Aibu to remind people about sepsis post partum

[allotmentgardener]

Pleased to bits with myself after successful vbac 2 weeks ago ds2 shooting out after 3 pushes (after a 36 hour induction) home the next day.

Started feeling ouchy in the stitches (2nd degree tear) and generally crap but put it down just having squeezed a baby out my foof. The following day I felt worse and called the midwife explaining I thought I had a urinary infection, intense pain on weeing and feeling rough. It was the weekend no drs on she recommended drinking gallons to flush system.

Sunday night I had the shakes and a burning fever. Midwife was due to visit so I waited (day 5) I continued to think that I felt crap due to just having given birth.

She sent me straight to the GP. Who sent me straight to hospital in an ambulance for sepsis where I remained for 5 days on iv drugs until I started getting better and the fever stopped. Another 5 days of antibiotics at home.

Ladies please trust your instincts. I put on a brave face but I was really very very poorly and didn't realise it.

Another one here, with DD1. Luckily it was caught early by an eagle eyed consultant who was up looking at something else on the ward. Frankly, not surprised I developed it- never been in a more crowded, dirtier hell than that postnatal Ward. Was so bad.

A lot of people haven’t heard of it
A relative of ours has type 2 diabetes and they are susceptible because they get more infections. He’s had pneumonia and a few nasty UTIs and being stubborn about getting help. I mentioned sepsis to other family members including my DH whose relative it is and received blank looks

"It’s appalling that this is happening to women in this day and age, it was unheard of when I had mine."

Women have been dying of puerpural fever for millenniae, in their millions, until the advent of antibiotics. The difference I suspect between the last generation and this one is that unlike now they weren't turfed out of hospital after 24 hours, and were probably much better monitored while they were there, so infections were caught earlier.

I had sepsis during the second trimester. I had the same symptoms as you OP. Sadly it caused my membranes to rupture so my baby had no fluid to grow and eventually I lost him. I wish I'd know the early signs sooner instead of putting it down to feeling extra rubbish because I was pregnant and babies "take all your good stuff". I know the outcome may have been the same but who knows.

Look after yourselves everyone and don't hesitate going to the doctors.

I had a section with my first last June, I had a undiagnosed kidney infection at the time, after having her, my temperature spiked and I was shivering, the doctor came round and got bloods, and I had sepsis as well as the kidney infection!

I think you're partly right @frogsoup. But I also think hospitals were much cleaner places then before cleaning services were contracted out to the lowest bidder.

@OoohAyyye 

Congratulations OP! And so glad you're better.

I had no idea sepsis was so common postpartum.

@ExplodingCarrots - sepsis used to be called septicaemia, which I think lots more people have heard of but which isn't really used as a medical term any more.

I think for me the lesson here is trusting your instincts and going to a GP if something doesn't feel right. I think after 9 months of pregnancy we get so used to the idea that we should go to the midwives with any concerns/issues, and (while they may be fantastic at their job) maybe there are some things that a doctor is better qualified to pick up on?

In my case I had postpartum psychosis and but didn't get any diagnosis/treatment until several weeks postpartum when I went to the GP. Until then, the midwives had monitored me regularly due to my ongoing/developing symptoms (including hallucinations, delusions, confusion, severe anxiety, physical paralysis, sweating buckets...) but they sent me home because they thought it was probably just "baby blues"  So if I'm ever brave enough to have another baby (probably not!) I'll definitely be bothering the GP with any concerns and won't take No for an answer!

Sending everyone unMumsnetty hugs

Some terrible stories here and some dreadful attitudes from HCPs dismissing women as fusspots.

Nothing new to add. I emailed sepsis.UK and mumsnet but want it to stay on the current board for pregnant mums and newly delivered ( ???) Mums to see and to raise awareness. I didn't know sepsis was what was formerly known as puerpal fever. No wonder women used to get churches post birth.

Churched

I'm shocked at the way some of you were treated in literally life threatening situations! So scary!