Key content Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis (POVT) is a rare but potentially fatal condition. Symptoms up to 4 weeks postpartum often include vague abdominal pain and pyrexia. A high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis. As there is no consensus regarding management, a multidisciplinary approach is advised. Learning objectives Recognise the symptoms and signs of POVT and formulate a differential diagnosis. Recognise the importance of imaging in confirming the diagnosis and involvement of the multidisciplinary team to plan management. Understand that conservative management with low‐molecular‐weight heparin is the first‐line treatment, and understand the situations that may require vena caval filter insertion or surgical intervention. Ethical issues How can we counsel women about risks of conservative and surgical management of this condition when there is no consensus for this management? Should women who have had an ovarian vein thrombosis in a previous pregnancy be counselled toward avoiding future pregnancy?

There were no differences in the rate of adverse obstetric or perinatal outcomes between twins conceived naturally compared with twins conceived by assisted conception.

Postpartum pyrexia occurs in 5e7% of births. There are many possible causes, with infection related to childbirth being the most common. In women presenting with non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of puerperal sepsis should be considered until proven otherwise, as puerperal sepsis can result in severe maternal morbidity and occasional mortality. A comprehensive history and physical examination supported by appropriate investigations can help confirm the diagnosis. Use of an early warning chart for observations is important to detect early changes in a patient's condition. When pyrexia is due to sepsis, the clinical condition can deteriorate to a life-threatening situation rapidly; hence high dose broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics should be commenced without waiting for microbiology results. Early involvement of senior members of the multidisciplinary team improves outcomes.

In Europe, fetal loss due to Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is under-reported and a poorly addressed occupational risk to pregnant women. This is exemplified internationally, where it was unmentioned in the last two European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) annual surveillance reports or its 2009 special report on infections in pregnancy. To assess this potential for underestimating B19V fetal loss in pregnancy, we undertook a systematic review of practice in Northern Ireland in the management and reporting of B19V infections over a 12-month period of heightened transmission, one of six observed in a span of 9 years. Pregnant and non-pregnant women presented with symptomatic infection in 24 and 93 % of confirmed B19V infections, respectively, with no difference in viral loads. There was underinvestigation of viral causes of fetal loss, with only 143/2739 (5 %) tested for B19V, and a failure to follow up most non-immune women tested following rash contact. Occupational exposure was recorded in 31/60 (51.6 %) of pregnancies audited following rash exposure, the majority teachers or day care workers. Against a background seroprevalence of 66.5 % immunity in women of child-bearing years, two patterns of infection were identified. Firstly, pregnant women investigated for a rash or exposure to slapped cheek syndrome, where an infection incidence of 18 % was observed, resulted in 42 confirmed infections, all proceeding to healthy term deliveries. Secondly, pregnant women with unsuspected infection had six cases of confirmed B19V fetal loss, including four of 22 (18 %) diagnosed at autopsy, of which three were non-hydropic. While many studies have reported B19V fetal loss in pregnancy, there are no robust public health surveillance figures to draw on. That all six confirmed fetal losses came from the small number of miscarriages/stillbirths investigated, 143 out of 2739, suggests inadequate follow-up of those pregnancies where B19V-related fetal loss may be most common, and supports the need for enhanced surveillance pilots to address this significant gap in public health knowledge.

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