Is it normal to have a fever in pregnancy?

During pregnancy, it is normal for a woman to have ups and downs in her defenses due to all the changes her body is going through and external factors such as the weather. When the defenses are lowered, it is very likely that the woman will get the flu, a virus or present the common cold and experience a rise in temperature that exceeds 38 degrees Celsius.

When this happens, the woman can take an over-the-counter flu to reduce the fever, which should begin to subside an hour after taking the pill. During episodes of fever, it is also advisable to remove excess clothing, drink plenty of fluids, take a warm shower, and breathe fresh air. If despite all these indications the fever does not subside, it is important to call the doctor to ask if you can ingest another type of medicine or if it is preferable to attend a consultation for a check-up.

It is normal to have a fever in pregnancy because at this stage women are much more sensitive to catching colds and flu, however, when the fever has no apparent cause and exceeds 39 degrees in temperature, it is important to see a doctor immediately, since which can represent a significant risk to the well-being of the woman and the fetus.

Fever is a defense mechanism of the body to fight viruses or any other disease that may be attacking the body, that is, it is a temporary process that instead of doing damage seeks to promote the health of the person. However, when the temperature rises to very high levels, above 39 degrees , it can pose a health risk , which is why many pregnant women wonder if fever can harm the fetus.

A very high fever that exceeds 39 degrees of temperature is an alarm signal for both the mother and the baby, especially if the woman is between week 4 and 14 of pregnancy, however, there is no study that proves that fever is the cause of miscarriages or malformations in the fetus. What can truly put the baby’s health at risk is the cause of fever, whether it is an infection or a virus, which can negatively intervene in its development, for this reason, in the face of any feverish condition that does not give way with medications and that overcomes 39 degrees of temperature is important to go to the emergency room , especially during the first trimester of pregnancy, when pregnancy is in its most important stage.

It is important to note that although there are publications that associate fever during the first weeks of pregnancy with abortion and malformations, there is no research that has been able to verify this relationship. However, it is important to go to the emergency room when the fever exceeds 39 degrees and is accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, burning when urinating, loss of amniotic fluid, abdominal pain and uterine contractions. During the last weeks of pregnancy, a high fever can bring your due date earlier.

The best thing you can do if you have a fever and are pregnant is to immediately go to your doctor to diagnose the cause of this symptom and can indicate the ideal treatment to control the temperature without putting your health and that of the fetus at risk. If the cause of the fever is a cold or flu , the most common is that the doctor prescribes acetaminophen or some version of this medicine. However, when the fever is due to any type of infection , such as urine infections that are very common in pregnant women, the doctor will most likely order antibiotics for at least 7 days to fight the bacteria that are causing the condition.

Once the treatment with medications is started, the fever should begin to drop, if not, it is important that you call your doctor and tell him that your temperature does not subside, especially if the cause is an infection, which can transferred to the fetus if not treated correctly.

As long as you have a fever:

• Drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated and to help the temperature drop.
• Avoid wrapping yourself in blankets or blankets that increase body temperature.
• Wear cool clothes and keep in a ventilated place.
• Drink orange or lemon juice to offer your body vitamin C to help boost your defenses.
• Don’t stop feeding. If you don’t feel like eating, take a chicken broth that, in addition to raising your defenses, will help you feel much better.
• Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if symptoms other than fever develop.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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