Having a baby is thought of as one of those joyous occasions. You've made it through those 40 weeks and now you have your beautiful little one in your arms. But what about those not so joyous complications that come along after delivery? What about infections? 5% to 7% of women develop postpartum infections and if you've had a c-section your chances of an infection can increase. Infections can affect more than one part of your body, from your uterus to your breasts. If your uterus is sore or tender, if you have a fever or chills, These infections can show up between 1 and 3 days after delivery so it's important to pay attention to your body and anything that may be off.
So what kind of infections should you watch for?
Mastitis
This is an infection of the breasts, that can affect women that are breastfeeding. I've personally dealt with this and also know women who've had to deal with this as well. When I say PAINFUL, it is PAINFUL. Bacteria enters an area of the nipple that is cracked and TADA, infection. This is treated with antibiotics. How do you know if you have Mastitis? If your breast(s) is warm to the touch, painful, red, or swollen, then you just might have it. Sometimes a fever and pain with breastfeeding is common. Please reach out to your provider to get treated. Also, follow up with a lactation consultant to make sure the baby is latching properly and that you have the proper positioning techniques. If you don't respond well to the antibiotics that are given to you, a trip to the hospital for IV antibiotics may be needed. If you don't get this treated, you could end up an abscess that only surgery can fix!
UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
UTI's after pregnancy suck! They're more common in those that had to have a catheter inserted while they were in the hospital for delivery. This is because sometimes bacteria can be introduced to the urinary tract during this process. Women who've had a C-Section can also get a UTI. Pain/burning during urination, abdominal pain, urgency, urine that smells, fever and chills are signs to pay attention to. A UTI can be treated with an antibiotic, so please follow up if you think you have one. If this goes untreated, it can become worse, to the point where sepsis can set in, and we don't want that.
Wound infection
I've never had a c-section but I've had to help treat wounds that became infected. One thing I can say, it wasn't fun for those ladies. I felt so bad whenever we would get a patient that had a c-section wound that was infected. I'm sure all they wanted to do was be home with their little ones, but they're dealing with this. A wound infection happens after a c-section incision becomes infected due to bacteria entering the incision. Foul odor, fever, tenderness, and drainage/puss at the site are signs of a wound infection. Like the other infections above, this can be treated with a round or two of antibiotics. But sometimes the wound starts to open or separate and this could require surgery. You do NOT want to leave this untreated. A staph infection can happen and we want to avoid that for sure!
If you have any concerns about things going on with your body that don't seem right, don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. You've already got a lot to focus on, your new born baby. If something is going on, it's best to find out as soon as possible so treatment can start immediately!
As always, until next time, sending you peace, love, and abundance!
Tiffany Underwood
Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Doula
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