Modifies a noun

• psychosis: We haven't come across any more detailed information about puerperal psychosis which is aimed at the lay reader.

• fever: He noticed that there were major differences in the maternal mortality rate from puerperal fever between two clinics within one hospital.

• sepsis: Over 150,000 women die each year from puerperal sepsis.

• insanity: In assessing puerperal insanity, Hilary Marland also detects a change in the reporting conventions.

• infection: After delivery she had puerperal infection due to Chlamydia and developed postnatal depression.

• mania: In extremely rare cases these symptoms get more severe and may indicate the start of a puerperal mania.