Does a cold or fever during pregnancy affect the fetus?

Children are always connected with their mothers, especially before they are born. The physical condition of pregnant women also affects the fetus, so expectant mothers must pay attention to their health during pregnancy, otherwise taking medicine is not good for the child. However, people can easily get a minor illness, so they need to be extra careful. Does a cold or fever affect the fetus?

Pregnant women with colds and fevers are not good for themselves, let alone the fetus. Pregnant women with colds and fevers have a certain impact on the fetus. Pregnant women should take good care of their bodies and not always take medicine. Let’s take a look at the specific effects of pregnant women with colds and fevers on the fetus.

If the cold symptoms are severe, especially if the high fever persists and if the cold is caused by influenza virus infection, the cold may have a certain impact on the fetus.

These influences come from:

Colds caused by influenza viruses may cause influenza viruses to infect the fetus;

The medicines taken when you have a severe cold may have an impact on the fetus;

Fever will also have a certain impact on the fetus.

Generally speaking, a cold in early pregnancy has a relatively greater impact on the fetus. Because this period is a critical period for the development of various organs of the fetus, influenza virus or cold medicines may cause malformations to the fetus at this period, such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip, hydrocephalus, anencephaly and microcephaly. In severe cases, termination of pregnancy may be recommended.

The impact of a cold in the second and third trimesters on the fetus is relatively small, because the fetus's various organs are basically formed during this period and rarely cause adverse effects. However, if a severe cold occurs during this period, prolonged high fever will hinder the development of the fetus in the uterus. If it is in the late pregnancy, extreme coughing may also cause early rupture of membranes or even premature birth.

Expectant mothers should learn to take care of themselves, pay attention to their daily diet and schedule, and wear more clothes, drink more water, eat more vegetables and fruits during seasons when colds and fevers are common. They should also keep warm at night and avoid catching colds. This will be beneficial to the growth of the fetus. They should be patient and careful during pregnancy, waiting for the arrival of the child.