Death by any other name
Sun 10th Jun 2007 by Ben Palmer.I've now received so many messages, through comments on this blog and mostly by email, from women who have survived Puerperal Sepsis (or Childbed Fever) that it deserves comment.
Often the sepsis is due to retained placenta, but equally often - as in Jessica's case - it is not. To underline the problem, Jessica had a totally normal, textbook delivery. In the aftermath of her death and during the legal investigation every aspect of delivery and immediate post delivery care was scrutinised and no fault was found.
A perfect, complication free delivery is no guarantee of safety from sepsis. Jessica died because Group A Streptococcus invaded her uterus. Group A Strep is a relatively common bacteria - 'Strep Throat' is a more common manifestation. What is amiss is not to recognise the symptoms of Group A Strep when it takes a hold. It is a nasty and highly toxic organism and unless the symptoms of infection are caught early enough, death is a very real outcome.
Whatever the cause, infection in mothers should ring alarm bells, and the trigger should be any sign of fever or general feeling of unwell. Do not put a feverish temperature down to mother's milk coming in unless you are certain it cannot be infection.
When I was born my mother and I spent over a week in hospital so any infection would, had it occurred, in all probability have been picked up quickly enough. The fact that mothers are now turfed out of their beds in as little as six hours does not mean that the risk of childbed fever has diminished in any way.
It is purely complacency and cost saving. The risk is as strong as ever, and the stories that I have heard of so-called 'dirty' mothers with an infection pleading to be readmitted is heart rending. All too often it has been an understanding family GP with experience of working in third world countries that has insisted on admission and thereby saved the poor woman's life.
It makes me weep to know that there may be another Jessica any day. The reality is that there probably have been several, but I just haven't heard yet.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:48
Hello.....everything here is so moving. I've read and read through all the different articles and Jessica's sad and premature death might possibly have been avoided if a simple blood test had been carried out.
There's a lot of ignorance about Group A Strep and something needs to be done about it.
If you'd like to write an article about Jessica explaining what Childbed Fever is, we'd love to see it on The Baby Website and we'll certainly carry a link to the Downing Street Petition. I've signed it already, by the way!
Good luck and carry on enjoying your beautiful children.
Take Care
Kathryn
Editor of http://www.thebabywebsite.com
June 15th, 2007 at 09:04
Thank you so much for your kind words and support and I will indeed contact you about writing an article.
Many thanks
Ben
June 23rd, 2007 at 09:51
As promised, I wrote an article based on Death By Another Other Name for The Baby Website which is now on their features page.
Do pop over and have a read, and to any BWers passing through here, a big hello!