What every new mum needs to know about maternal sepsis this week

This week is Maternal Sepsis Awareness Week, and the HSE is urging expectant mothers, new parents and healthcare workers to make sure they know the signs and symptoms of a condition that can be genuinely life-threatening — and is far easier to miss than most people realise.

Sepsis is the kind of thing that tends to fly under the radar, not because people are careless, but because its symptoms can look like so many other things. Feeling unwell after a birth or a miscarriage? Shivery, exhausted, a bit off? Those feelings are easy to put down to the sheer physical toll of pregnancy and new parenthood. That’s exactly what makes sepsis so dangerous.

The HSE defines maternal sepsis as sepsis that develops during pregnancy or up to six weeks (42 days) after birth, a miscarriage or a termination of pregnancy. According to the National Sepsis Report 2024, there were 285 cases of pregnancy-related sepsis in Ireland in 2024 alone. Between 2020 and 2024, there were also 2,704 cases of paediatric sepsis in children under one year of age. Those are significant numbers — and the HSE believes better awareness can genuinely save lives.

Why pregnancy increases the risk

Pregnancy changes the immune system. That’s a normal, necessary part of growing a baby — but it also means that infections which might be minor at other times can escalate more quickly and more severely. Sepsis can develop rapidly, which is why early recognition matters so much.

Michael O’Dwyer, Clinical Lead of the HSE Sepsis Programme, puts it plainly: “Maternal sepsis can occur during pregnancy and up to six weeks after birth. It can also occur after a miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. If you are expecting a child or have given birth, we would urge you to make yourself familiar with the signs and symptoms of sepsis.”

He adds: “Sepsis can be hard to diagnose as it hides behind any infection and develops rapidly. Early intervention can save lives. If you suspect you or someone you know has sepsis, seek urgent medical care and always ask, ‘Could it be sepsis?'”

The signs to watch for — in adults and babies

The HSE uses the acronym SEPSIS to help adults recognise the warning signs. If you or someone you know is pregnant or has recently given birth, be alert to any of the following:

S — Slurred speech, new confusion, too sick to communicate, or drowsiness
E — Extreme shivering, muscle aches or fever
P — Has not passed urine in the last 12 hours and doesn’t feel like doing so
S — Shortness of breath, lips tinged blue, heart racing, feeling dizzy when sitting or standing
I — Feeling like you might die (this one sounds dramatic but it matters — trust your instincts)
S — Skin that is mottled or discoloured, or a new rash that stays visible when you press a clear glass against it

For babies and young children, the signs are different. Know what to look out for:

Very fast breathing
Fits or convulsions
Mottled, bluish or pale skin
A rash that does not fade when pressed
Feeling unusually cold to the touch
No pee in more than 12 hours

If you’re worried, act quickly

The message from the HSE is simple and worth repeating: if something feels wrong, don’t wait. Seek urgent medical care. Sepsis moves fast and early treatment makes a real difference to outcomes.

It’s also worth knowing that this isn’t just a concern for the first few days after birth. The six-week postnatal window is longer than many people expect, and it covers a period when a lot of new mums are running on very little sleep and may be inclined to dismiss how they’re feeling as normal new-parent exhaustion.

Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right — about how you feel or how your baby seems — ask the question. As the HSE says: “Could it be sepsis?”

For more detailed information on maternal sepsis, visit the HSE website.