Sepsis in mother and infant is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings. Several studies have investigated the likelihood that an anti-bacterial agent, chlorhexidine, administered during labor and delivery to mother and infant could reduce the risk of infection and of subsequent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. In this trial, chlorhexidine wash and placebo will be randomly administered to women in labor and newborn infants in a public hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.