Why did the temperature rise after a cesarean section and what to do?

It is typical for the body to go through a healing phase following a cesarean section. But for new mothers, it can be concerning when a fever appears. An increase in temperature could indicate that something is off, so it’s critical to identify the potential cause.

Fever following a C-section can have multiple causes. It might have to do with the wound healing, an infection, or even something as basic as the body’s normal reaction to the procedure. Finding the reason is the first step in figuring out what to do next.

It’s crucial to maintain your composure while remaining vigilant if you have a fever following your cesarean. Your healing process may be significantly impacted by your understanding of when to seek medical attention and what actions you can take at home.

A spike in temperature following a cesarean section can be a common cause for concern for a number of reasons, including infection, inflammation, or the body’s natural healing process. It’s critical to keep a close eye on the fever and speak with medical professionals to identify the cause and the best course of action. Promptly addressing these issues can guarantee the health and well-being of both mother and child throughout their recuperation.

Physiological reasons

Following a cesarean section, temperature is a typical response of the female immune system to the surgical procedure. It should typically last a short while and be between 37.0 and 37.8 degrees, or subfebrile. Within one to two days following the procedure, the temperature returns to normal if the early postoperative phase proceeds normally.

Giving birth on a surgical table cannot be regarded as a normal, physiological process. Consequently, a cesarean section causes a great deal of stress to a woman’s body, which typically results in a slight increase in body temperature in the first day or two following the procedure.

Nevertheless, the body has a high degree of adaptability, and the immune system reacts quickly to anything that happens, even the presence of foreign objects like internal and external suture threads, allowing thermoregulation to return to normal.

Pathological causes

Elevated body temperature, which increased nearly right away following surgery, could indicate an infection. Three to four days following surgery, if the thermometer read 38 degrees or higher, this could also indicate an infection.

There is no way around the possibility of complications following a cesarean section. They may appear before, during, or following surgery. One of the most serious side effects is the addition of an infection, which can be fatal for a woman. In addition to a fever, other signs of an infectious infection include:

• pain in the abdominal area;
• discharge of an unusual color, consistency, with an unpleasant odor;
• suppuration of the postoperative scar, discharge from it.

Inflammation of the endometrium, the uterus’ functional layer, is the most frequent consequence. It is known as endometritis (also known as endometriosis when endometrial cells invade nearby tissues). Endometritis of the uterine internal scar can also occur.

Experts estimate that the likelihood of an infectious consequence ranges from 0.7 to 5% of cases. However, these are merely mediocre data. This occurs more frequently in hospitals because there is less emphasis placed on hygienic standards there. The majority of operating rooms and intensive care units in Russia today are furnished with contemporary equipment, sterile (disposable, non-boilable) instruments are used, and contemporary antibiotics and antiseptics are employed. Because of this, the mother’s chance of contracting an infectious disease is now only 0.75–1.5%.

A woman should adhere closely to her doctor’s advice following a cesarean section. If they disregard them, further issues could develop that manifest as fever two days after the surgical delivery as well as after a week and a month.

Fever can also occur for the following reasons (at any point following surgery):

• improper or inadequate care of external sutures, inflammation, suppuration;
• colds, acute respiratory viral infections, flu (after a cesarean section, women experience a decrease in immune defense along with the inevitable blood loss);
• autoimmune processes in the mother"s body (the suture material used to close the incisions on the uterus and muscle tissues is not accepted by the immune system, does not take hold, and is rejected), with the temperature rising to 37.0-38.0 degrees and lasting quite a long time;
• endocrine disorders (a cesarean section terminates pregnancy suddenly, contrary to the laws of nature, and therefore hormonal imbalance is possible) – temperature is a sign of hormonal imbalance:
• exacerbation of a chronic disease in the postoperative period or the occurrence of an acute disease (pyelonephritis, nephritis, adnexitis, pancreatitis and others) – due to a strong decrease in immunity, a manifestation of a disease occurs that was previously characteristic of the woman in labor, or the disease appears for the first time for the same reason and proceeds, accordingly, acutely.

Apart from the aforementioned factors, stagnation and inflammation in the mammary glands could also be the cause of a rise in temperature following a cesarean section. This problem usually arises 7–10 days after delivery, during the active formation stage of lactation.

When temperature first appears, it can be determined that the following common causes contributed to its development:

• After 2-3 days – acute wound infection, infection, sepsis;
• After 5 days – endometriosis, pneumonia (with coughing and respiratory manifestations);
• After 2-4 days -acute cystitis (inflammation of the urinary tract due to the establishment of a catheter during the operation and on the first day after it);
• 7-8 days – pyelonephritis;
• 10-20 days – mastitis, mastopathy;
• at any time – influenza, SARSI.

After a cesarean section, experiencing a rise in temperature can be concerning, but it’s important to keep in mind that a number of factors could be at play. Paying attention to the symptoms and keeping in contact with your healthcare provider are crucial, regardless of whether it’s the body’s normal reaction to surgery, an infection, or some other problem.

Do not hesitate to consult a physician if you observe any unusual symptoms, such as a persistent fever. A more seamless recovery can be ensured and possible complications can be addressed with early intervention.

Following your doctor’s instructions, resting, and taking care of yourself following surgery will help your body heal. Remember to ask for help when you need it, and have faith that your body is making a lot of effort to heal.

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