Getting the flu while pregnant

Is it normal to keep getting sick while pregnant? Can I still get pregnant if I have the flu? Is the flu an early sign of pregnancy?

Call your doctor immediately if you’re pregnant and have flu-like symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu, which is safe to take during pregnancy.

Getting the flu shot while pregnant also offers big benefits for baby. Infants under months are too young to get the flu vaccine, but research shows that if you get the shot during pregnancy, the antibodies your body produces passes to baby and helps protect her from flu infection for several months after birth. It also places your baby at risk. Studies have found having the flu during pregnancy can increase your chances of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. In fact, pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized from complications of the flu than non- pregnant women of the same age (which is why getting the flu shot as a preventative measure is such a good idea).

If you get sick with flu while pregnant , you may experience premature labor and premature delivery. Getting a flu vaccination helps protect pregnant women and their babies for up to six months after birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Put this risk of severe complications from the flu together with the relative low risk of the flu vaccine, and it’s easy to understand why getting the flu shot during pregnancy is so strongly recommended. Catching the flu is never goo and especially not when you’re expecting. The illness can be more severe when you’re pregnant , and it may last three times longer in moms-to-be. A Flu Vaccine is the Best Protection Against Flu. Getting an influenza flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu.

Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the mother and her baby from flu. Pregnant women should get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. How Safe is the Flu Shot During Pregnancy?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting a flu shot while pregnant is extremely safe—especially when weighed against the risks of not getting a shot. It’s safe to get a flu shot at any time during pregnancy. For best protection, get the flu shot annually by the end of October. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant.

Many pregnant women are concerned about the safety of the vaccine for their developing baby. A flu shot decreases your risk of getting the flu during your pregnancy. According to the CDC, getting the flu shot during pregnancy has been shown to protect both the mother and her baby from the flu for several months after birth (up to months of age).

I’ve written about getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy several times, including when I got my own flu shot several months back while in my first trimester and in my lengthy myth-busting post about the flu vaccine. We have expert. Why Getting a Flu Shot Protects Your Baby — and You. When you’re pregnant , your body can’t handle the flu.

Discover why flu vaccine protects both mom and baby, and makes for a. If you get the flu shot during your pregnancy, research shows it provides some protection to your baby both while you are pregnant and after the baby is born. The nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women. In addition, follow our everyday steps to keep you and your baby healthy this flu season.