What does PIPA stand for? It stands for The Postpartum Infection Prevention Act.

Goals and outcomes -

1) "To mandate internal and external swabbing for all postpartum women presenting with a vaginal birth-related suture/tear or infection."

2) "To manufacture a self swab kit for postpartum women for if they present with an infection while at home."

My Story 

On the 27/06/25 I gave birth to my beautiful son Cai, it wasn't the easiest of births, firstly he defecated internally after my waters broke, which posed a risk to us both so they suggested the hormone drip to which I agreed but not without the epidural. The hormone drip then lowered my sons heart rate so it needed to be paused, the epidural failed and was refit. The hormone drip was resumed and I went from 3cm to fully dilated. After an incredibly painful several hours the doctor said we needed help, Cai was delivered via forceps and episiotomy, then I sustained a second degree tear and after a blood vessel was nicked I haemorrhaged and lost 1275ml of blood. We were monitored for 24 hours just in case Cai developed a lung infection from the meconium in the amniotic fluid, we were then discharged the next afternoon. 

In the early hours of July 2nd, I picked up my son to feed him in the lounge, trying not to wake his dad. Suddenly, my body and jaw started shaking uncontrollably. Terrified of dropping my son, I had to quickly lay him down. I was delirious and confused, so I woke up my partner for help.

I went to the maternity day assessment unit, where a doctor swabbed my sutures externally. The doctor was confident I didn't need an internal swab, diagnosed a suture infection, and confirmed I had further torn my second-degree tear which was also infected. Despite my concerns about leaving my new born for a 24-hour hospital drip, they prescribed oral antibiotics (co-amoxiclav) and iron tablets, allowing me to go home.

Over the next week, I still felt unwell, and the infection clearly persisted. I returned a week later for a check-up on the 9th of July, where the same doctor finally performed an internal swab. The results confirmed Strep A, an extremely invasive infection with potentially devastating consequences, including possible future infertility. Now, I'm taking Clindamycin four times a day for the next two weeks, hoping it will eradicate the infection, but the damage may already be done.

So, long story short, If an internal swab had been performed initially, I would have been prescribed the correct antibiotics promptly. I could have spent the first precious weeks of my son's life healthy and happy, instead of battling a dangerous infection. 

Update 13/08 - Today, 6 weeks later, I am on my 4th round of antibiotics to try and eradicate the Strep A. 

The reason I am doing this is to prevent misdiagnosis, recurring infections, potential impacts on future fertility, and life-threatening invasive infections such as Strep A, toxic shock syndrome, or sepsis, implement a mandatory dual-site swabbing protocol (internal and external) for all postpartum patients presenting with suspected suture/tear infections following vaginal delivery.

The NHS may be stretched, but its duty to provide adequate antenatal and postnatal care for mothers and babies remains non- negotiable and must be upheld.

Statistics to think about

Maternal sepsis and other maternal infections are significant contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, presenting critical challenges in obstetric care.

According to WHO, obstetric infections are the third most common cause of maternal mortality.

In the UK, approximately 6 in 100 women develop a postpartum infection. 

Globally, it is estimated that for every 1000 women giving birth, 11 women experience infection-related, severe organ dysfunction or death. Sepsis occurs in response to an infection.

 

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