The physiological shifts during pregnancy predispose women to a ten-fold
higher risk of developing sepsis, a life-threatening condition
characterised by a maladapted host-response to infection. We present a
comprehensive synthesis of maternal immunity during pregnancy,
addressing whether altered set-points in immune homeostasis lower the
tipping point for sepsis. This close interconnection between maternal
immunity and sepsis makes clinical diagnosis highly challenging and
translates to delayed antibiotics or overuse. We propose further
understanding of the maternal immune set-point changes are vital for
tailoring the right diagnostic tools for maternal sepsis and may unravel
pathophysiological pathways that predispose an individual to sepsis.