Most caregivers will suspect an infection of the amniotic fluid, when a woman develops a fever during labour, (whether this is actually the case or not). This type of infection can cause pneumonia in the baby's lungs and rarely an infection of their blood called 'sepsis'), at birth (or within 24 to 48 hours after the birth). If this does happen, the baby can become quite unwell relatively quickly, have difficulty breathing (and in rare cases die). The woman can develop an infection of her uterus within a few days after the birth, making her unwell and in rare cases causing her to haemorrhage.
It is because of all these 'possibilities' that most women with fevers (and sometimes their babies) will tend to be treated routinely with antibiotics (and other procedures) after the birth 'just in case'. The way you are treated will vary between caregivers and birthplaces. But they can include:
Antibiotics
Taking swab tests
Observing the baby
A septic work-up
Antibiotics. Continuing the antibiotics for the woman after the birth, either through the vein, or as tablets, for 2 to 5 days.
Taking swab tests of the baby's skin soon after they are born and before they are bathed. The swab tests involve the caregiver rubbing a sterile cotton bud around the baby's umbilical cord and inside their ear, (places where you probably haven't touched with your fingers to contaminate the specimen). These swabs are usually sent off to the laboratory to check for any infection, and processed in case the baby becomes unwell in the couple of days after the birth. Sometimes a urine bag is placed over the baby's genitals, to catch a specimen of urine, also to test for possible infection.
Observing the baby on the normal ward with their mother. The caregiver will usually check the baby's temperature, colour and breathing rate.