Getting Pregnant is a very delicate subject matter of a woman’s life. It is the magical process of creating a life from within life. The result of a pregnancy is a newborn child who brings along bundles of joy. But, sometimes there are certain complications in pregnancy which tend to lessen or ruin the happiness associated with pregnancy. So, it becomes important to take proper care during pregnancy and to know which health problems can impact your body in what ways. Fever during pregnancy is a very important condition that needs immediate attention. Let us look at how fever impacts a pregnant woman’s body and her child.
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What is fever during pregnancy and how is it different from a normal fever?
Well, our body has conditioned to maintain a normal temperature of 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit. However, due to some infections, viral, or bacterium the body’s temperature may shoot up significantly causing a condition called fever. When a pregnant woman’s body temperature goes above 100, it may be a sign of some infections residing in the body which can harm the child’s growth in several ways. While a non-pregnant person can easily take regular medicines to treat fever, a pregnant woman needs extra care. She cannot just take any medicine without discussing it with her doctor. Moreover, she needs to know the exact cause of fever to ensure her baby’s health. So, fever during pregnancy is far more critical than a normal fever and needs immediate attention. On the other hand, to need more about the chances of pregnancy and to become pregnant after sexual intercourse then refer to our previous article.
What causes fever during pregnancy- The reasons and the symptoms?
Before we know about how to treat or avoid fever, let us first look at the different ways we catch it. The causes of fever are more or less the same for both pregnant and non-pregnant conditions. However, some symptoms during pregnancy need treatment with immediate urgency. These symptoms are –
- Dehydration – This results in a loss of water and energy in the body and impacts the body’s strength in protecting the fetus. Dehydration may further lead to vomiting, stomach problems, and nausea.
- Breathing problems – You may feel breathing problems during your pregnancy due to various reasons. This needs immediate attention as this may impact the child’s development.
- Pain in the back of the neck – may mean that the fetus is not in the best of the conditions. Again, do not think it to be something of less importance and immediately seek medical advice.
- Pain in the abdomen – needs immediate attention to check for Abdominal pain if any infections are affected.
So, whatever be the cause of fever during pregnancy, the symptoms are more important. In any case, it is best to take immediate advice from a doctor when suffering from fever.
What are the effects of high fever during pregnancy on the child-to-be-born?
A low level of fever does not have any major impact on pregnancy. However, high fever during pregnancy may be a cause to worry. When the cause of the fever is just a viral infection then it is still ok. But, when the cause of infection is a bacterial infection, then there are chances of an impact on the child’s health. Studies reveal that issues such as heart and jaw defects are found in the newborn in case of an untreated fever in pregnancy. Also, reports of cases of autism were there in some places as a result of fever during pregnancy. If you need what are the causes of low AHM levels during pregnancy, then read out that mentioned link so far.
Is fever during pregnancy something to stress about?
No, not correct, it is more to do with proper care than with the stress. However, it is important to understand that more than the fever, its cause is important to understand. Once you understand the cause of the fever and treat it efficiently with the help of a doctor, then you are mostly safe from any pregnancy issues. Studies tell that a lot of women catch a fever during pregnancy and still deliver a very healthy baby. You can see also details for abortion in three weeks of pregnancy article.
Which pregnancy trimester is more prone to issues due to fever?
Experts say that each trimester has its development stage for a child and fever in different trimesters can need different treatments. However, the first trimester is the most important for a child’s growth as it involves the most delicate process. So, fever during the first trimester of pregnancy is more critical and needs immediate attention.
When you are in your first trimester and your thermometer reports a slightest of fever, you should straightaway consult a doctor. As you progress in your pregnancy, the risk factor starts decreasing. But still, even in the second and third trimester you should not take fever lightly and should consult your doctor. If you need to know a baby’s position in the last trimester then refer our previous posts.
Can we treat fever during pregnancy on our own or is something special needed?
Well, the first thing that you do when you catch a fever is to consult a doctor. You cannot afford to take it lightly. The doctor will examine you and prescribe you the medicines according to your condition. She may also ask you to get some tests done to ensure that everything is alright inside your body. Additionally, water is also essential at the time of pregnancy. Due to pregnant, you need to know some amount of water consumption and know that why we need water and their importance.
Know about these medicines that you need to avoid during pregnancy
You should never take any medicine by yourself during pregnancy. You should avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen as these may produce harm to your child. The doctors usually suggest acetaminophen, but again this is on case to case basis. So, consulting a doctor and then taking the prescribed medicine is the only safe option.
Things you can do to control your fever along with taking the prescribed medicines
You can try out a few things at home to feel better during pregnancy fever as well as follow healthy food guide.
- The first thing you can try is to take a shower with tepid water. This gives you freshness and brings your temperature down a bit, and hence you start feeling better.
- The next thing you must do is to drink a lot of water without a second thought. The reason is that your body keeps fighting with your fever and it dehydrates very quickly in the process. So, it is important to hydrate it back again. Intake of some healthy fluids at regular intervals is important for your health.
- Keep yourself clean and wear lighter clothes so that you feel more comfortable throughout the day. Feeling comfortable is very important when you are down with fever.
- Keep yourself engaged in non-tedious tasks and don’t over-think. Be assured that you and your child are both going to be safe.
- Try to take proper rest and let the medicines work properly. A night of proper sleep is equally important to help your body fight the infection.
Regularly monitor your temperature with the help of a thermometer. Also, ensure that your thermometer is functioning correctly and is not giving a false reading. It is advisable to keep two thermometers with you during pregnancy so that you can verify the temperature on a need basis.
How can we prevent getting a fever during pregnancy?
The idea is simply to keep yourself and your pregnancy safe. So, if you want a healthy and prosperous pregnancy you need to take special care of yourself. And, when someone said that it is better to prevent than to wait for the cure, he was right. You need to ensure that you do your best to avoid getting infected and don’t catch a fever. So, I am listing down a few precautions you should take so that you don’t need a cure.
- Follow this basic hygiene rule of washing your hands regularly to avoid catching a cold or a viral fever.
- Avoid getting in direct contact with people who are down with fever as infections and bacteria can spread. Do not share food with people who are ill as it is a direct invitation to the bacterium to invade your body.
- Keep your surroundings clean so that insects, flies, and mosquitoes don’t breed around you. These are a major source which spread diseases to humans.
- Do regular checkups of your health and never skip a routine checkup during your pregnancy.
In Conclusion
Pregnancy is a major event of a woman’s life that a woman should enjoy thoroughly. The more care you take of yourself, the happier you become, during pregnancy. However, health is an unpredictable entity and your body is prone to diseases. Especially in pregnancy, your body puts a lot of focus and energy into the formation and protection of your child, and so it becomes weak and may catch infections or fever. When you get a fever in pregnancy, you need to ensure that you don’t panic and reach to a doctor immediately for consultancy.
You should avoid taking medicines on your own without consultation. You should regularly monitor your health and check the symptoms of fever. If you find something unusual with your body, just go to your doctor. The best way to lead a good pregnancy is to avoid infection, bacteria, and fever. With proper care, you can ensure that the chances of you catching fever reduce to a minimum. I hope you get a healthy and happy pregnancy and delivery.