[2miracles3angels]

Hi i was just wonderin whether a high temperature for 3 consecutive days could cause a miscarriage?? There isnt much info on the internet so i thought i would ask you ladies. Pregnancy was fine, perfect size, saw hb then i got the flu and my temp went thru the roof. Maternity told me to just stay home and rest and docs wouldn't see me cos, on the 3rd night i started spotting. Went for early scan the day after and baby was fine but i miscarried a day later. Could the high temp have caused it?? x

My temp was 38.4 degrees, possibly higher at times

[Servilia]

First of all I'm sorry about your losses.
I don't know what the threshold is but your core temperature should stay relatively stable and not go up too high. A temp of 38.40 is definitely a fever but I'm not sure if it's high enough to cause a miscarriage. I do know that the RE I'm seeing for recurrent miscarriages has told me to stay away from hot yoga (where they heat the room) during the TWW and in case I get pregnant to be on the safe side, and pregnant women are advised to stay out of saunas. I have also read one of the home methods some women use to try to cause a miscarriage is to take a very very hot bath and to raise their internal temperatures. So it is possible but we couldn't know for sure that in this case that's what caused it. It's also possible that the flu infection on its own could cause it regardless of the temperature.
Or maybe it's the other way around, that an early mechanism associated with miscarriage caused your fever before you started spotting.
OR it could have been a huge coincidence..
You didn't mention how far along you were but what I've read said there's more evidence for fever causing a problem later on in the pregnancy, and the link is weaker in the first trimester.
Honestly there are so many possible causes out there (very sadly)

[SillyKitty]

I'm not sure how far along you were, but with my dd #2 I got the flu when I was 12 weeks pregnant with her and had high temps for a few days, but she turned out o.k. The only time I can think of, theoretically, that a fever could potentially cause a miscarriage is really early on (before 6-7 weeks) a REALLY high temp causing some genetic damage that later leads to miscarriage, but I'm just postulating that idea.

[ashj_1218]

I had a nasty, nasty stomach bug when I was abot 6-7 weeks with Liam. My fever went to about 104F. And he was fine. The doctor was not actually even concerned. She just said to pump fluids, since dehydration WAS dangerous. And to rest as much as possible. She also mentioned not to use things like heating pads or lots of blankets to stay warm while I had a fever, that it made things worse (I do usually do that, cause I get so cold with fevers that I shake uncontrollably). She recommended lukewarm showers to bring the fever down and lots of rest, plus tylonel if I needed to use it to keep the fever in check.

I seriously doubt that a fever could cause miscarriage. Yes, you are not supposed to raise your core temperature too high, since it can cause issues. But I always thought that was meaning raise it "unnaturally." Not that a fever could actually damage the fetus. I would think the fetus would have better protection mechanisms than to succumb to a fever. Although, I admit, I am sorta green on this subject as well. I do know that lots of women get sick in the first trimester and have healthy babies, so I would think the link would be stronger and more researched if there was an actual danger of having a fever in the first trimester.

[~Lynda~]

my dr. made me get a flu shot when i found out i was pregnant. i went through 4 miscarriages before this pregnancy. she told me that the flu can definitely be deadly to a fetus. so i got one. however there are many many reasons for miscarriage. i'm so sorry for your loss hun!!! big big hugs to you.

[onedaysoon]

I was told NOT to get the flu shot before 12 weeks because a common side effect of the shot is high fever.

I'm so sorry for your loss

[2miracles3angels]

The reason i was asking is because the baby was fine, even had a hb on my second day of bleeding and was the perfect size (6 weeks 3 days) so i assumed everything was fine and i just had some spotting which alot of women have. Maternity wouldn't even entertain the idea of seeing me while i was ill neither would my doctor and when i asked if the flu could cause a mc they dodged the question so i have no idea..i want to try again right away but im so scared of it happening again that i suppose im lookin for somethin else to blame it on to give me a bit more enthusiasm. Thanks so much for your replies