Signs for the midwife to check in stage 1
If the mother has a fever, check for these other signs of infection:
• The baby’s heartbeat is more than 180 beats a minute.
• The mother’s pulse is more than 100 beats a minute.
• The mother’s vagina smells bad.
• The mother has pain when she urinates.
• The mother’s belly is sore or tender to the touch.
• The mother has pain in the sides or kidneys.
What to do
Because all infection in labor is dangerous,
you should treat fever right away. Begin by
giving the woman lots of fluids, like water,
rehydration drink (see page 160), or
herbal teas that lower temperature.
Giving the mother a sponge bath with
cool (not cold) water also may help.
It can be difficult to know what is
causing a fever and infection. If you think
the woman is seriously dehydrated, give
rectal fluids (page 342) or IV fluids if you
know how (page 350).
Check for signs of bladder or kidney infection (see page 128) and malaria
(see page 98). If she does not seem to have one of those infections, she may have
an infection of the womb or amniotic sac. Go to a medical center for antibiotics.
If medical help is more than an hour away, give one of the following antibiotics
on the way.
For womb infection in labor
On the way to the hospital
• give 2 g ampicillin ���������������������������������������������������������������������by mouth, 4 times a day
for 7 to 10 days
and
• give 400 to 500 mg metronidazole ����������������������������by mouth, 3 times a day
for 7 to 10 days
179
A Book for Midwives (2010)