Can a cold cause miscarriage?

Pregnant women should pay attention to keeping warm during pregnancy, and also pay attention to their diet and daily routine, and provide the best living environment for the baby. However, common symptoms such as colds are mainly caused by wind and cold, which pregnant women will also encounter during pregnancy. It is best not to take medication for this disease to avoid affecting the fetus. Moreover, colds will not lead to fetal arrest, so there is no need to worry too much.

When a pregnant woman catches a cold, it has two effects on the fetus: first, the virus enters the fetus directly through the placenta, which may cause congenital heart disease, cleft lip, hydrocephalus, anencephaly and microcephaly in the fetus; second, the indirect effect of toxins produced by the high fever and metabolic disorders caused by the cold. The high fever and toxins will stimulate uterine contractions, causing miscarriage and premature birth.

It is recommended that you eat a balanced diet, pay attention to personal hygiene, exercise appropriately, enhance your immunity, and avoid contact with patients infected with the virus in the early stages of pregnancy.

Most women are more likely to catch a cold during pregnancy than usual because their resistance is weakened and their bodies are easily fatigued, making them more susceptible to colds. It can be treated with diet therapy and medication.

Due to the special nature of pregnancy, even a common cold can make pregnant women feel like they are facing a formidable enemy. They are worried that the cold will affect the fetus but dare not take medicine easily. In fact, as long as you find out the cause of the cold and its impact on the baby and take timely preventive measures, you don’t have to worry too much.

Influence

If a pregnant woman catches a cold, it is important to figure out what causes the cold and at what stage of pregnancy the cold occurs. Different causes and onset periods of colds have different effects on the fetus.

Colds are divided into common colds and viral colds. If it is just a common cold, the main symptoms are sneezing, nasal congestion, and no fever. The symptoms are mild and there is no need to take cold medicine. It can usually heal on its own within a week. In this case, a pregnant woman's cold will not have any effect 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;

The probability of severe symptoms of influenza during pregnancy is 3.1 times higher than that of the normal population, 6.6 times higher in the second trimester, and 7.9 times higher in the third trimester. At the same time, the fetal mortality rate during influenza during pregnancy increases by 1.9 times, and the malformation rate increases by 2.2 times.

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.

Cold treatment during pregnancy

Mild common cold symptoms

You don't need to take medicine and you will feel better after resting for a few days. If the condition is serious and requires medication, it must be done under the consent and guidance of a doctor. Drink more water, get enough rest, and your cold will heal quickly.

Cold, high fever, severe cough or any other symptoms

It is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible, especially an internal medicine doctor at an obstetrics and gynecology hospital.