Fever in pregnancy

Heat during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence. In some cases, it should not cause concern or anxiety, as it can be considered a normal physiological phenomenon. But when the heat is intense and is accompanied by chills, headaches and a feeling of weakness, then a mandatory consultation with a doctor is already necessary and, in case of urgent need, hospitalization, since such conditions can cause significant harm to the fetus and the body of the pregnant woman herself, and can also negatively affect the normal bearing of the child.

In any case, if the temperature rises, even slightly, you need to seek help from a specialist to get advice and further instructions.

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Causes of fever during pregnancy

Fever during pregnancy can occur for several reasons. It can be physiological - this is when its limit does not exceed the thermometer mark of 37.5. Such fever is considered subfebrile and is associated with the restructuring of the body during pregnancy, especially with a change in hormonal levels, a drop in estrogen levels and an increase in progesterone levels. Most often, this kind of increase in temperature occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and passes after a while.

The physiological increase in temperature during pregnancy should not normally be accompanied by any painful sensations in the body. If, in addition to fever, a pregnant woman experiences other symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, and headache, then it is necessary to consult a doctor, since such symptoms can be considered threatening to the health of the fetus and mother. Fever can be in the form of hot flashes or in the form of a consistently elevated body temperature. According to statistics, 20% of women experience hot flashes or an increase in temperature during pregnancy.

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Feeling Hot During Pregnancy

Normal physiological fever during pregnancy should be either in the form of hot flashes or manifest itself as a slight increase in temperature without any accompanying symptoms and poor health. But when the feeling of heat constantly increases and is accompanied by a headache, chills or weakness, then you need to urgently seek help from a specialist. The cause of such an increase in temperature is most often an infectious disease or the appearance of an inflammatory process in the body of a pregnant woman. Here it is especially important not to ignore a visit to the doctor, since the health of the future child is at stake.

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Heat in the legs during pregnancy

Most often, heat in the legs during pregnancy is not directly related to changes in the hormonal background of the pregnant woman. The reason for this is possible varicose veins, which actually provokes such heat. In such cases, during a visual examination, you can see small vascular "stars" on the legs or vascular "threads" of blue color. Varicose veins during pregnancy occur due to a large load on the blood vessels of the lower extremities due to an increase in the uterus. The uterus increases in size and thereby puts great pressure on the veins of the pelvis and disrupts natural blood flow. The pregnant woman experiences constant pain in the lower extremities, leg fatigue when walking, a feeling of heaviness, heat, and sometimes minor cramps. Prevention of varicose veins in pregnant women comes down to ensuring minimal load on the lower extremities, it is also necessary to do light exercises for the legs in order to improve blood circulation. Therefore, if a pregnant woman notices fatigue and constant heaviness in her legs, she needs to consult her gynecologist, who will then issue a referral for an examination by a therapist or angiologist.

Hot flashes during pregnancy

Hot flashes during pregnancy are a normal phenomenon, just like mood swings in pregnant women. The first and main reason is a change in hormonal balance, which actually affects all these processes. Pregnant women can often observe that on a cool day they want to take off their outerwear or open the window wide. There is nothing strange or unnatural about this. According to statistics, such conditions occur in 10-20% of pregnant women and last from a few seconds to several minutes. Most often, hot flashes during pregnancy occur in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Also, hot flashes occur in 90% of women after childbirth. This is due to a sharp decrease in hormone levels and lactation. Physiological hot flashes are a normal phenomenon that does not pose a potential threat to the health of the mother and fetus.

Heat in the abdomen during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman experiences heat primarily in the head, neck, chest and abdomen. Heat in the abdomen is quite common in the first trimester of pregnancy. There should be no cause for concern in this case - the sensation of heat is associated with the influx of blood to the uterus due to its enlargement. Normally, such heat is either paroxysmal or statically constant, it should not cause any significant discomfort. But if a pregnant woman, in addition to heat, also experiences uterine contractions, then in this case it is imperative to consult a doctor, since such a condition may indicate hypertonicity of the uterus, which can threaten premature birth or miscarriage. Therefore, if a pregnant woman experiences rhythmic contractions of the uterine wall and at the same time there are painful sensations in the abdomen and lower back, then you need to immediately consult a doctor.

What to do if you feel hot during pregnancy?

A woman may periodically feel hot during pregnancy. Normally, this should not be an alarming signal, as this is a physiological phenomenon. Such attacks of heat can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and disappear without a trace. If a pregnant woman feels hot, then in this case it is advisable, if possible, to sit or lie down and wait out the rush of heat. At the same time, you can apply a wet towel to your forehead and open a window to ventilate the room. If the heat is accompanied by a headache and a significantly elevated temperature, then you need to seek help from a specialist.

Treatment of fever during pregnancy

Before starting treatment for fever during pregnancy, it is necessary to determine its root cause. In any case, a doctor's consultation is necessary, who will determine whether the fever is physiological or whether the fever has arisen against the background of some pathological process in the body. If the fever is physiological, which is very common in the first trimester of pregnancy, then there is no reason to worry. With such a fever, it is necessary to provide the pregnant woman with an optimal room temperature, not to wear a lot of clothes, to sleep under a thin blanket and to adhere to other similar measures. If the fever is not physiological, but pathological, which has arisen due to an infectious or inflammatory process in the body and is accompanied by other negative symptoms, then in such cases the doctor prescribes treatment. Treatment in such cases is very gentle and, if possible, is carried out without the use of medications.

Sometimes there are situations when a pregnant woman can get general hypothermia of the body. In such cases, there is often a fever, chills, increased body temperature, sometimes a fever. The extremities in this condition are usually cold. Here, first of all, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of ARVI, which is very dangerous for the pregnant woman and directly for the fetus itself. The first aid for such a fever, which often begins abruptly, will be the application of warm heating pads to the extremities and tea with lemon. If the condition does not pass and the temperature does not drop, immediately consult a doctor. Remember that attempts at self-medication at home and an untimely visit to the doctor can end fatally for you and your future child.

Heat during pregnancy is a physiological phenomenon that should not normally cause discomfort to a woman and should not be accompanied by any other unpleasant symptoms; it is exclusively associated with hormonal changes in the body. If, in addition to heat, a pregnant woman has symptoms such as headache, chills or fever, then she should immediately consult a doctor, since such conditions are dangerous for the health of the mother and fetus.