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Puerperal fever, or "postpartum infection," is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality.

1900s

EPD
RHRR

Postpartum infection, which is called "puerperal fever" in this era, occurs when a pathogen–usually bacterial–is introduced in the birth process, either by the birthing person or the provider attending the birth.

Some physicians in this era argue for more medicalized care and increased interventions to prevent infections and fever, while others observe that riskier medical obstetric procedures have done nothing to decrease the postpartum mortality rate.

In the following years, forceps will be introduced to help with extraction of the infant's head in the birth process. This will lead to more lacerations and possibilities for infection as these interventions occur before medical equipment is routinely sterilized.

This debate sets the stage for later restrictions against the field of midwifery, despite studies at the time showing that midwife-led births have a reduced risk of postpartum infection.