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How Getting Vaccinated Protects Your Child During Pregnancy
Posted on September 9, 2024
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey filled with anticipation and joy for the new addition to your family, but it also comes with increased responsibilities, especially regarding your health. As an expecting parent, you want to create the healthiest environment possible for your growing baby but amidst the many other aspects of prenatal care one that often gets overlooked is protecting yourself and your unborn child from the flu.
In this blog, we discuss why getting vaccinated against the flu during pregnancy is about more than just protecting yourself.
What Do Pregnant Women Need to Know About Flu Prevention?
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can lead to severe complications, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant women and young children. Your immune system goes through various changes during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby, but these changes can make you more susceptible to infections like the flu.
Symptoms and flu complications vary from person to person, but infants younger than six months old have the highest incidence of flu-related hospitalization and mortality among children. This means that protecting yourself against the flu virus is not just about keeping you safe. Contracting the flu while pregnant also increases the chances of complications for your unborn child, including:
- Preterm birth
- Low birth weight
- Birth defects
- Developmental delays
What Happens if I Get the Flu During Pregnancy?
While the flu can be deadly and lead to serious complications in all individuals, pregnant women are at higher risk of experiencing complications from the flu due to changes in their immune system and respiratory function. In addition to the typical flu symptoms, pregnant individuals may also encounter more severe side effects, such as pneumonia and respiratory distress, which can endanger both maternal and fetal health.
This was the case for Amrita Das who just days after experiencing fly symptoms went into premature labor. She was rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with influenza A. Despite hospitalization and strict bed rest for seven weeks, her son was born 10 weeks premature, weighing just 1 kilogram and suffering from fetal growth restriction.
Read more about the Das family here.
Pregnancy and Vaccines
Getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy stimulates the production of antibodies in the mother’s body that can transfer antibodies to the fetus and offer protection against the flu during the first few months of life when they are most vulnerable. Recommended during pregnancy, regardless of trimester, it protects both the mother and the unborn child and is one of the most effective ways to prevent the flu and its associated complications during pregnancy.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women and does not pose any increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects but timing is key. While their general recommendation is to get the flu vaccines in September or October to for peak protection before flu activity begins to increase, early vaccination during July and August is recommended for women in the third trimester of pregnancy during those months.
Remember, flu prevention for a newborn starts with mom. Consult your healthcare provider to schedule your flu vaccine, and stay informed about other preventive measures, such as practicing good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with people experiencing common flu symptoms like a sore throat, coughing, sneezing, or a high fever. You can find flu shot locations near you by using this online tool on Vaccines.gov.
Learn More About Families Fighting Flu
Families Fighting Flu (FFF) , a national, nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring loved ones who have suffered serious medical complications or died from influenza, commemorates 20 years of advocacy protecting children, families, and all communities from the flu. Our 20th anniversary is a testament to our dedication and enduring efforts to protect families. It is also a sobering reminder that we are not done yet.
In sharing personal stories, FFF strives to increase awareness about the seriousness of the flu, reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths each year, drive up vaccination rates for everyone six months and older, and encourage symptomatic individuals to get tested and receive appropriate treatment. Learn more about our mission and resources here so that you can empower your family to stay healthy this flu season.
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