QuestionI'm 33, I had one miscarriage one year ago this January at 7 weeks. I am pregnant for the first time since then, at approxiamately 5 weeks. My last period started Nov. 14th.
My question: My husband is sick... fever and everything. I'm starting to feel ill as well. If I get sick, (fever, et.al) could this cause a serious developmental problem with the fetus? My brother is profoundly retarded, and my mother was told that either she or my father had a virus when he was conceived which caused his retardation. Please clearify this for me. Is there anything I can do to help assure a healthy baby?
AnswerThere is nothing anyone can do to assure a healthy baby even when everything is fine. However, usually a flu will not cause any problems with the baby as long as you watch your temperature and keep it below 101 degrees F. If it rises over 102 or 103 degrees, there is a higher risk of miscarriage or preterm labor. I doubt that your illness will cause any retardation in the baby. It is very common to have the flu during pregnancy. Just drink plenty of fluids, keep the temperature under control with Tylenol (every 4 hours), or look warm baths. Don't worry. The reetardation of your brother was not due to a common viral illness, but would have been due to a more specific virus, that was not noticed as a flu or illness.
