How and how to bring down the temperature during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a unique period in a woman’s life, which she lives only a few times. And in any of these periods, the expectant mother tries to take care of her baby as much as possible, monitor her nutrition, health and well-being. Especially if the pregnancy is desired and long-awaited. To make a healthy baby, you need to follow many rules, the most important of which is to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. But, unfortunately, this is not always possible, and pregnant women are forced to face many unpleasant diseases and symptoms. One of the most serious is a high body temperature, which can be not only harmful, but also really dangerous for the fetus. Today we’ll talk about the high temperature during pregnancy - the causes of its appearance, risks, as well as safe ways to lower the temperature during pregnancy.

Causes of fever during pregnancy

As you know, an increase in body temperature indicates active protective processes in the body. So the body fights against viral, bacterial and infectious pathogens. Let's try to figure out in which cases most often occurs hyperthermia during pregnancy.

1. The beginning of pregnancy. Quite often, a slight increase in temperature is a sign of the onset of pregnancy. Some women admit that they felt the moment of fertilization of the egg. Of course, it is impossible to feel the conception itself, but to notice certain changes in the body is quite real. In the very early stages, the temperature rises to 37-37.4 degrees due to the active production of progesterone. It suppresses the body's immune defenses so that the fetal egg is not perceived as a foreign body and can attach to the uterine wall. In fact, a slight increase in temperature is the immune response to pregnancy.
2. ARVI. Various colds, viral and bacterial diseases are the most common cause of fever during pregnancy. The fact is that during pregnancy, a woman's immunity deteriorates significantly, the expectant mother is susceptible to any viruses. Diseases more often occur in winter and autumn, when the cold and flu season begins. If a woman works with people or she has an older child who is infected from kindergarten, the risk of catching a cold increases several times. It is not difficult to recognize such diseases, they are accompanied by characteristic symptoms - sore throat, cough, mucus from the nose, etc.
3. Pyelonephritis. In general, high temperature indicates an inflammatory process in the body. So why did we isolate kidney inflammation? The fact is that pyelonephritis very often occurs precisely during pregnancy. The organs can not cope with the infection, because the fetus squeezes them quite seriously. The longer the gestation period, the more the disease worsens and its course is more complicated. One of the main signs of pyelonephritis is a high temperature, which is accompanied by pain in the lower back, frequent and painful urination, weakness.
4. Food poisoning. Food poisoning or intestinal infection can also trigger fever. Women often miss and do not notice the disease, linking nausea, vomiting, and poor health with toxicosis.

These are the most common causes of fever in pregnant women. In addition to these diagnoses, a woman can have chronic diseases that almost always worsen during pregnancy.These are pathologies of the thyroid gland, hormonal disorders, autoimmune diseases. In some cases, malfunctions of the nervous system can also lead to an increase in temperature, this happens with the pathology of the thermoregulation center. But why do doctors recommend monitoring the temperature during pregnancy and preventing it from rising?

The danger of high fever during pregnancy

Temperature is also undesirable at a later date. With an increase in body temperature, blood thickens, it becomes difficult for the heart to pump it through the arteries and veins. The amount of oxygen supplied to the child is sharply reduced, fetal hypoxia develops. In late pregnancy, the danger of high fever also lies in the risk of premature birth.

How to bring down the temperature during pregnancy

With an increase in body temperature, it is necessary to measure and fix it. If the temperature has not risen above 38 degrees, try using homemade recipes that will help you bring down a degree safely, without using chemistry.

1. Raspberry tea. It has long been proven that raspberries have a powerful diaphoretic effect, which can only be compared with drugs. Treatment with raspberry jam is not only useful and safe, but also incredibly tasty. Add a couple of tablespoons of jam in hot tea and drink with pleasure. Not only raspberry berries, but also a decoction of the stems and leaves of the plant have excellent diaphoretic properties.
2. Liquid. In general, the temperature will not drop even with medication if you do not drink. Heavy drinking promotes active sweating, which improves the body's thermoregulation. In addition, a large amount of warm drunk fluid helps to flush the viral pathogen out of the body. In another ARVI is simply not treated. You can drink anything, tea with lemon, ginger and honey - these ingredients strengthen the immune system. There is a lot of vitamin C in cranberry juice. Weak broths of chamomile and linden will not only help lower the temperature, but also cheer up. But milk with honey can be drunk only if your throat doesn’t hurt, because milk is an excellent environment for the development of bacteria on the mucous membrane.
3. Do not overheat! In some cases, young mothers try to dress warmer to increase perspiration and lower body temperature. However, they make a big mistake. To establish thermoregulation, on the contrary, you need to provide cool air in the room, do not wrap yourself if you are not shivering. The main thing is to keep your feet warm.
4. Rubdown. In extreme cases, you can wipe the skin with a damp towel. This will accelerate the evaporation of moisture from the skin and lower body temperature even for a short while. This is an effective and safe way to lower the temperature before the doctor arrives. You need to wipe the limbs, back, neck, chest. It’s better not to touch the belly. And in no case do rubbing with the addition of vinegar or vodka. Acid and alcohol enter the body through the skin and can harm your baby.
5. Wet towel. A piece of damp cloth can be an excellent safe cure for heat. Put it on your forehead and leave it for a while.You should not apply something very cold (for example, ice), otherwise a vasospasm may occur. Instead of a wet towel, you can attach a cabbage leaf to your forehead and temples. It quickly cools the skin and draws out sweat. In order for cabbage to act faster, the sheet must first be kneaded with a rolling pin on the board.
6. Plantain, oregano, coltsfoot. This herbal collection will help you quickly and safely lower your body temperature. Take one tablespoon of each herb, pour boiling water and let it brew for at least an hour. Drink 100 ml three times a day.
7. Cool shower. If you do not have chills, you can lower the temperature with a cool shower - this will help improve the body's thermoregulation.
8. Strawberry leaves. In the season of picking berries, you need to stock up not only with sweet and red strawberries, but also with its leaves. A decoction of strawberry leaves quickly, efficiently and safely reduces temperature. It should be drunk in half a glass with honey or sugar.

These methods of lowering the temperature are permissible only if it is not higher than 38 degrees, and you know exactly the cause of hyperthermia. In other cases, you can not self-medicate, it is very dangerous, no matter how much for a woman, as for a child in her womb. But what if the described home methods and recipes do not help lower the temperature?

Is it possible to lower the temperature during pregnancy medically

Remember that antipyretic drugs are symptomatic drugs that only help lower the temperature. Without proper treatment, the temperature will rise again after a few hours, as soon as the effect of the medicine is over. Therefore, you must definitely consult a gynecologist or therapist to make the correct diagnosis. Proper treatment will protect you from a repeated increase in body temperature, which is really dangerous during pregnancy.

Antipyretic drugs during pregnancy - this is not the group of drugs that neighbors or friends can advise. If you have any ailments, you need to get to the doctor and consult with him as soon as possible. If he prescribes these or those drugs to you - do not resist, follow his recommendations. The harm from the disease can be much worse than from antibiotics acceptable during pregnancy. Therefore, you need to find a qualified doctor and entrust him with your health. Be vigilant, because you are responsible for the future of your child!

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