Is 37.7°C under the arm considered a fever in pregnant women?

Aug 14, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
Fever usually refers to an elevated body temperature. Generally, a pregnant woman's axillary temperature of 37.7°C is considered feverish. The normal axillary temperature range for pregnant women is 36–37.5°C; therefore, 37.7°C is regarded as a fever. Pregnant women should monitor their body temperature regularly during pregnancy. If the temperature persistently falls below or rises above the normal range, they should seek medical attention promptly.

Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. Under normal circumstances, a pregnant woman's axillary temperature of 37.7°C is considered feverish. The normal axillary temperature range for pregnant women is 36–37.5°C; therefore, 37.7°C is regarded as a fever. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Under normal conditions, an axillary temperature between 36°C and 37.5°C in pregnant women is considered normal. This slight increase is due to elevated levels of luteinizing hormone after conception, which causes a rise in basal body temperature by approximately 0.3–0.5°C. However, if a pregnant woman’s axillary temperature exceeds 37.5°C and reaches up to 38°C during pregnancy, it may indicate a fever caused by illness. In such cases, the individual should promptly visit a hospital for relevant examinations, such as a complete blood count, to determine the underlying cause.

If the fever is caused by a cold due to wind-cold invasion, treatment may include a decoction made from ginger, scallion whites, and brown sugar, which helps dispel wind and cold, relieve muscle tension, and induce sweating, thereby promoting recovery from wind-cold感冒 and reducing body temperature. If the fever results from a bacterial infection, medications such as amoxicillin capsules, Shuanghuanglian oral liquid, or Nanduogen granules should be taken under a doctor’s guidance.

Pregnant women should regularly monitor their body temperature throughout pregnancy. If the temperature persistently falls below or rises above the normal range, they should seek medical attention promptly.