Pregnant women should avoid certain things, but the flu shot is not one of them. In fact, a flu shot provides great protection for not only pregnant women but also for the baby before and after birth.
The virus affects pregnant women more severely than non-pregnant women because of changes in the immune system as well as the heart and lungs.
Receiving a flu shot can help to protect your unborn baby from suffering complications such as premature birth.
Since the flu can cause serious illness in pregnant women, including hospitalization and death, getting the vaccine is extremely important for women who are pregnant.
According to the CDC, “the flu shot is the best protection against the flu.” It not only recommends pregnant women get a flu shot, the CDC also suggests family members and caregivers get vaccinated as well.
The flu shot protects both the mother and the baby from the flu, and studies have shown the shot can protect the baby for up to the first six months of life.
Flu shots are safe to get during any trimester. However, the flu vaccine that comes in the form of a nasal spray is never given to pregnant women due to possible complications and other dangers.
Pregnant women have been getting flu shots for many years, with no expecting mothers or their babies being negatively affected.
But just getting the flu shot isn’t enough – pregnant women also need to take other preventive actions on a daily basis. Some additional ways pregnant women can avoid getting the flu:
- Wash hands frequently.
- Avoid close contact with others who are sick.
- Use a hand-sanitizer after touching public surfaces.
- Routinely clean workplace surfaces with a disinfectant.
Even when we do our utmost to avoid getting sick, it oftentimes happens anyway. For pregnant women though, it is imperative to receive treatment as early as possible.
The moment a pregnant woman feels she may be coming down with symptoms of the flu, she should contact her pregnancy physician immediately. Fevers are dangerous for anybody, but especially dangers for pregnant women.
Merely experiencing a fever resulting from influenza infection early on during pregnancy may lead to complications including birth defects in the unborn child.
Infants are susceptible to the flu, and since the flu shot cannot be given to babies under six months old, getting a flu shot while you are pregnant serves to protect your baby those first six months of life.
What could be better than a vaccine that protects you and your baby now, and continues helping your baby during those first few crucial months?
This post is intended to coincide and support National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), which is December 8-14, 2013. The NIVW is a nationwide reminder for everyone six months and older to have their annual flu shot.
If you are pregnant, All About Women reminds you to get your flu shot as well as other vaccines given before, during and after pregnancy. Please feel free to contact our Gainesville-based pregnancy physicians with any questions you may have, or to schedule an appointment.
