How can I get a fever?
Sterile environments?
How will it affect the labour?
Will the fever affect my baby?
What your caregiver may do
Mother and baby after the birth
A normal body temperature usually falls somewhere between 36.5 and 37.0
o Celsius. The hard work of labour can naturally increase the woman's temperature up to about 37.5
o Celsius, at various times throughout her labour, causing no problems. Sometimes her temperature can rise above 37.5 to about 38.0
o Celsius, possibly indicating that she is dehydrated, and needs some fluids, this is often referred to as a 'low grade temp'.
A fever above 38
o Celsius can possibly indicate an infection is developing, which may prompt your caregiver to consider administering antibiotics during the labour, and possibly for a short period after the birth. Infections for women in labour normally originate in the vaginal area, uterus or the urinary tract (or bladder). An infection can occasionally be caused by another illness the woman has, (such as the flu or a viral infection), totally unrelated to the pregnancy. Having an
epidural in for several hours can also lead to a fever (that is not related to an infection), but may be treated with antibiotics by the caregiver 'just in case'.
An infection can present with one (or a combination) of some of the following signs in the woman: