Chills in the First Trimester

Feeling cold can occur with normal temperature changes, fatigue, nausea, low food intake, or a cool environment. Shivering with a raised temperature may indicate infection, which matters during pregnancy. Influenza, dengue fever, malaria, pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, or a kidney infection may cause chills with other symptoms. Chills alone cannot show whether pregnancy is progressing normally or identify a specific illness.

Measure your temperature, note the time and duration, and record cough, sore throat, breathlessness, headache, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, pelvic pain, back pain, painful urination, unusual discharge, or vaginal bleeding. Tell your maternity team about recent travel and insect exposure.

Rest, sip fluids, eat small regular meals if nausea allows, and use light layers. Contact your maternity clinician or doctor before taking medicines, including cold remedies, pain relievers, or herbal products. Do not use leftover antibiotics or antimalarial treatment. If you cannot keep fluids down or feel increasingly weak, seek same-day advice.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, confusion, fainting, severe weakness, a seizure, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening illness. Contact a clinician promptly for fever with chills, painful urination, flank or back pain, persistent vomiting, a new rash, severe headache, or reduced urine. Serious infection, including sepsis, can progress quickly and needs immediate assessment.

Ask which temperature readings need action, which medicines are safe in early pregnancy, whether urine or other tests are needed, and when to attend urgent care. Share your estimated pregnancy stage, medical conditions, medicines, travel, vaccination history, and any bleeding or pain.