During pregnancy, changes occur in the immune system, heart, and lungs. The heart and lungs are exposed to extra stress as lung capacity decreases and heart rate increases during pregnancy. During this period, the immune system is naturally suppressed to make your body work healthier and the risk of getting flu is increased during pregnancy. The risk of influenza during pregnancy is much higher due to these reasons.
Flu is an uncomfortable and can be serious condition for people of all ages and genders. During pregnancy, flu can get serious, causing you to stay in the hospital and, in later scenarios, to develop pneumonia. Prevention of flu during pregnancy is of great importance both for the protection of maternal health and for the healthy development of the baby. While some complications that may be experienced can have serious consequences for your body, they can also harm your baby’s health.
Does flu affect the baby during pregnancy?
Studies show that flu and common cold during pregnancy increase the possibility of premature birth, low birth weight and miscarriage. In order to eliminate these problems, it is necessary to prevent the flu during pregnancy.
The risks can be reduced by taking some precautions to prevent the flu. Washing your hands regularly, adopting a healthy eating habit, paying attention to your sleep and avoiding influenza are among the easy precautions that can be taken.
Flu symptoms during pregnancy
Sore throat during pregnancy, nasal congestion, headache, runny nose, burning in the throat, tiredness, shortness of breath, cough, decreased appetite, diarrhea or vomiting, fever and body aches are among the symptoms of flu during pregnancy.
How is the flu during pregnancy?
If you start to experience flu symptoms or feel sick, you should contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend pregnancy flu medications to treat your illness. Starting to use some antiviral medications as soon as the disease starts can shorten the healing process. However, if medication is to be used for flu treatment during pregnancy, you should remember that these drugs must be taken with a doctor’s prescription. Using the wrong medicine can do more damage to you and your baby than the flu will do. Other steps in flu treatment include getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Flu is an infectious viral disease that is spread by coughs and sneezes. It is not the same as a common cold. It is caused by a different group of viruses. Symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer. You can catch the flu all year round, but your risk is higher, especially during the winter months. Pregnant women with the flu are recommended to be treated with antiviral medications because of the high risk of complications during pregnancy. Antiviral drugs should be started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, otherwise the drugs may not have any effect.
Antivirals do not cure flu, however; It helps to reduce the length of time you are sick, relieve some of the symptoms, and reduce the risk of serious complications. In addition, by keeping yourself warm, resting, drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration, you can help reduce your symptoms and get rid of the flu in a shorter time.
Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy
Studies have proven that the flu vaccine is safe for the pregnant mother and the unborn baby. However, some types of flu vaccine are not recommended for women trying to conceive.
During pregnancy, the flu vaccine can be given whenever desired during pregnancy. However, the vaccine is recommended to be given as early as during the flu season, ideally until October. During pregnancy, flu vaccine prevents the mother from catching flu and offers positive benefits for unborn babies.
When the expectant mother is vaccinated during pregnancy, antibodies are transmitted from the mother to the unborn baby via the placenta. The vaccine can protect the baby for up to six months after birth. Studies reveal that immune-mediated flu prevention in pregnant women can also positively affect the growth of the unborn baby. The flu vaccine has also been proven to be safe for breastfeeding mothers.
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms during your pregnancy, we recommend that you seek emergency help to avoid any complications that could harm you or your baby:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or feeling of pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness or confusion
- Severe and persistent vomiting
- Reduced or no movement of your baby
- Too high or too low body temperature
