Fever During Pregnancy: Causes, Home Remedies, And Precautions

Doctors consider a temperature of 100.4°F and over to be a fever indicating that your body is fighting an infection. A fever during pregnancy is no different from a regular fever, except that it may carry some risks or be indicative of a pregnancy-related complication (1). Now, earlier you go stressed out any further, you need to empathize that not every case of fever is unsafe. Virtually of the time it is hands resolved without whatever impairment to yous or your growing baby.

The important thing to do is to promptly identify the underlying crusade and become it treated. This guide can aid you understand the different reasons behind fever in pregnancy flow, and what you tin do nigh it.

Common Causes Of Fever During Pregnancy

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

UTIs or urinary tract infections are quite mutual during pregnancy and can present fever as a symptom. Your urinary tract comprises your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and an infection may develop from bacteria that get into this system. Most urinary tract infections occur in the bladder and tin present other symptoms likewise fever, like (2):

• Strong urge to urinate
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Chills
• Pelvic pain
• Cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine

If UTIs are left untreated, the infection may reach the kidneys and cause serious complications including preterm labor, low birth weight in babies, and even sepsis (three).

• Influenza

Pregnancy puts you at a greater risk of catching the flu and getting severely sick from it equally your immune system is naturally suppressed (4). Some common symptoms of influenza or influenza are (v):

• Sudden loftier fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Influenza should be treated and monitored to reduce the chance of serious complications. As flu tin make you lot really ill, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women should take the flu shot (half-dozen).

• Upper Respiratory Infection

A viral infection in the upper respiratory tract, or the common common cold, can be another reason behind a fever in pregnancy. While an upper respiratory tract infection has similar symptoms as the influenza, they are mostly not as severe and tend to resolve by themselves, more often than not within two weeks. Some additional symptoms that may distinguish a common cold from the influenza are (seven):

• Low-grade fever
• Runny olfactory organ
• Sore throat
• Breathing difficulty

You may be able to treat the common cold with home remedies. However, if your symptoms do not ameliorate, get in touch with your doc as URI in pregnancy may be associated with behavior issues in childhood (8).

• Gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal infection may cause fever in pregnancy, and it may present with more worrying symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Aridity resulting from these can have serious consequences as it may cause contractions or preterm labor (9), (ten).
Low blood pressure, dizziness, weakness, fainting, and electrolyte imbalance are some other serious side furnishings of a gastrointestinal infection. You should immediately contact the md in the following situations (xi):

• There is claret in your vomit.
• You have signs of dehydration like thirst, dry out mouth, dizziness, low urine output.
• Y'all have a fever above 101 °F.
• You cannot drink or eat anything without throwing up for 24 hours.
• In that location is blood in your stool.

It is best to keep your ob-gyn informed about your condition to avoid the risk of complications. You should beverage plenty of fluids and may change to a bland or Deviling (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet equally a natural way to support your prescribed treatment.

Depending on what the reason behind your pregnancy fever is, you may demand to piece of work with your ob-gyn, even when it comes to over-the-counter medications. That'south because some commonly used OTC medicines to treat fever and other symptoms may not be safe during pregnancy. Besides this, in that location are a number of things you can do at abode to help get rid of fever naturally.

Best Abode Remedies To Care for Fever During Pregnancy

• Place a damp washcloth on your forehead as you lie downwards. Permit it rest there for a minute earlier yous dip information technology in cool water over again and place it back after squeezing out whatsoever excess water.
• Have a lukewarm bath. You can soak in a bathtub for a while or if you are uncomfortable, take a sponge bath. Don't apply cold water or rubbing alcohol to cool the fever down.
• Drinking anything may experience like a task, only continue to beverage plenty of fluids then that y'all can stay hydrated and also assist cool your body from within.
• If you have a fan, turn it on and keep information technology at a comfortable speed. This can assistance your torso cool downward and lower your temperature.
• Wearable only a light layer of habiliment. If you feel chills, wrap a light coating effectually you till you feel warm. Remove information technology if you lot are feeling as well warm.
• Stay indoors, away from the sunday and heat. In the evening, notice a cool and comfortable place to residual.

You may exist able to bring down your temperature using these methods, but if the fever comes back, you should call your ob-gyn. Pregnancy and fever don't gel well, so you need to be aware when professional help is the fashion to become.

When To Run across A Doc

You need to contact your physician when your fever does non subside after trying the natural remedies or if you take accompanying symptoms indicating a serious underlying condition.

Too the common causes of fever that may affect you during your pregnancy, at that place are a few medical conditions that affect only pregnant women and may cause fever-like symptoms. These conditions require prompt medical attention as they may cause unwanted complications. Some of them are (i):

• Chorioamnionitis

This is a medical condition characterized past a bacterial infection in the membranes (chorion and amnion) that surround the fetus likewise every bit the amniotic fluid. Fever, chills, sweating, rapid heartbeat, unusual vaginal discharge, and a tender uterus are common symptoms of chorioamnionitis.
If left untreated, this can lead to serious complications for both the mother and baby (12).

• Listeria

Listeria is a serious infection that may effect from the consumption of contaminated food or water. Fever is one of the earliest symptoms of listeria. Other signs include muscle ache, nausea, and diarrhea. The infection tin spread to the nervous system if not treated promptly and may cause loss of balance, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and convulsions. Non all cases of listeria cause harm to the unborn child, but in some, there is the take chances of miscarriage, premature delivery, severe infection in the newborn, and even stillbirth (13).

• Fifth Disease Or Parvovirus B19

Parvovirus B19 is rare in pregnant women, however, if contracted, it may lead to miscarriage or cause the baby to be born with astringent anemia. Fever may or may not accompany joint pain, which is the most mutual symptom of Parvovirus B19 in adults (14).

Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor can prescribe you the course of handling keeping in mind both your and your babe's health. You can accept a glimpse at some common medical treatment options for a fever during pregnancy.

Medical Ways To Treat A Fever While Pregnant

• For fever related to a viral infection, your doctor may enquire yous to have acetaminophen, commonly available as Tylenol. In addition, he may prescribe an antiviral medication.
• For a bacterial infection, your dr. will prescribe yous a class of antibiotics to stop the spread of the infection.
• Your physician may likewise prescribe you additional drugs for the symptomatic handling depending on the medical status that is causing your fever.

A fever during pregnancy can feel stressful, fifty-fifty with support and prescription medication. The best matter of course is to do as much as possible to lower your risk of getting it.

Prevention Tips

At that place are a number of ways to minimize your chances of getting a fever during pregnancy. Hither are some do's and don'ts to follow:

• Avoid contact with anybody with symptoms of cold or cough.
• Avoid going out to crowded places.
• Launder your hands with soap and h2o after touching public surfaces.
• Avoid partially cooked eggs, meat, cheese, and seafood.
• Deport your own clean drinking water with you.
• Maintain the pH balance of your vagina to lower the take chances of UTIs (15).
• Go along your immunity upwardly by adding immunity-boosting foods like lemon and garlic to your nutrition (16).

In determination, fever during pregnancy may pose some take a chance to the mother and the growing fetus, depending on when the fever occurs and the underlying cause behind it. You lot can try some natural ways to bring down your temperature during a fever, simply you should as well notify your ob-gyn well-nigh it. As your trunk suppresses your natural immune system during your pregnancy, you may be at an increased risk of developing infections. Every bit a preventive measure out, you may want to reduce your exposure to environmental pathogens and take sure precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fever dangerous in early pregnancy?

Yes, though enquiry is inconclusive, in that location seems to exist a link betwixt fever in early on pregnancy and neural tube defects in the growing fetus (17).

Is depression-grade fever normal in pregnancy?

No, no fever is normal in pregnancy. Low-grade fever may be a sign of a medical condition that needs to be checked by an ob-gyn.

What is the normal body temperature for a pregnant adult female?

The normal body temperature range of a significant woman may vary between 98.78 °F and 97.52°F through the first trimester till 3 months afterward delivery (18).

Tin can I have paracetamol for fever during pregnancy?

Aye, you may, simply after consultation with your ob-gyn. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely prescribed and considered to be safe only in that location may be some risks associated with continuous use (19).

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified data from peer-reviewed and academic inquiry papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accurateness and relevance. Read our editorial policy to larn more.

1. Causes and consequences of fever during pregnancy: A retrospective study in a gynaecological emergency section
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7444605/
2. El-Kashif K. M. L. Urinary Tract Infection among Pregnant Women and its Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Biomed Pharmacol J 2019;12(4).
   https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol12no4/urinary-tract-infection-among-pregnant-women-and-its-associated-adventure-factors-a-cross-sectional-study/
3. Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection Among Meaning Women and its Complications in Their Newborns During the Birth in the Hospitals of Dezful City Iran 2012 – 2013
   https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4585427/
4. Incidence risk factors and impact of seasonal influenza in pregnancy: A national cohort study
   https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244986
5. Flu Symptoms & Diagnosis
   https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/index.html
6. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine and Pregnancy
   https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/hcp-toolkit/influenza-vaccine-pregnancy.html
7. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532961/
8. Upper respiratory infection during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/manufactures/PMC5056812/
9. Influence of Hospitalization-Requiring Gastroenteritis in Pregnancy on Perinatal Outcome
   https://www.researchgate.internet/publication/321576744_Influence_of_Hospitalization-Requiring_Gastroenteritis_in_Pregnancy_on_Perinatal_Outcome
10. Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: Clinical Manifestation Natural Course and Evaluation of Treatment with Corticosteroids and Vedolizumab
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30982212/
11. Gastroenteritis
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/manufactures/PMC7152053/
12. Diagnosis and Management of Clinical Chorioamnionitis
    https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3008318/
13. An Update Review on Listeria Infection in Pregnancy
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/manufactures/PMC8165209/
14. Exposure to fifth disease in pregnancy
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC2793222/
15. The Vaginal Microbiota and Urinary Tract Infection
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/manufactures/PMC5746606/
16. Food for Support Amnesty
    https://world wide web.researchgate.net/publication/339873997_Food_for_Support_Immunity
17. Maternal fever and birth effect: a prospective report
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9894674/
18. Core body temperature and the thermoneutral zone: A longitudinal study of normal human pregnancy
    https://world wide web.researchgate.net/publication/47814581_Core_body_temperature_and_the_thermoneutral_zone_A_longitudinal_study_of_normal_human_pregnancy
19. Paracetamol utilize during pregnancy — a phone call for precautionary action
    https://www.nature.com/articles/%20s41574-021-00553-vii

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