Postpartum Maternal Hypothermia in an Adolescent Patient Following Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery

Abstract

Postpartum hypothermia, though rare after spontaneous vaginal delivery, can be life-threatening, warranting efficient workup and intervention. A 14-year-old primigravida developed postpartum hypothermia following spontaneous vaginal delivery. No clear etiology was identified despite extensive workup. Intervention with warmed fluids and application of forced air warming system resolved the hypothermia in less than 24 hours without relapse. Following negative workup, the most likely etiology was administration of chilled intravenous fluids in the setting of acute blood loss of delivery and physiologic vasodilation of pregnancy. This case demonstrates the importance of considering common and unusual causes of postpartum hypothermia and leads to a recommendation for routine postpartum temperature checks and hypothermia protocols that include warmed fluid replacement and a forced air warming system.