There are a lot of things that women should avoid during pregnancy, such as X-rays and different kinds of medication, but when it comes to the flu shot while pregnant you shouldn’t think twice and you should go for it.
This is something that you don’t do just for yourself but also for the baby.
Information about the flu shot during pregnancy
According to the studies that have been conducted in this field, the babies of the mothers who get vaccinated during their pregnancy are less likely to be affected by the infection after their birth.
In the same time these babies are less likely to get born prematurely and they don’t need hospitalization during the first year.
It’s all about protection
This is one of the major benefits of the flu shot while being pregnant. Don’t forget that in this period the immune system of women is suppressed and because of this they are more prone to catch anything that they get in contact with, especially the virus that causes influenza.
If you have your due date in the influenza season, it is a must for you to be thinking about the flu shot while pregnant. This is because the baby is quite likely to catch the influenza. This may happen because his or her immune system isn’t fully developed upon birth and the baby cannot be vaccinated immediately after birth.
Pregnancy safety
It is just natural that when it comes to the flu shot when being pregnant the most important thing that a mother considers is the safety of her baby.
Could the vaccine harm the baby? The answer is No. The flu vaccines come with killed types of flu viruses and so they are safe at all stages of pregnancy. Even more, the authorities recommend women to be vaccinated during their pregnancy.
Precautions to take
Still there is an exception regarding the flu shot while pregnant, and this is the nasal spray flu vaccine. This is made of live viruses that have been weakened and this kind of vaccine should be avoided by pregnant women.
The best thing you could do is to have the pregnancy flu shot when your doctor recommends. If you do get the shot you should make sure that you are up to date with your other vaccinations as well.
When thinking about the flu shot while pregnant if you are in your second or third trimester, you could also consider the Td vaccine. This is meant to offer protection against tetanus and diphtheria, both of them being bacterial infections.
If you know that there is a whooping cough outbreak in your city, you should also consider Tdap vaccine besides the flu shot during your pregnancy. This is better than the Td vaccine because it also offers protection against pertussis.
It is best to ask your doctor about other adult vaccines as that you can have along with the flu shot while pregnant to avoid as many diseases as possible.
