What should pregnant women do if they have a fever or a cold?

Colds are very common. There are more than nine months from pregnancy to delivery, which is quite long, so it is very normal to catch a cold during pregnancy. However, expectant mothers must know more about what to do if pregnant women have a cold and fever. Don't take medicine directly, but pay attention to many things to ensure the healthy growth of the fetus. So, what should pregnant women do if they catch a cold or fever? Now let me introduce to you the specific methods of reducing fever.

Pregnant women should try not to use medicine when they have a fever. As for when to consider using medicine, it varies from person to person. If a pregnant woman has a fever with a temperature above 38.5 degrees Celsius and is accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms, she should go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible, otherwise a severe fever may harm the fetus.

What medicine should pregnant women take when they have a fever?

Pregnant women must take medication under the guidance of a doctor and must not take medication on their own. Because it is not only related to the medicine itself, but also to the pregnancy process.

Generally speaking, fever in pregnant women can be treated with acetaminophen. Each dose of acetaminophen can last for 6 hours, which means it can be taken 4 times within 24 hours. Ibuprofen, Bupleurum injection, etc. can be used.

Indomethacin is a fever-reducing drug that is contraindicated for use by pregnant women, and aspirin should not be used after 32 weeks of pregnancy. It has been reported that indomethacin-type drugs can cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the fetal heart.

In addition, if there is no clear evidence of bacterial infection when a pregnant woman has a cold, do not use antibiotics. Because antibiotics can pass through the placenta and affect the fetus, there is a 20%-40% chance of causing harm to the fetus and they should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

The pathogen that causes fever itself is more harmful to the mother and fetus than the fever itself. Therefore, when a pregnant woman has a fever, it is important to find out the cause of the fever and prescribe the right medicine, which is more important than simply reducing the fever.

Recommended recipes for pregnant women with fever

1. Ginger soup

Ingredients: ginger, brown sugar.

Method: Cut the ginger into slices, put it into appropriate amount of water and boil for 5 minutes, add a large spoonful of brown sugar and stir well, drink it while it is hot, and it is best to cover yourself with a quilt to make your body sweat slightly.

Efficacy: Dispel cold and relieve exterior symptoms. Ginger soup is a common method we use to treat colds. Ginger tastes spicy and warm in nature. It has the effects of dispelling cold, warming the stomach, and dispersing wind and cold, which is just right for symptoms such as colds and fever caused by wind and cold. Ginger has a good antiemetic effect. When pregnant women experience vomiting, they can hold a few slices of ginger in their mouths or drink ginger soup to relieve the symptoms.

2. Reed root porridge

Ingredients: 20 grams of fresh reed root (or 10 grams of dried reed root), 25 grams of polished rice.

Preparation method: First put the reed root into water and boil it. When half of the water is left, add the rice and cook it into porridge.

Efficacy: Clears away heat and promotes salivation. Reed root is cold in nature and has the effects of clearing away heat, promoting body fluid, relieving restlessness and stopping vomiting. It can be used to treat various fevers and thirst.

It is best for pregnant women not to catch a cold during pregnancy. To prevent it, it is best for expectant mothers not to go to public places, strengthen nutrition and ensure sleep. Try to avoid contact with people with colds to reduce the chance of infection. Pay attention to keeping warm and don’t be too greedy for coolness. In summer, don’t sleep with the air conditioner on all night. Pay special attention to keeping your abdomen warm. You can cover your abdomen with a thin blanket.