Although pregnancy is the same for women worldwide, their safety varies greatly depending on where the women live and the type of medical care they receive, if any.

Sepsis is an illness that can develop in some pregnant women, as well as in women who have recently delivered a baby or babies. Sepsis that occurs during pregnancy is called maternal sepsis. If it develops within six weeks of delivery, it is called postpartum sepsis or puerperal sepsis. Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body’s often deadly inflammatory response to infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Sepsis kills and disables millions, more than breast cancer, lung cancer, and stroke combined.

Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in the body, such as pneumonia, influenza, or urinary tract infections. Worldwide, one-third of people who develop sepsis die. Many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs don’t work properly), and/or amputations.

Maternal and postpartum sepsis are more common in the developing countries, but they also do strike women in wealthier countries, including in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis is the second leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Between 2014 and 2017 infection or sepsis caused 12.7% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. Pregnancy-associated sepsis requires early detection, accurate diagnosis, and aggressive treatment. In the United Kingdom, a 2019 study found that sepsis accounted for as many as 25% of all maternal deaths in that country.

Any woman who is pregnant, has miscarried or aborted, or who has delivered a child is at risk of developing maternal or postpartum sepsis. However, some women do have a higher risk than do others. Risk factors associated with developing maternal sepsis include not having given birth before (medically called nulliparity), being black, and having public or no health insurance. Other childbirth-related risk factors include having a C-section, using assisted reproductive technologies in order to become pregnant, and having multiple births (twins, triplets, or more).

Women who may be more prone to getting an infection, which can lead to sepsis, are those:

• With diabetes
• Who undergo invasive procedures to help them get pregnant
• Who undergo invasive tests during pregnancy

The CDC recommends that women be up-to-date on their vaccines before becoming pregnant, if possible. Speak with your doctor about your immunity to the so-called childhood diseases and if you need booster shots. Women are also encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine even when pregnant. If you travel, you may need vaccines specific to your destination.

Diagnosing sepsis in a pregnant woman or one who has recently given birth can be challenging. Pregnancy and delivery cause many changes in the body, including a faster heart beat, changes in blood pressure, and faster breathing. Usually, these are signs that may alert a healthcare provider that there may be something wrong, such as an infection. Also, many women get chills and sweat heavily after giving birth. They may also have pain, or feel dizzy or light headed.

It also may be more difficult to diagnose infections in pregnant and postpartum women. For example, urinary tract infections usually cause a frequent need to urinate, but this can happen because of pregnancy alone. So if a woman is going to the bathroom a lot, she may just chalk it up to being pregnant and not realize that she has an infection.

If you suspect sepsis, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital and tell your medical professional, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SEPSIS.” 

The information here is also available as a Sepsis Information Guide, which is a downloadable format for easier printing.

Would you like to share your story about sepsis or read about others who have had sepsis? Please visit Faces of Sepsis, where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis.

Updated December 14, 2017

Join Sepsis Alliance for Maternal Sepsis Week, the week of Mother’s Day, to raise awareness of maternal sepsis, honor survivors, and remember those who have passed.

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