Definition
Usually, a fever is said to start at a temperature of over 38°C. This limit also applies during pregnancy. Temperatures between 37.1 and 37.9°C, on the other hand, are often referred to as subfebrile temperatures or slightly elevated temperatures. Fever during pregnancy can have many different causes and is a very general symptom. It cannot be assigned to a specific cause and is usually rather an expression of a defensive reaction of the body.
When does it become dangerous for my baby?
Fever is – understandably – a very delicate matter for pregnant women. Inevitably, the question arises whether and how dangerous the increased temperature is for the child. Fever during pregnancy is not per se dangerous for the child.
Contrary to what is often assumed, the rate of miscarriage – especially during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy – is not increased by fever. Neither the level nor the duration of the fever plays a role. It is particularly dangerous when suddenly high fever is accompanied by a premature rupture of the bladder.
In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately, as amniotic infection syndrome is suspected. This bacterial infection of the amniotic fluid can lead to considerable complications such as blood poisoning of the mother or premature birth. Banal flu-like infections are not dangerous for mother and child, but classic childhood diseases such as rubella or chickenpox are all the more dangerous.
If you suspect such a disease, you should also consult a doctor immediately. However, it is not the fever that is dangerous here, but the pathogen as such, which can lead to severe malformations in the child. Other diseases such as hepatitis, herpes or toxoplasmosis can also be accompanied by fever.
However, they also show other characteristic symptoms that lead to the suspicion of the appropriate differential diagnosis. Such diseases can also be dangerous for the baby. However, as with classic childhood diseases, fever is not the decisive factor that poses a danger to the child.
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