Fever During Pregnancy

If you have a fever during pregnancy, you must consult a doctor. Since any illness or infection in the body can result in fever, it’s critical to identify the underlying cause and receive effective treatment as soon as possible.

Fever is a reaction of our immune system. Usually, we get fever as a symptom of any disease or infection. Like any other time, pregnancy can cause fever.

Fever or a high temperature during pregnancy can adversely affect the unborn baby. It is important to take measures to reduce the fever without panicking and get treatment as per the doctor’s advice as soon as possible.

How do you know you have a fever?

Many people may feel hot during pregnancy, even if they do not have a fever. This is due to the effects of pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow. Therefore, it can be difficult to understand whether a fever has occurred or not. So, if you feel like you have a fever or if you feel unwell, measure your body temperature with a thermometer.

Fever is actually yours-

The body may feel hot.
The body may tremble.
It may feel cold suddenly.
You may feel hot again after a while of feeling cold.
May sweat more than usual.
The skin may appear red if it is fair-skinned.
The body may feel weak.

Apart from this, if there is any infection anywhere in the body, various symptoms may appear accordingly.

Method of Measuring Fever

A fever is assumed to be present when the thermometer shows a temperature of 100.4°F, 38°C, or higher. However, taking the temperature after taking a fever medication (e.g., paracetamol) reduces the chance of getting an accurate result.

The most reliable method of measuring fever is to measure the temperature with the help of a thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer at hand, try to sense if the temperature is higher than normal by placing your hand on the chest or back. If the temperature seems high or there are symptoms like shivering in the body, take the next step as a fever.

We usually try to understand if we have a fever by touching our forehead. But this method of measuring fever is not reliable.

What to do if you have a fever during pregnancy

If you have a fever during pregnancy, you must consult a doctor. Since any illness or infection in the body can result in fever, it’s critical to identify the underlying cause and receive effective treatment as soon as possible.

How soon after the onset of fever will I see a doctor?

If the temperature is 102°F (38.9°C) or higher, see a doctor right away.
If the temperature is less than 102°F (38.9°C) and the fever persists for more than 1 day, seek medical advice within 24 hours.

Sometimes the fever can go away on its own. Even then, you should go to the doctor and get a health checkup. If there is an infection in the body, the doctor may suggest taking antibiotics or antiviral medicine as needed.

Home Remedies to Relieve Fever

Some home remedies can help you relieve fever. In addition to these, the disease that caused the fever should also be properly treated to cure the fever completely.

Follow the below tips to reduce fever:

Get enough rest. Take time off from work if possible and rest at home.
Consume plenty of water and liquid foods. This will help prevent dehydration. Drink enough water to make your urine clear and light yellow.
Wear thin and loose clothing. By doing this, air will circulate in your body. If you feel cold or shivering, you can wrap a thin sheet around you.
Stay in a cool and comfortable room as far as possible from the sun and hot weather. Provide adequate ventilation by opening windows. Leave the fan on low.
If possible, take a bath with lukewarm water. But it is better not to bathe in too cold water. This can lead to shivering and a fever.
After soaking a piece of clean cloth in water, you can put it on your forehead. Many call it the water belt. If you want, you can wipe the entire body, especially the neck, chest, and armpits, with water belt. Many people get relief if they wipe their bodies this way during a fever. If you find it difficult to give water belt yourself, you can take the help of someone else in the family.

A pregnant woman normally needs to drink 2–3 litres of water per day. You should drink at least 8–12 glasses of water per cup or glass throughout the day. But if the doctor has given any special advice in this regard, then follow it.

Medicine

Paracetamol is a suitable medicine for fever during pregnancy. It helps reduce fever and discomfort caused by fever.

Paracetamol is an ‘over the counter’ medicine. Over-the-counter medicines are safe to buy from a pharmacy and take according to the directions that come with them. Try to choose the dose that works best for you. If you have any questions about this or if you have any pre-existing health problems, you can talk to your doctor.

Note: When buying paracetamol, check whether caffeine, codeine, or any other ingredients are added. Sometimes the word ‘Extra’ is added before and after the name of such medicine. Normal paracetamol should be chosen instead of such a medicine during pregnancy.

Medicines that cannot be taken to reduce fever during pregnancy
Some medications are commonly used to treat fever but should be avoided during pregnancy. Eg: Ibuprofen and Aspirin. These are known as pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Studies have shown that—
Taking such drugs early in pregnancy can cause birth defects in the unborn child. It can even lead to miscarriage.
Taking this medicine during or after the 20th week of pregnancy may cause kidney problems in your unborn baby.
Apart from this, the unborn child may have heart problems.
Maternal use of ibuprofen during the second and third trimesters has even been associated with asthma after birth (at age 18 months).
So do not take this medicine during pregnancy without the specific advice of the doctor.

Causes of fever in pregnancy

common cause

The same reasons that cause a fever during pregnancy can also cause you to have a fever during pregnancy. One of these is various types of infections. For example,

1. Urinary tract infection: Urinary tract infection is one of the causes of fever during pregnancy. A urinary tract infection can cause certain symptoms, including frequent urination.

Women are more likely to get urinary tract infections during pregnancy. If not treated properly, it can lead to various serious health complications, including kidney infections. As a result, complications related to delivery may increase.

2. Stomach Illnesses: Food poisoning or such stomach ailments can also cause fever during your pregnancy. In this case, along with fever, symptoms like vomiting, loose stools, and stomach cramps usually occur.

3. Common cold fever: This is usually caused by a viral infection and is not very serious. It may have a mild fever along with a runny nose and a sore throat. In most cases, it gets better on its own.

4. Flu: Flu or influenza can cause a sudden onset of high fever. Along with this, symptoms like body tremors and coughs may appear. Sometimes there may be pain in the body. Pregnant mothers and their babies are at a higher risk of flu-related complications.

5. COVID-19: Corona can cause fever during pregnancy. Symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, unusual taste or smell, or loss of taste and smell can be symptoms of COVID-19. In such cases, consult a doctor immediately. If possible, get tested for Corona.

Apart from the above reasons, infections like pneumonia, dengue, malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, and hepatitis can cause fever during pregnancy.

Special Reason

1. Chorioamnionitis: A covering or membrane surrounds your baby during pregnancy. Two such membranes are the chorion and the amnion. If these two membranes become inflamed, it is called ‘chorioamnionitis’ in medical terms.

Basically, when the uterus ruptures for some reason, the bacteria in the vagina cause infection in these membranes. Then this problem occurs. During this fever, Along with fever, the following symptoms usually occur:

Abdominal pain
Pain in the lower abdomen
Thick, foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Increased heart rate. An increased heart rate may cause your chest to flutter.
In addition, the body may tremble and sweat.

2. Abortion-related infection: Abortion due to bacterial infection in the uterus or infection of the uterus during abortion is medically termed ‘septic abortion’. This problem usually occurs in the first trimester. In this case, severe fever can usually come with shivering. Along with fever, the following symptoms are usually seen:

Severe abdominal pain
Pain in the lower abdomen
Thick, foul-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding

3. Listeria Infection: Listeria infection can occur during pregnancy from contaminated food and water. Although this disease is rare, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to be affected than the general population. It can cause serious complications like dehydration, miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. Along with fever, this disease may have the following symptoms:

Shivering
Muscle pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Neck pain
Headache
Lose balance
Confusion

Prevention

You can reduce the risk of developing a fever by basically preventing various infections during pregnancy. Follow these rules to prevent infections during pregnancy:

1. Maintain cleanliness: Maintaining cleanliness is especially important during pregnancy. During this time, wash your hands well with soap or handwash.

In cases where hands should be washed-

Before and after preparing and eating food
After using the toilet,
After taking care of the baby, playing with him, and changing diapers
Raw fish, meat, eggs, and imported vegetables
If you catch pets
Gardening or touching soil or dirt
If you get saliva or spit on your hands,
In contact with a sick person
Catch something useful for others. For example, a door handle, an elevator button, and money

2. Avoid crowds and contact with sick people: During pregnancy, your risk of infection increases. Avoid contact with any sick person during this time. Avoid going to crowded places as much as possible. Wear a mask if necessary. Practice frequent handwashing.

3. Be careful about food.:Follow some rules while eating food.

Fever can cause brain and nervous system problems in your unborn baby. In medical terms, it is called a neural tube defect. Folic acid helps prevent these complications. So eat enough folic acid-rich foods during pregnancy. Also, take folic acid tablets or capsules.
Various pathogens can be spread from raw or undercooked food. These foods include:

Unpasteurized milk from cows, goats, and sheep
All foods made with unpasteurized milk
Raw or undercooked fish, meat, eggs, and milk
Liver and any food made with liver
Food made from raw or semi-cooked sea fish. For example: sushi
Undercooked frozen or processed meats. For example, sausage, salami, and pepperoni

So eat any food well-boiled during pregnancy. Choose steamed or pasteurized products for milk and dairy products.

4. Vaccinate: Follow your doctor’s advice and vaccinate during pregnancy. Vaccinations protect you and your unborn child from serious complications by preventing various infections.

The TD vaccination is given to pregnant mothers and future newborns to protect them from severe tetanus disease. This vaccine also helps prevent diphtheria.

This vaccination is given free of charge at various government health centers. Two doses are usually given 4 weeks apart during the 4th and 8th months of pregnancy or after the 5th month. Talk to your doctor during your pregnancy checkup to learn more about this.

If you have not already been vaccinated, consult your doctor and get vaccinated. According to experts including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), getting the Corona vaccine during pregnancy is safe.
Apart from this, after talking to the doctor, you can get the following vaccinations as needed:
Flu or influenza vaccine
Whooping cough or pertussis vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine
Hepatitis A vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae vaccine, and meningococcal (B and ACWY) vaccine

Fever during pregnancy can harm the baby

Various studies have shown that fever during pregnancy can be harmful for both the mother and the unborn baby.

Some studies show that a fever during pregnancy can increase the chances of miscarriage. However, a recent study found no association with an increased risk of miscarriage with fever up to the 16th week of pregnancy. More research is needed on this topic.
Fever in early pregnancy has been associated with a slight increase in some birth defects. These defects include heart disease, brain and nervous system problems, cleft lip, cleft palate, and jaw problems.
A fever in the first trimester of pregnancy can put the baby at risk of inattentiveness after birth.
A fever in the second trimester or after the 12th week of pregnancy can actually increase the risk of the unborn child developing autism or autism spectrum disorder. If you have three or more fevers after this period of pregnancy, this risk can be greatly increased.

All studies have not found an association between fever during pregnancy and these complications. There is room for more research on this. In any case, it is important to take measures to reduce fever and consult a doctor in time.

Frequently Asked Question

If you have a fever during pregnancy, can you eat paracetamol?

Paracetamol can be taken according to a specific dosage to reduce fever during pregnancy. It is an ‘over the counter’ medicine. You can buy it from the pharmacy and consume it according to the instructions that come with it. If you have any questions about this or if you have any pre-existing health problems, you can talk to your doctor.

How to measure fever with digital thermometer?

You can measure temperature with a digital thermometer by following the steps below:
1. Wash the front of the thermometer thoroughly with soap and cold water and dry.
2. Turn on the thermometer as directed.
3. Insert the front of the thermometer under the tongue and as far into the mouth as possible.
4. Now close your mouth well. Close in such a way that the thermometer is fully pressed with both lips.
5. Wait for the thermometer to ‘beep’ or make a certain sound.
6. After hearing the sound, remove the thermometer from the mouth and record the temperature in a diary. It is better if you write down the date and time.
7. You can also measure the temperature with a thermometer under your armpit. In that case, fold the armpit in such a way that the thermometer is tight on the armpit.