When should I worry about a fever after childbirth?

Last reviewed July 23, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineA temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or higher after childbirth can signal infection and should be checked promptly, especially in the first weeks. Contact a professional urgently if the fever comes with foul-smelling discharge or heavier bleeding, a red hot painful breast, a red or oozing wound, or burning when you pee. Seek emergency care if you feel very unwell, shivery, confused, breathless, or have a non-fading rash - signs of sepsis, which develops fast. Early antibiotics are highly effective, so don't wait it out.

A fever after birth (a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or higher) can be a sign of infection and should be checked promptly - especially in the first weeks. Contact your midwife, GP, or maternity unit, and seek urgent care if you also feel very unwell.

Why fever matters postpartum

The postpartum period carries a real risk of infection - in the womb, a C-section or perineal wound, the urinary tract, or the breast. Infections can escalate quickly, so a fever is treated seriously, not waited out.

Contact a professional promptly if you have a fever with

• Foul-smelling vaginal discharge or heavier bleeding (possible womb infection)
• A red, hot, painful area on the breast with flu-like aches (possible mastitis)
• Pain, redness, swelling, or pus from a C-section or perineal wound (wound infection)
• Burning when you pee, needing to go often, or lower tummy pain (possible urine infection)
• Severe tummy or pelvic pain

Seek urgent / emergency care if

• You feel very unwell, shivery, or your heart is racing
• Fever with confusion, breathlessness, cold clammy skin, or a rash that doesn't fade - signs of sepsis, which is a medical emergency

Don't downplay it

Postpartum sepsis can develop fast. If in doubt, get checked - antibiotics are highly effective when started early.

Any fever of 38°C/100.4°F or more after birth deserves prompt assessment, and feeling very unwell with it is an emergency.

Femora helps you track postpartum symptoms so you can recognize warning signs early.