Are you pregnant with a fever? If so, you’re naturally going to worry if your baby is okay.
It’s never normal to run a fever when you’re pregnant. If you do experience these symptoms, you may have an illness that’s completely unrelated to your pregnancy.
Learn why you may be experiencing these symptoms and what you can do about them.
How will a fever affect my baby?
If an expectant mother’s body temperature goes from 98.6 degrees to a fever, it’s a sign that she is fighting an infection. That’s why it’s essential to seek treatment right away. This may help prevent short- and long-term complications for your developing baby.
A study done on animal embryos shows a link between fever early in pregnancy and an increased risk of heart and jaw defects at birth. Further research is needed to establish whether fever itself — not the infection causing it — increases the risk of birth defects in humans.
Causes of Fever during Pregnancy
Urinary tract infections (UTIs):
UTI occurs when bacteria gets into this system and multiplies. Most UTIs are bladder infections and aren’t serious if they’re treated right away with antibiotics and lots of liquids. If left untreated, a bladder infection may travel to the kidneys and cause a variety of complications, including preterm labor, a low birth weight baby, and sepsis.
Gastrointestinal viruses (Stomach flu):
It’s actually gastroenteritis, and it’s frequently caused by two viruses: rotavirus and norovirus.
Unfortunately, gastroenteritis is quite common during pregnancy. The diarrhea and vomiting brought on by a GI bug can have serious consequences for pregnant women if left untreated, because dehydration can cause contractions and even preterm labor.
Call your doctor immediately if you’ve not been able to keep liquids down for 24 hours, you’ve been vomiting blood, you have signs of dehydration (little or no urine, dry mouth, excessive thirst, dizziness).
Influenza (Flu):
Pregnant women have a higher risk of getting the flu and becoming severely ill from it, as their immune systems are suppressed. How to tell if it’s the flu or just a cold? The flu comes on quickly and your symptoms are more severe with a cold. If you suspect that you may have the flu, see your doctor right away. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women get the flu shot.
Other Serious Causes of Fever during Pregnancy
Septic Abortion:
Septic abortion is a condition when the uterus becomes completely infected due to an abortion or medical and surgically treated miscarriages. Other potential signs of septic abortions include – low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, difficulty excreting any stool or urine, low or high body temperature.
Chorioamnionitis:
The chorion and amnion are membranes that surround the uterus, this along with the amniotic fluid are important to ensure the health and survival of the foetus, Chorioamnionitis is a type of bacterial infection that affects these regions. If left treated this condition it could cause major complications to the mother such as – pelvic infections, abdominal infections, blood clots, and endometritis. Furthermore, the baby could also face complications like – respiratory infections, meningitis, and sepsis. If the fever is accompanied by other relevant symptoms like – unusually large amounts of sweat, a rapid heartbeat, abnormal discharge from the vagina, and a tender uterus it could be a sign of chorioamnionitis.
Listeria:
This is commonly caused due to the consumption of contaminated or expired foods. If left untreated, this could potentially lead to miscarriages, infections to the foetus or newborn, stillbirth and premature delivery. A fever accompanied by nausea, diarrhoea, confusion, headaches, loss of balance, a stiff neck, and convulsions are signs of listeria.
