Fever is the body's normal defense mechanism against injury or infection. However, a fever that continues for a long time will have negative effects on your body and your unborn baby. Mild fever can be treated at home. However, call your doctor immediately if you don't know how to treat a fever or suspect something serious is going on.
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Method 1 of 2: Lowering Fever During Pregnancy
Step 1. Consult your midwife or doctor
Consulting a health care provider is important so that your doctor or midwife knows the symptoms you are experiencing and can make sure that there is nothing to worry about. Doctors can also diagnose the underlying cause of the fever and treat it. So, you are not just treating the symptoms yourself.
- Some of the common causes of fever during pregnancy include colds, flu, food poisoning and urinary tract infections (see the next section for more details).
- Call your doctor right away if the fever is associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, rash, contractions, or abdominal pain.
- If you have a fever and your waters have ruptured, go to the hospital.
- Call your doctor if your fever doesn't improve within 24 to 36 hours, or see a doctor immediately if you have a fever over 38 °C.
- Prolonged fever can have negative effects on the baby and/or increase the risk of miscarriage. If your fever does not go down, contact your midwife or health care provider for further instructions.
- You can try the next step to bring the fever down, unless your doctor recommends something else.
Step 2. Take a bath with lukewarm water
Soaking or bathing in the shower is an effective way to reduce fever. This is because when water evaporates off the skin, it draws heat away from the body and helps lower body temperature.
- Do not use cold water because it can make your body shiver which in turn will cause your body temperature to rise.
- Do not mix alcohol with bath water as the steam can be dangerous.
Step 3. Place a cool damp cloth on the forehead
One way to reduce fever is to apply a cold wet cloth to the forehead. This will help remove heat from the body and lower body temperature.
Another method of bringing down a fever is using a fan (either a ceiling-mounted fan or a sitting fan) to help remove heat from the body. Sit or lie under a fan, and set it on a low rotation so you don't get cold
Step 4. Drink plenty of fluids
Keeping the body hydrated is important, as is replacing fluids lost during a fever.
- Apart from helping you stay hydrated, drinking water also helps cool your body from the inside out.
- Eat warm broth or chicken soup for extra liquid.
- Consume drinks that contain lots of vitamin C, such as orange juice, or add a little lemon juice to your water.
- You can also try electrolyte drinks to replace lost minerals and glucose.
Step 5. Get plenty of rest
Usually, fever is a normal reaction that occurs when the body is struggling to fight infection. Therefore, you should get plenty of rest so that the immune system can do its job.
- Do not get out of bed and avoid excessive activity and stress.
- If you feel dizzy, stay lying down and don't move too much to reduce the risk of falling or tripping.
Step 6. Wear only one layer of clothing
When pregnant, don't wear layers of clothing, especially when you have a fever. Wearing multiple layers of clothing can overheat you. If the body temperature remains high, this can lead to heat stroke or even the birth of a premature baby.
- Wear a layer of clothing made of a light, breathable material, such as cotton, that allows good air circulation.
- Use a thin sheet or blanket to cover the body, but if necessary.
Step 7. Don't forget to take your prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins can help boost the immune system and maintain a balance of vitamins and minerals.
Take prenatal vitamins with plenty of water after meals
Step 8. Take febrifuge
Ask your midwife or health care provider if you can take a fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen (or paracetamol) can be used to bring down a fever and can make you feel good, as the body struggles to fight off the underlying cause of the fever.
- Acetaminophen is usually safe for pregnant women to take. However, this drug should not be taken with caffeine (eg migraine pills).
- While pregnant, you should not take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen). These drugs can affect the development of the baby. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure what medications you can or shouldn't take.
- Call your health care provider or midwife immediately if the fever does not go down even though you have taken acetaminophen.
Step 9. Do not use homeopathic remedies
Consult your midwife or doctor before taking any homeopathic or over-the-counter medicines, as these medicines can have an effect on your baby.
These include large amounts of vitamins, Echinacea, or other homeopathic remedies
Method 2 of 2: Knowing the Common Causes of Fever During Pregnancy
Step 1. Check whether you are experiencing symptoms of the common cold or not
The viral flu, also known as an upper respiratory infection, is a common cause of fever attacks during pregnancy. Almost everyone has experienced the seasonal flu at some point in their lives, but because the immune system during pregnancy is suppressed, a pregnant woman's risk of catching the flu is higher.
- Symptoms are usually not too severe and can include fever (37.7 °C or higher), runny nose, chills, sore throat, muscle aches and cough.
- Unlike bacterial infections, illnesses caused by viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics and will usually resolve if your immune system can defeat the virus.
- Drink plenty of fluids and try using the common home remedies mentioned in the first section to bring down your fever and make yourself more comfortable.
- Call your doctor or midwife if your condition does not improve within 3 to 4 days, or if your symptoms get worse.
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of the flu
Similar to the common cold, flu (or influenza) is a viral disease that causes upper respiratory symptoms. However, the symptoms tend to be more severe than the common cold.
- Some of the symptoms of the flu include chills, fever (37.7 °C or more), headache, fatigue, runny nose, muscle aches, cough, nausea, and vomiting.
- If you believe that you caught the flu while pregnant, seek medical attention immediately.
- Flu can not be treated specifically other than managing the symptoms. Perhaps the doctor will recommend antiviral drugs to shorten the duration of illness and reduce the risk of complications. Many pregnant women should be treated with Tamiflu or amantadine if they are diagnosed with the flu, because some types of flu can have fatal effects on pregnant women, although they are harmless to people who are not pregnant.
- Don't go out, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Follow the steps described in the first section to bring your fever down and make you feel more comfortable.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of a UTI (urinary tract infection)
Some possible causes of fever during pregnancy are UTIs, which are bacterial infections that affect the urinary system (ureters, urethra, kidneys, and bladder).
- UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause an infection.
- Some of the symptoms of a UTI include fever, an urgent urge to urinate, a stinging sensation when urinating, red-brown or cloudy urine, and pelvic pain.
- UTIs can be effectively treated with certain antibiotics, so it's important to contact your doctor if you experience any symptoms.
- You can also try consuming cranberry juice although it has not been scientifically proven that this juice can treat UTIs.
- If left untreated, the risk of complications threatens you (e.g. kidney infection) or to your baby, including low birth weight, premature birth, sepsis (poisoning due to the decay process), unable to breathe, and death.
Step 4. Recognize the signs of a gastrointestinal viral attack
If your fever is related to diarrhea and vomiting, you may have stomach flu (gastroenteritis). The flu is usually caused by a virus.
- Some of the symptoms of stomach flu include fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
- Stomach flu due to a viral attack cannot be treated, but fortunately almost all cases resolve on their own. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and take the necessary steps to bring down the fever.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you are unable to maintain fluids after 24 hours, are dehydrated, vomit contains blood, or have a fever over 38.3 °C.
- Dehydration is a major complication of the stomach flu. If your body is very dehydrated, you could experience contractions or even premature birth. Therefore, you should call your doctor or go to the hospital if you have severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can't get any fluids into your body.
Step 5. Know the symptoms of listeriosis
Pregnant women who have weak immune systems have a higher risk of developing a bacterial infection called listeriosis.
- This infection can be transmitted through food, animals, or soil contaminated with bacteria.
- Some of the symptoms of this infection include fever, chills, chills, diarrhea, muscle aches, and fatigue.
- Listeriosis can be very dangerous for both the baby and the mother, and if left untreated it can lead to miscarriage, fetal death, and premature birth.
- Immediately contact your doctor for antibiotics if you suspect that you have listeriosis.
Tips
- If you have a sore throat, try gargling with salt water to ease the pain. Use 236 ml of warm water added 1 tsp. salt.
- If you have a stuffy nose and a headache, use a nasal rinse or saline spray (non-medicated) to relieve it. You can also use a humidifier to relieve these symptoms.
- If you have a fever, paying close attention to any symptoms you're experiencing can help your midwife or obstetrician narrow down what's causing the fever.
Warning
- Always consult a health care provider if you have a fever during pregnancy. A body temperature that exceeds 38 °C can be dangerous for your baby and yourself. A high fever can increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects, especially in early pregnancy.
- Call your doctor right away if the fever persists for more than 24 to 36 hours, or is associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, pain, rash, dehydration, difficulty breathing, or seizures.
