Being sick is never fun, but being sick while pregnant really takes a toll on your body. During pregnancy you are more prone to catching every bug out there because your immune system is adjusting to the baby growing inside of you.

While no one wants to get sick, odds are you may be faced at one point in your pregnancy with a cold or fever. Taking care of yourself is of the utmost importance for both yourself and your growing baby. Generally a low-grade fever (under 100.4F) is not a whole lot to worry about but if it climbs higher, you need to be able to make yourself comfortable and keep you and your baby healthy.

Click through for tips on how to handle a fever while pregnant:

Stay Hydrated:
If you are running a high fever, staying hydrated is very important. Fevers burn off the water in your body and pair that with sweating, dehydration can sneak up on you pretty quickly, which is very dangerous for you and your growing baby. Water, chicken broth, juice, and herbal tea are all good choices to keep your liquids topped up.

Related: 6 Tips to Make Hydration Easier

Get Lots of Rest:
Put your feet up and rest your head on your pillow — sleep is very important when you have a fever.  Your body is working double time both growing a baby and fighting an infection that is causing a fever. Resting and relaxing as much as possible will aid your body in doing all the work it’s under.

Related: 10 Tips for Better Sleep During Pregnancy

Reduce Temperature and Aches:
High body temperatures are not safe for you when you’re pregnant. Making sure your fever doesn’t get too high is important. Also, with fevers usually comes body aches and pains on top of any pregnancy-related pains you’re already experiencing. Taking products containing acetaminophen are generally considered safe while pregnant, but you should always ask your doctor before taking any over-the-counter or homeopathic medications.

Reduce  Symptoms:
Fever is not an illness but a symptom of an infection that your body is fighting. Typically you will also have body aches, stuffy nose, sore throat or even earaches. Reducing your other symptoms will also help you deal with your fever with more comfort. Set yourself up with a humidifier, sip on warm tea for a sore throat, use saline spray for a stuffy nose and make sure you’re still taking your prenatal vitamins.

When to call your doctor:
It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor if you develop a fever over 100F.  If you are experiencing any pain or think you might have an infection or are developing the flu it’s smart to check in because when you’re pregnant having the flu puts you at risk for developing more serious complications such as pneumonia. Better to err on the side of caution.

Read more from Devan on Accustomed Chaos & Unspoken Grief
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