Fever While Pregnant
Getting a Fever While Pregnant - Concerns and Treatment
Getting a fever while pregnant is concerning, but sometimes it is simply unavoidable. So what should you do if you get a fever while pregnant and at what point should you become alarmed, if at any point at all?
You have probably heard that you need to be careful about taking medications during pregnancy. This is very true. There are certain medications that should be avoided during pregnancy as they can cross over the placenta and cause complications to the developing fetus. There are also some medications that should be avoided during the first trimester. However, when a fever is concerned, it is important to try to bring it down and sometimes that means using medications.
Any fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit should be taken seriously. As well as making an appointment to see your OBGYN about it, you should also try to use methods to bring it down.
The first methods that you should try should be natural ones. Using a cool compress on your forehead, taking a lukewarm bath, and dressing in loose, cool, clothing should be tried. You can also try drinking cool beverages, such as juice and water.
Don't try to "sweat out" your fever by wrapping up in warm blankets, taking a hot bath, or laying with a heating pad. Although this does sometimes work, it can also make you hotter and over-heating is not good for you or the developing baby.
If after 24 hours the fever has not subsided, or has even gotten worse, then you should try medications to bring it down. Tylenol is not only generally safe to use during pregnancy, but is also recommended by many doctors when it comes to bringing down a fever while pregnant.
The next thing that you should try to figure out is what is causing the fever in the first place. If you have contracted a stomach virus, then you might be vomiting or having diarrhea as well. In that case, then it is very important to try and stay hydrated. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids and getting a lot of rest. It is incredibly easy for a pregnant woman to become dehydrated.
Once you pay a visit to your OBGYN, you might find that you have a urinary tract infection or a kidney infection that is causing the fever. Antibiotics can be given for these. If after 2-3 days the fever has still not subsided, even with treatment, then you should call your doctor again and let them know.
A fever within itself is not a terrible thing to have during pregnancy. Sometimes, you might feel as though you are running a fever when you're actually not. That's because with all of the excess blood and fluid that you gain during pregnancy, your normal body temperature can increase. In addition, you tend to get tired more easily when you are pregnant and this can cause you to sweat, which could feel like a fever.
It's not the fever that is necessarily concerning, but the over-heating. A fever that lasts for several days and is not treated can cause over-heating and this is what is concerning for the developing baby. However, taking care to control the fever and making sure that you report anything to your doctor should keep everything under control.
Still, if you suddenly find that you are running a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit and it is accompanied by vomiting, pain, and other symptoms then it might be beneficial to get yourself to an Emergency Room. It might not be pregnancy related at all, but it never hurts to make sure.