Not only does having an epidural increase your risk of developing a fever during labor, but it may also affect your newborn's health immediately after birth, according to a new study in the January issue of Pediatrics.

In a study of 1,200 mothers and their newborns, doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that 98 percent of the women who developed a fever during labor (10 percent of the group) had chosen to have an epidural. Additionally, more than 18 percent of their newborns had some problems right after birth.

Maternal fevers of higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous for infants. In the study, babies born to feverish women were four times more likely to have one-minute Apgar scores below seven (infants who score between eight and 10 are in good to excellent condition and usually need only routine post-delivery care), although their scores rose by the five-minute mark. These babies were also slightly more likely to need oxygen or bag and mask resuscitation or to have a seizure soon after birth — although the study authors say the small number of babies in this category (four) makes drawing any conclusions premature. They say more research is needed into fever during delivery and its long-term effects on newborns.