Not only is it safe to get a flu shot while pregnant, but the CDC and the professionals here at the Austin Area Birthing Center recommend it.
The flu poses a significant health risk to both pregnant women and their developing fetus. Because pregnancy suppresses your immune system to some extent to protect your growing baby from your body’s antibodies, you are more likely to catch the flu if exposed. And because pregnancy strains your heart and lungs, the flu can take a greater toll on you.
If you get the flu while pregnant, you are much more likely to end up in the hospital, or suffer serious complications, including death, as a result of the flu.
If you have questions about the flu shot, contact the Austin Area Birthing Center to discuss your pregnancy.
Getting the flu while pregnant can…
- Increase the risk of miscarriage
- Increase the risk of premature birth
- Increase the risk of low birth weight
Getting a flu shot while pregnant can…
- Prevent flu and flu complications during pregnancy
- Make the symptoms and duration of flu milder if you get it despite the vaccine
- Protect your baby up to six months after birth because flu antibodies pass to the fetus
- Prevent you from spreading the flu to family members that may be at risk
Tips to get best results from your flu shot
Because you are more likely to catch the flu while pregnant, you should vaccinate yourself as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available. It takes up to two weeks for antibodies to form and you will be at risk during this period.
- The flu shot is the only safe form of flu vaccination for pregnant women
- The nasal spray vaccine is not safe for pregnant women because it contains the live virus
Side effects from the flu shot
Not everyone who gets the flu shot will experience side effects. Flu shots do not contain any live virus and so you can’t get the flu from it. Some flu shots contain a small amount of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, which the CDC has ruled safe for pregnant women. However, if it’s a concern, ask for a thimerosal-free vaccine. CVS offers this version and your primary care provider may also have it. If you have an egg allergy, talk to your healthcare provider before getting the vaccine.
The following side effects may occur starting immediately after the shot and can last from one to two days…
- Soreness or redness at the injection site
- Low grade fever
- Body aches
- Nausea
Protect yourself from the flu
While we highly recommend getting a flu shot while pregnant, it’s not guaranteed to protect you 100% from the illness. Each year, the FDA reviews WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations and decides which flu strains to include in the vaccine for that year. They consider data on prior year flu strains, spread of the flu and effectiveness of the prior vaccine. But if you are exposed to a flu strain that was not included in your vaccine, you can still catch the flu. Influenza season in the US runs from fall to winter with a peak in January and February.
To protect yourself, your growing baby and your loved ones, always be sure to…
- Wash your hands often using both soap and water
- Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash
- Try not to touch your mouth, nose and eyes to avoid spread of germs
- Avoid contact with people who are sick with the flu or who have not been vaccinated
- Make sure your family members are vaccinated so they don’t expose you
Flu contagion begins 24 hours before symptoms show and can continue for five to seven days after you get sick. If you believe you are sick with the flu, whether or not you have been vaccinated, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Contact the Austin Area Birthing Center to find out more about our natural childbirth centers in Austin on Duval Road, West William Cannon Drive, and our newest facility, opening soon, in Williamson County. Our affordable birthing fee is all-inclusive and includes a wide array of parenting classes, prenatal care, yoga and birthing classes as well as post-partum home visits.
