INFORMATION FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE A FEVER DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING

What is a fever?

Fever is an increase in body temperature to at least 38° C (101.4 F). This is slightly above normal body temperature, which ranges from 37 – 37.5 °C. There are a variety of reasons why you can become febrile during pregnancy. Common reasons include an infectious condition, such as the flu, a sinus, middle ear, or throat infection, food poisoning, or even the common cold. Urinary tract infections, which happen frequently during pregnancy; usually don't produce fever as long as they are limited to the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra). However, if the infection spreads to the kidneys, this is called "pyelonephritis", and it does produce fever. Pneumonia also produces fever, as do bacterial meningitis, Lyme disease, and appendicitis, all of which can potentially happen during pregnancy. There are several infectious diseases that are preventable through vaccinations, including to some extent the flu but, occasionally, there are people who get pregnant before getting up to date on their vaccines. It’s also possible for an infection to happen within the amniotic sac that contains the fetus, but this does not always produce a fever. The focus of this report is on the mild fevers that might develop with common upper respiratory conditions, such as a bad cold, or a sinus infection, but you should always keep in mind the more serious conditions, which generally present with a very high fever.