Pregnancy & Flu Shots
Since pregnant women have a weakened immune system, they are at a high risk of contracting the flu. It is strongly recommended that all pregnant woman get a flu shot, especially if they have a pre-existing medical condition that may increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Even if complications do not develop as a result of the flu, flu symptoms are more likely to last longer if you are pregnant.
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Side Effects
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Side effects from the flu shot are rare. The most common complaint is soreness around the injection site. Some women will experience a low-grade fever or muscle soreness, but both will only last for about one or two days.
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Time Frame
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend that women who will be pregnant during the flu season (October to March) receive a flu shot.
Benefits
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Complications related to the flu may lead to miscarriage, pneumonia, respiratory distress and premature labor. Getting a flu shot can help prevent these problems for expectant mothers.
Misconceptions
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The recommendation used to be that pregnant women should wait until the second trimester to get the flu shot, but as of 2009, that is no longer the case. Both the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now state that the flu shot (made of the inactive virus) is safe to receive at any time during your pregnancy.
Warning
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Pregnant women should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine because it is made with the live virus.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit "becks belly" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: meemal (Naomi) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
