Re:
Getting the flu shot is the most important thing you can do to ward off the flu. It’s safe to get during any trimester, and studies have shown that getting the flu shot during pregnancy also reduces the risk that your infant will get respiratory illness in the first six months of life (i.e., before the infant can get the flu shot). Good hygiene (like coughing into the crook of your arm and regularly washing your hands) can also help prevent colds and the flu. If you do end up getting the flu despite taking these measures, let your doctor know right away. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to prevent the illness from getting too serious.
Expert: Ashley S. Roman, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University-Langone Medical Center
Learn more about treating colds and the flu while pregnant here. >>
| February 18 , 2011 7:20 PM