Infection after birth: uterus, urine or wound
Infections after birth can affect the uterus, bladder or a wound. Fever, worsening pain, foul-smelling discharge or a red, swollen wound need medical review.
Most important
Fever of 100.4°F or higher
CDC lists a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher as an urgent warning sign. Get care right away.
Important to know
- Use CDC's threshold: 100.4°F (38°C). Some older local handouts use a higher number; we do not.
What may happen
- Tests to find the cause.
- Antibiotics, sometimes through an IV.
Why
Birth and surgery can allow bacteria to enter the uterus, bladder or wounds.
What varies
Treatment depends on where the infection is and how severe it is.
Questions to ask
- Why am I getting antibiotics, and for how long?
- What signs mean the infection is getting worse?
Prototype draft. Not yet clinically reviewed. Your own care team's instructions come first. About this app
Sources
Summaries are drafted from these public sources. No hospital has endorsed this app.
Corewell Health / Beaumont · Southeast Michigan legacy website
Potential Postpartum Complications(opens in a new tab)- Published
- Date not stated
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Search index copy only; current page not confirmed
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Fever wording differs from CDC; do not adopt the higher threshold. Older indexed page, recheck current canonical URL.
ACOG · National patient education supplement
3 Conditions to Watch for After Childbirth(opens in a new tab)- Published
- Date not stated
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Read from a search index copy
Applies to: National or state guidance, not a hospital procedure.
Limitations: Useful where local public treatment descriptions are incomplete.