The short explanation
Please do not wait. Fever with shivering and a foul-smelling discharge two weeks after delivery can be a sign of infection in the womb, which needs treatment the same day. Infections after delivery can become serious if they spread, but they usually respond well when treated early. Go to your nearest hospital, community health centre or PHC today. If you feel very unwell, confused or breathless, call 112.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Other possible sources of fever after delivery include a urine infection, breast infection, wound infection or chest infection, so the doctor will examine you and may do blood and urine tests.
- Women who had a long labour, a caesarean, retained placenta or anaemia are at higher risk.
- Government hospitals provide postnatal care, so cost should not delay treatment.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell where the infection is or how severe it is. An examination and tests are needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Where is the infection coming from?
- Do I need a scan or blood tests?
- Is the treatment safe while breastfeeding?
- What signs mean I should come back immediately?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have a high fever with shivering, feel confused, very drowsy or breathless, or feel extremely unwell.
Get help the same day
- Get seen at a hospital or health centre today because of fever with foul-smelling discharge.
Book an appointment soon
- Return within a few days if you are not improving after treatment.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Mention the infection at your postnatal follow-up.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Postpartum care MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Mastitis NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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