Fever during pregnancy, how to safely deal with it?

Not only various serious health problems that can occur during pregnancy, but minor health problems, such as fever, can also occur when you are pregnant. Fever during pregnancy may be a minor problem, maybe even go away on its own. But, still, the handling must be considered when you are pregnant. Not just any fever medicine you can take while pregnant.

Is fever during pregnancy dangerous?

Fever can occur early in your pregnancy. It is said to have a fever if your body temperature has reached 38 degrees Celsius or more. You may feel uncomfortable with fever, high body temperature, sweating, occasional chills, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and even dehydration.

How does fever affect the unborn baby? A theory exists that a very high fever can cause smallpox to be born, especially fever that occurs in early pregnancy (five to six weeks after conception). However, this theory cannot really be proven. Many pregnant women have fever but their babies are fine. Fever during pregnancy may not be a serious problem but it still needs special attention.

What causes fever during pregnancy?

Often times, a fever is an early sign that you are experiencing a more serious illness. Therefore, if your fever does not go down or gets worse, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Fever is one of the body's ways of protecting your baby from harm, such as viral or bacterial infections. Some things that can cause fever in pregnant women are:

• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Tonsillitis (tonsils)
• Urinary tract infection
• Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
• Hyperthyroidism

How to treat fever during pregnancy without medicine?

When fever, usually many people immediately take paracetamol drugs, as well as pregnant women. The use of paracetamol during pregnancy is actually safe for you and the fetus, as long as you take it according to the dosage (the total dose in a day is not more than the maximum dose) and it is not used for a long time. Conversely, the use of aspirin during pregnancy to relieve fever is not recommended. Aspirin can cross the placenta so that it can harm the fetus.

If you don't want to relieve fever with medicine, you can try the following things.

• Lie down and compress your forehead with cold water.
• Take a warm shower, not cold water. Cold water can actually make you shiver, which can increase your fever.
• Drink lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Water can also help cool your body.
• Make sure the air circulation in your house runs smoothly so you don't overheat.
• Avoid clothes that are too thick. If you are cold, it's best to cover yourself until you are warm enough.

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