Flu in pregnancy is caused by an infection with the influenza virus, easily transmitted through contact with an infected person, and resulting in symptoms such as high fever, sore throat or runny or stuffy nose.
During pregnancy, a woman’s immune system undergoes changes and can become overloaded and weakened and, therefore, the pregnant woman is at greater risk of infections, such as the flu.
Flu during pregnancy must be treated under the guidance of the obstetrician, with rest, drinking plenty of fluids or taking medicines such as paracetamol to reduce fever being recommended. In more serious cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
Flu symptoms during pregnancy
The main symptoms of flu during pregnancy are:
- Sudden onset fever, above 38ºC;
- Dry cough;
- Runny or stuffy nose;
- Headache and sore throat;
- Body ache;
- Loss of appetite;
- Fatigue and general malaise.
Flu symptoms generally begin around 2 to 3 days after being in contact with someone who has the flu, and it is important to consult your obstetrician to begin the most appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, if the symptoms are persistent or signs of severity are noticed, such as difficulty breathing and mental confusion, the doctor may recommend hospitalization so that the woman can be monitored and complications for the baby can be avoided.
Is flu during pregnancy dangerous?
The flu during pregnancy is potentially dangerous, since, as the woman’s immune system is more weakened, the symptoms can be more serious and cause complications, such as pneumonia.
Risks of flu during pregnancy
Flu during pregnancy can affect the baby’s development, resulting in neural tube defects or birth defects.
Additionally, flu during pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight.
What to do
As soon as flu symptoms appear during pregnancy, it is recommended:
1. Rest
Resting is important to help the immune system fight the flu during pregnancy, and alleviate symptoms, including dry cough.
Furthermore, physical activities should be avoided, as they reduce the body’s defense, delaying the cure of the flu and increasing the risk of exposure to other infectious agents.
2. Drink plenty of fluids
Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy is very important to keep the body hydrated, especially in case of fever or vomiting, which can cause dehydration.
Furthermore, water helps to hydrate and humidify the throat and airways, reduce the viscosity of mucus and reduce throat irritation, helping to relieve dry coughs.
Therefore, it is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day in small sips. For women who have difficulty drinking water, a good option is to add the juice of half a lemon to the water to add flavor and make it easier to drink.
3. Drink warm drinks
Drinking warm drinks, such as tea or milk, helps keep the body warm and hydrate the airways, reducing sore throat and dry cough. Check out other ways to relieve a sore throat during pregnancy.
A good option is lemon and honey tea as they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to increasing the body’s natural defenses, helping to fight the flu.
4. Consume foods that increase immunity
Increasing the consumption of foods, such as acerola, pineapple, strawberries, oranges and tangerines, help strengthen the immune system to fight the flu. Check out the complete list of foods that boost immunity.
This is because these foods are rich in vitamin C, which has antioxidant action, fighting free radicals that can cause damage to cells and lead to inflammation, and in this way, increase the body’s natural defenses.
5. Avoid self-medication
During pregnancy, self-medication should be avoided, as most medications are contraindicated during pregnancy, as they can harm the baby’s development and cause malformations.
Therefore, it is recommended to only use medications or take vaccines as recommended by your obstetrician.
6. Undergo medical follow-up
When the first symptoms of flu appear during pregnancy, you should consult your obstetrician for an assessment and then carry out the treatment recommended by your doctor, and the doctor may recommend the use of paracetamol to reduce fever. See how to take paracetamol during pregnancy.
Furthermore, it is important to have medical monitoring during flu treatment, so that the doctor can assess the effectiveness of the treatment, improvement in symptoms or the emergence of complications.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended that pregnant women go to the emergency room if severe flu symptoms appear, such as:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
- Persistent fever, which does not improve with the use of paracetamol;
- Cough or fever that improves, but comes back worse;
- Decrease in blood pressure;
- Dizziness or mental confusion;
- Feeling of pain in the chest or pressure in the belly;
- Feeling that the baby is moving less or not at all.
- Intense muscle pain or excessive tiredness;
- Seizures.
In the hospital, to check the severity of the infection, material is normally collected from the nasopharynx, which is analyzed in the laboratory, and oseltamivir is administered with the aim of preventing the progression of the viral disease.
How to prevent
To prevent the flu during pregnancy, some precautions are important, such as:
- Avoid staying in closed environments or with many people and little air circulation for a long time, such as shopping malls or gyms;
- Avoid contact with people who have the flu;
- Wash your hands well with soap and water before and after touching people;
- Apply alcohol gel to your hands frequently;
- Avoid shaking hands, kisses and hugs;
- Avoid touching surfaces and touching your eyes, mouth or nose;
- Avoid sharing food, glasses and cutlery;
- Avoid sharing personal objects that may be in contact with droplets of saliva or respiratory secretions, such as cutlery, glasses and toothbrushes;
- Always cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a disposable tissue or clothing.
Furthermore, another important way to prevent the flu during pregnancy is to get the flu vaccine, which is recommended at any stage of pregnancy. Find out more about the flu vaccine.
These precautions are important not only to prevent the flu, but also to prevent new infections and transmission of the virus to other people.
Natural treatment for flu during pregnancy
Natural treatment for the flu is a way to complement the treatment recommended by the obstetrician and aims to speed up the woman’s recovery by relieving symptoms.
Therefore, a good natural treatment option for flu during pregnancy is to nebulize with saline solution, to relieve nasal congestion, and gargle with water and salt or use a honey spray with propolis for a sore throat.
Furthermore, drinking lemon and honey tea can help strengthen the immune system. However, care must be taken when drinking teas, as not all of them are recommended during pregnancy. Check out the complete list of teas that pregnant women cannot drink.
Watch the following video on how to prepare lemon and honey tea:
