It’s almost October here in northern Florida and that means that if you’re pregnant, you should be getting your flu shot, stat. That’s because October marks the official beginning of the 2014-2015 flu season. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all pregnant women receive the flu vaccine as early in the flu season as possible.
Pregnant women, or women who become pregnant during flu season, need the vaccination for two very important reasons:
- Pregnant Women are at Higher Risk for Complications: If you’re pregnant, you know very well how much pregnancy changes your body, from your food preferences to your center of gravity. Pregnancy also alters your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to infections such as the flu. Pregnant women who contract the virus are at higher risk for complications, including pneumonia and early labor.
- Vaccination During Pregnancy Protects Baby. Receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy will offer antibodies to your baby that will help protect them from the flu for the first six months after they’re born. That’s very fortunate, since babies are unable to receive a flu vaccine until six months of age. Plus, it’s the easiest vaccine you’ll ever give your baby, since they don’t have to get a shot!
If your new baby is born in the middle of flu season, you may want to consider having the rest of your family (including siblings) and any caregivers vaccinated as a way to provide extra protection for baby.
While the nasal mist form of the flu vaccine cannot be given to pregnant women, the inactivated shot form is safe during any stage of pregnancy. A woman can receive a flu shot at any point during the flu season, which runs until May, though receiving it earlier will provide protection for a longer duration of the flu season.
The flu vaccine is an important part of protecting your new baby’s health, as well as your own during pregnancy. It is not, however, the only action that you should take to stay healthy and well. Remember also that you should:
- Avoid contact with sick people,
- Frequently wash your hands (Read more about when to wash in our blog, Wash Your Hands, Mom!)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth,
- Take care of yourself: get enough rest, exercise, and eat well.
Pregnant women who don’t receive the flu vaccine need to be extra cautious if they begin to experience flu-like symptoms, including:
- Fatigue
- Aches
- Sore Throat
- Cough
- Fever (A high fever during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause birth defects in left unchecked.)
Call your well woman provider if you experience any flulike symptoms. Your doctor will prescribe you an antiviral flu medication, but it must be taken early during the flu infection in order to provide relief.
