Does having a fever at 15 weeks of pregnancy affect the fetus?

Aug 27, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Xiaodong
Introduction
Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. Whether fever at 15 weeks of pregnancy affects the fetus depends on the severity of the fever and may or may not have an impact. The specific analysis is as follows: 1. Yes, it may affect the fetus: If the pregnant woman's body temperature exceeds 38.3°C, it may trigger inflammation in her body, potentially leading to neural tube defects, cardiac malformations, and other developmental problems in the fetus.

Generally speaking, fever refers to an elevated body temperature. Whether having a fever at 15 weeks of pregnancy will affect the fetus depends on the severity of the fever—it may have an impact, or it may not. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Yes, it may affect the fetus

If a pregnant woman's body temperature exceeds 38.3°C, it may trigger inflammation in her body, potentially leading to neural tube defects, heart malformations, and other developmental problems in the fetus, thereby affecting normal fetal development.

2. No, it may not affect the fetus

However, if the pregnant woman's temperature remains within the low-grade fever range, her immune system may produce antibodies that offer some protection to the fetus. Therefore, short-term low-grade fever generally does not have significant negative effects on the fetus.

In summary, whether a fever at 15 weeks of pregnancy affects the fetus depends on the degree of fever. If a pregnant woman experiences any discomfort, she should seek timely medical attention at a hospital to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.


Related Articles

View All