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.

The third trimester of pregnancy begins at week 28 of your pregnancy and continues until delivery. This is an exciting time because you’re counting down to when you’ll have your little one in your arms, but it can also be the most physically uncomfortable as your baby is the biggest and busiest it will be before birth. Ready?

What to Expect in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Puffy Face and Eyelids

Fluid retention late in pregnancy can see you waking to a puffy face, eyelids or even neck but you may also experience puffiness all day long. If the face swelling persists, you should consult your care provider to make sure you’re not experiencing preeclampsia (high blood pressure caused by pregnancy). Avoiding salt, drinking lots of water and applying cold compresses may help.

Breast Growth

Your breasts will be in overdrive in the weeks leading up to delivery and will get larger. You may notice football shaped lumps as your milk ducts gear up for lactation. You may even experience colostrum leaking from your nipples (known as liquid gold). It may feel strange, but is a good sign. Colostrum is the first nutrition your baby will need and is rich in vitamins, antioxidants and antibodies.

Heartburn

As your uterus pushes your stomach out of position, you may experience heartburn. Eating smaller meals and staying hydrated between meals can help. Stay away from fried foods, carbonated drinks, drinks with acids and spicy food. Papaya enzymes can ease digestion, TUMS may help persistent heartburn and sleeping in a slightly elevated position can keep your stomach acid where it belongs.

Shortness of Breath

Your expanding uterus can also push on your diaphragm which can leave your short of breath occasionally. Once your baby drops down into your pelvis just prior to delivery, you should have some relief. In the meantime, use good posture when sitting, stand up straight, and try sleeping propped up on pillows in an elevated position to help ease breathing problems.

More Fetal Movement

Your baby should be very active in this stage and you may feel rolling and grinding movements rather than kicks and punches. The more your baby is moving, the more oxygenated and healthy they are, so this is a good thing even though it can feel strange. If you watch your bare stomach, you may see large wave-like movements as the baby rolls around inside you. It’s fascinating (if strange) to watch.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

As your body gears up for delivery, your uterus may practice for labor with Braxton Hicks contractions (these are also known as false labor pains). Some women never experience them at all. They are usually irregular, don’t last too long and don’t get more intense. True labor pains get more intense, last longer and get closer together. Contractions that are painful or regular merit a phone call to your care provider.

Backache

The final weeks of pregnancy often come with an achy back as your baby gets larger, drops down into your pelvis and hormones relax your pelvic joints. This is the time to kick the high heels, try ice packs or a heating pad and get your partner to massage your lower back. Prenatal yoga can also provide some relief from pregnancy aches. Click here to check times for Austin ABC’s prenatal yoga classes.

Itching

Itchy belly is common in pregnancy as your skin stretches to accommodate the baby. But you may want to check with your caregiver to make sure it’s not candida or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (build-up of bile salts). Itching can also be due to dehydration, stress, allergies or dietary issues. Milk thistle tincture or homeopathic apis may help as can Benadryl, oatmeal baths or aloe vera gel.

Hemorrhoids

Varicose veins in your rectum can cause hemorrhoids as can constipation and straining to move your bowels. Stay hydrated, eat fiber rich foods and engage in regular movement or exercise to keep your bowel movements regular. If you do have hemorrhoids, you can treat these topically with witch hazel or TUCKS medicated pads which are made with witch hazel.

Frequent Urination

As your baby grows and drops into your pelvis, pressure on your bladder will intensify. You may need to urinate much more frequently and have to get up during the night to relieve yourself. You may also leak when you laugh, cough or sneeze. You can’t really stop it, but can wear a panty liner to catch the drips. Be on the lookout for burning and symptoms of a urinary tract infection which must be treated.

Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge in the final weeks of pregnancy is quite common. It may range from light to increasingly heavy. Wear a panty liner to capture the moisture. Normal discharge will look like egg white or runny nose mucus. But be on the lookout for thin clear discharge which may be amniotic fluid leaking out or bloody, pinkish or brown discharge which may indicate onset of labor.

Swollen Feet and Ankles

Your growing uterus puts pressure on veins to your feet and legs. You may experience swelling in legs, arms and hands that can lead to tingling or numbness. Lying down with feet propped up and sleeping with your feet and legs elevated can help. Swimming or wading in a pool and massage therapy can also offer relief. If the swelling is painful or one leg is more swollen, contact your care provider.

Spider or Varicose Veins

Spider veins are reddish spots with tiny blood vessels sprouting off them that can appear on face, neck and arms. These are not harmful. Blue or reddish lines under the skin, usually on the legs, are varicose veins, and are caused by blood settling in your legs. Elevating your legs and wearing supports stockings can help. Ask your care provider about White Oak Bark as a topical remedy to treat varicose veins.

The changes in your body in your late pregnancy may be uncomfortable, but remember it’s your body preparing itself for the miracle of birth. If you’re worried about any of your symptoms, you should always contact your caregiver to talk about what’s going on and make sure that what you’re experiencing is normal and natural.

Contact Austin Area Birthing Center for more information about our birthing facilities. We bridge the gap between home and hospital births and offer a relaxed birthing environment including water birth. Our affordable all-in-one birthing fee includes unlimited prenatal and postnatal classes to support you throughout your pregnancy and in the months to come to make sure your experience is the best it can be. We have locations in the Austin, Texas area in Duval, Manchaca, Central Austin and a facility opening soon in Williamson County. Click here to contact us and schedule a tour.

As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, the next thing you’ll want (besides prenatal care) to know is your baby due date. The answer on when your baby is due? It depends.

Pregnancy doesn’t run on a set clock, but average pregnancies last 40 weeks (280 days) – which deviates slightly from the “nine months” that you most often hear. Birthing can range from a couple of weeks before to a couple of weeks after your predicted due date.

The bottom line is that the baby shows up when it’s ready to (unless a medical intervention is needed to make it happen).

What Should Know About Baby Due Date Myths

Why the Baby Due Date Is Important

Even though your due date won’t be set in stone, calculating it is helpful to protect in cases of very early or very late babies. Just 4% of women deliver on their calculated due date and up to 10% will deliver after the calculated due date. Once a pregnancy reaches 42 weeks, special considerations must be taken to ensure a safe delivery for mother and child. Prior to 37 weeks, most care providers will attempt to slow or stop pre-term labor to allow the baby time to develop.

How Baby Due Dates are Calculated

Before ultrasound came into common practice, Naegele’s rule (also called Nagel’s rule) was used to calculate the due date. It is based on the date of the last menstrual period.  Click here to see a Naegele due date calculator. It isn’t highly precise because it assumes a 28 day menstrual cycle and day 14 ovulation. Ultrasounds are much more accurate in determining gestation stage and due date. Early in pregnancy, babies grow at consistent rates so measurements can accurately predict conception date.

What Affects Pregnancy Due Date Calculation?

After 20 weeks of gestation, fetal growth can vary greatly so it’s important that an ultrasound be performed as early as possible when pregnancy is suspected. When calculating due dates with a Nagel method, longer or shorter menstrual cycles, irregular periods or erratic ovulation can throw off the calculation. First trimester ultrasound dating offers the most accurate due date calculation and is the preferable method, but it won’t be spot on.

A first trimester ultrasound due date is the most accurate. For an ultrasound taken in the second trimester, if the Nagel due date and ultrasound date are more than 10-14 days apart, the ultrasound date should be used. You may have calculated a date based on your last period, you may be told one date by your care provider then later be given another date. The important thing is that you get the best prenatal care that includes monitoring fetal development to ensure you deliver a strong, healthy baby.

What Affects Delivery Date?

Even if you’ve been given a due date, certain circumstances need to be considered to determine if intervention is needed to ensure a safe delivery for mother and child. A new study by the National Institute for Environmental Health found that normal pregnancies can vary as much as five weeks in length. Their study showed that 80% of babies arrived either two weeks before or two weeks after the estimated due date.

While the later you go after your due date, the higher certain risks are, including stillbirth, many women delivery safely at 42 weeks or later. The bottom line from the study was that every pregnancy should be taken on a case-by-case basis that considers age of the mother (older mothers tend to have longer pregnancies), prior births and health of mother and fetus. To help your care provider most accurately calculate due date, offer info about your cycle length and when you think you conceived.

The Natural Childbirth Experience

At Austin Area Birthing Center, we help moms to be enjoy a natural childbirth experience in a luxury birthing environment for one affordable fee. Austin ABC is an in-network provider for most insurance carriers and take care of all your lab work, routine prenatal care and labor and delivery. Also included in our fee is an extensive roster of classes including prenatal and postpartum yoga, breastfeeding and diapering classes, birthing refreshers for prior parents and baby love classes for both mom and dad.

You can choose from our Duval Road or William Cannon Drive facilities or enjoy our custom birthing services at Seton Medical Center in Central Austin. Starting in Spring, we will open a third facility in Williamson County. Click here to contact us, set up a tour and find out more about the award-winning birthing services at Austin Area Birthing Center.