Does having a fever at 15 weeks of pregnancy affect 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.