Childbed fever description

[LeahD]

Hi, everyone! I am writing a story set in 1880s England. The heroine develops severe anemia later in her pregnancy; has a difficult labor, because she is weak as a result of anemia; then post-partum hemorrhage; then childbed fever because treatment for pph is pretty invasive and sterilization standards in 1880s are not all they should be. Right now I am at the childbed fever stage, and this is where I am stuck. First of all, I am not sure how to describe it. The online sources give the symptoms, but I am not sure if symptoms alone would be enough. The only other source of information I can think of is the corresponding scene in "Anna Karenina", and I don't find it a very clear description of what exactly happened. And my second problem is that, according to what I see online, surviving childbed fever was highly unlikely at the time (in Anna Karenina the doctor actually says the likelihood of survival is 1%), but I certainly cannot have my heroine die because she is the main character, and I am nowhere close to the end of the story.
So what I need is
1. Help with description of childbed fever - what actually happens
2. Advice on how my heroine can realistically survive it.
Thanks!

 

[Kerrin]

Well I can't help you with "1" but as far as "2" is concerned, that's easy: your heroine was part of the 1%. It wasn't impossible for her to survive, just unlikely. She survived because the story demanded it. The other women would have equally interesting stories if they had lived, but they didn't. So this is the story you're telling.

 

[Homer Potvin]

FYI I moved this thread to the Research forum. As to the question, I've got nothing. Sorry.

 

[Louanne Learning]

Help with description of childbed fever - what actually happens

I am only guessing - that she would be extremely weak - but I wonder - does she have someone attending her? And what attitude does this person bring to the sickbed? The support we get for our psychological state can make a difference.

Advice on how my heroine can realistically survive it.

Outside of the physical survival - I think her will to live may play a role? it might make for good fiction? Is she a fighter?

 

[Sandor]

I am only guessing - that she would be extremely weak - but I wonder - does she have someone attending her? And what attitude does this person bring to the sickbed? The support we get for our psychological state can make a difference.



Outside of the physical survival - I think her will to live may play a role? it might make for good fiction? Is she a fighter?

This is all good advice, seconding this. A good question is, beyond her being a fighter, what is she fighting for. Tie in her motivations into why she wants to remain alive. A thought: maybe her mom died of a similar situation and she doesn't want to be like her.

 

[Luxuria]

I looked it up because Childbed Fever must have a modern name after all. There are apparently a lot of different infections that can occur after a woman gives birth. Here's an article with information: Infections of the Uterus After Delivery - Women's Health Issues - Merck Manual Consumer Version

 

[LeahD]

I am only guessing - that she would be extremely weak - but I wonder - does she have someone attending her? And what attitude does this person bring to the sickbed? The support we get for our psychological state can make a difference.



Outside of the physical survival - I think her will to live may play a role? it might make for good fiction? Is she a fighter?

She has a loving husband. However, after months of her illness, after staying with her throughout some 48 hours of her labor (I know it was unusual at the time, but it makes sense in the story), after seeing her almost bleed to death only to succumb to this terrible illness just a few hours later he himself is falling apart and is not much help. Actually now that I think about it, this very thing might give her a good reason to fight for her life - if she dies, who knows, the husband might go completely off his rocker, and then the baby will be left without both parents. Excellent advice, thanks!

 

[Trish]

I hate to suggest a TV show as a method of research, but Call The Midwife takes place in the 1950's in England and the difference between how women were handled then is... shocking... to say the least (and quite accurate). It's going to be much worse in the time period you have set. I also would suggest you choose a direction to go if you want it to be at all realistic. Surviving hemorrhage after childbirth is almost unheard of in that time period because the methods to stop it (surgery, medications, etc.) just weren't available or effective. Midwives did have tricks though, and you'll see a few passed down all the way to the 1950's in the first season of CTM.

Edit: Also, just to be clear - "childbirth fever" has a frequent appearance rate in this show. In many forms and for many reasons.

 

[LeahD]

Surviving hemorrhage after childbirth is almost unheard of in that time period because the methods to stop it (surgery, medications, etc.) just weren't available or effective.

Oh, I know what was available at the time:
Fundal massage, when the uterus was pounded on with one hand from the vagina side, with the other on the abdomen, to make it contract.
Uterine packing, when uterus was stuffed with something, like bandages, for example, to apply pressure to bleeding vessels.
(It’s terrifying even to think of this, isn't it?)
And then there were ergot alkaloids that were used to stimulate contractions.
Judging by what I see online, it seems to be an overstatement that pph survival was almost unheard of at the time, especially considering that my heroine lives in London and can afford qualified medical care.

 

[Catrin Lewis]

I'm glad you asked this, because I have my own pregnancy-related question to ask, and yours makes it not so weird.

As for your character, I'd give her good genetics and overall healthy habits prior to the childbirth crisis. To survive, she needs to have a strong constitution going in.

You could give her a physician who is a student of Dr. Lister's antiseptic techniques, who is willing to use them despite popular attitudes. In other words, if you want her to survive, you might dial back on the bad sanitation in this case. She's not going to make it if you go absolute worst case.

EDIT-- Said enlightened physician could be called in as a last resort. One would hope the situation wouldn't be so desperate if he was on the job sooner.

 

[Homer Potvin]

I'm glad you asked this, because I have my own pregnancy-related question to ask, and yours makes it not so weird.

As for your character, I'd give her good genetics and overall healthy habits prior to the childbirth crisis. To survive, she needs to have a strong constitution going in.

You could give her a physician who is a student of Dr. Lister's antiseptic techniques, who is willing to use them despite popular attitudes. In other words, if you want her to survive, you might dial back on the bad sanitation in this case. She's not going to make it if you go absolute worst case.

Or she's just lucky. People get shot in head, cut in half, swallowed by whales (I think) and live. This might be one of those cases where you create your own plot hole by trying to explain it. I don't remember the number someone mentioned up thread, but a 1% survival rate isn't terribly far-fetched. It's improbable but not like winning the lottery or being struck by lightning.