, have medication allergies, or are not improving.

Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, rapidly worsening illness, or heavy bleeding. These signs can indicate a serious postpartum complication requiring immediate assessment.

Ask what may be causing the fever, whether you need examination or tests, which treatment is suitable while breastfeeding, and when you should expect improvement. Ask for clear instructions on who to contact if symptoms worsen.