During pregnancy, the immunity level of a woman will be lower than normal. This actually keeps the body from fighting off the baby, who is, technically, a “foreign body” and our body always has a tendency to eliminate anything that seems foreign to it. The drawback of this immune suppression is that the body may not be able to fight off even simple infections making the expecting mother more vulnerable to common infections like the cold and flu (also known as influenza).
Unlike when you are not pregnant, during pregnancy, there are several things to take care of, even if you catch otherwise harmless and quite common colds and flu. This article will help you to deal with cold and flu during your gestation period.
In This Article
- What Are Colds And Flu?
- Symptoms Of Colds And Flu During Pregnancy?
- Does the Cold And Flu Infection of Mother Harm the Unborn Baby?
- What Are the Differences Between Cold And Flu?
- How Can I Prevent Cold During Pregnancy?
- How Can We Treat Cold During Pregnancy?
- Home Remedies For Cold And Flu During Pregnancy
- Treatment For Flu During Pregnancy
- When Should I Seek Medical Attention When I Am Undergoing Cold?
- What is the Importance of Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy?
- How Can I Prevent Flu In Pregnancy?
- FAQ’s
What Are Colds And Flu?
Generally, we hear cold and flu together and think that they are the same. But, they are separate entities, caused by different viruses. Viruses like rhinovirus, seasonal coronaviruses, parainfluenza cause the common cold while influenza virus causes the flu [1]. They both share almost similar symptoms, hence making it difficult to differentiate clinically. These infections are contagious and involve the upper respiratory tract.
Symptoms Of Colds And Flu During Pregnancy?
Due to a lower immune response in pregnancy, women are prone to getting sick from these viruses. The symptoms during pregnancy are:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose or sometimes blocked nose
- Mild fever with or without chills
- Cough and frequent sneezing
- Headache
- Generalised body pain
- Fatigue
Does the Cold And Flu Infection of Mother Harm the Unborn Baby?
Initially, cold and flu during pregnancy were thought to be a mere annoying infection causing discomfort. The child in the womb is not supposed to be affected if the mother is infected with common cold or influenza.
A few studies show the association of maternal fever on the developing fetus. If the cold and flu is associated with fever, then there are chances of developing birth defects like anencephaly, spina bifida [2]. A cold and flu without fever generally does not cause any significant effect on the fetus.
Certain complications of cold and flu during pregnancy include:
- Premature labor
- Stillbirth
- Pneumonia
- Low birth weight
What Are the Differences Between Cold And Flu?
A different group of virus causes the flu, and its symptoms will be more intense than cold. Here are the main differences between cold and flu:
| Differences Between Cold And Flu | |
| Cold | Flu |
| Causes a blocked nose and then a runny nose | Infectious and severe symptoms |
| Milder | Severe |
| Symptoms of a cold develop gradually | The onset of flu will be sudden |
| There will be little (less than 100F) or no fever | High fever (102°F to 104°F or higher) accompanies the flu |
| A sore throat that develops with the cold will disappear in a couple of days | The sore throat will start to worsen by the second or third day |
| Mild headache (occasionally) | Severe headache is common |
| Mild weakness/fatigue | Extreme weakness/ fatigue |
[Read : Cough During Pregnancy]
How Can I Prevent Cold During Pregnancy?
With more than 200 types of cold viruses roaming around, it can be difficult to escape from getting a cold. That is why it is called the “common cold.” You can easily get the infection by touching the infected surfaces or through cough and sneezing of the infected person. In spite of these facts, by taking specific measures, you can decrease the chances of catching a cold during pregnancy:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching common surfaces. Trials show that hand hygiene can be really effective in reducing the transmission of infection. [3]
- Clean the surfaces you usually contact with a powerful disinfectant. The infectious microorganisms can live on solid surfaces from two to eight hours.
- Stay away from the people infected with a cold.
- Minimize going to public places, especially closed areas like an air-conditioned auditorium, theater, etc.
- In the course of pregnancy, never share your personal things like plates, glasses, towels, combs, etc. even with your near and dear ones.
- Getting shots for influenza vaccine can be really effective in pregnant women.[4]
How Can We Treat Cold During Pregnancy?
There are no treatments for the virus that causes the common cold. Medicines are usually taken to soothe the symptoms rather than cure a cold. The cold will resolve itself within a week. Many of the medications you use to alleviate the annoying symptoms of cold are usually not safe to take in the course of pregnancy. Particularly during the first three months, you should avoid taking any medicines as much as possible. Never take medicine without the approval of your doctor. If the symptoms of cold are bothering you a lot, the following will help you to get relief faster:
- Remember to stay well hydrated.
- Inhaling steam or using a saltwater nasal spray will help to relieve fast from a stuffed nose, a bothersome sign of the common cold.
- Eat well. Though cold trigger the loss of appetite, try to eat healthy food, as it will help you feel stronger and fight the fatigue.
- Eat food that is rich in vitamin C as it aids in increasing the resistance level of the body against mild infections. Oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwi, etc. are rich in vitamin C.
- While lying down, elevate your head with a couple of pillows. This will make the nasal passage to open more, thereby, help you to breathe easier.
- Keeping a humidifier in the room will also help you breathe easy.
- Take plenty of rest. This will help the cold symptoms to settle fast.
Home Remedies For Cold And Flu During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women are not comfortable taking medicines during pregnancy. For such women, natural remedies come handy. Some of them are:
- Taking enough rest and staying hydrated is one of the best ways to fight the infection.
- Consume plenty of hot liquids like a bowl of warm soup, tea, coffee etc.
- Do gargles with salt water as it helps with sore throat and cough.
- Taking steam inhalation one to two times a day helps in keeping the nasal passage open.
- Honey and lemon in warm water acts as an immune booster.
- Using a room humidifier to help with nasal congestion.
Treatment For Flu During Pregnancy
You can take plenty of rest and keep yourself warm if you happen to catch the flu during pregnancy. Avoiding dehydration is a must, and you may take paracetamol (after confirmation from your doctor) to lower a fever if it has been running high.
Your doctor may recommend antiviral medicines that may reduce the risk of potential complications though they will not cure the flu. In case you think you have contracted the flu, contact your doctor immediately to avoid the risk of complications.
[Read: How To Handle Dehydration During Pregnancy?]
When Should I Seek Medical Attention When I Am Undergoing Cold?
Pregnancy is not a time to ignore even a common cold. Therefore, consult your gynecologist if:
- The symptoms last for more than three days (medical attention is necessary to avoid the possibility of secondary infections).
- Even after a couple of days, instead of starting to decrease, if the symptoms rather start to worsen.
- If your temperature rises over 100.5 F.
- Severe sinus with a pulsating headache.
- If the mucus from the nose starts to change to yellow color (which indicates severe infection).
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Decreased fetal movements.
What is the Importance of Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy?
Unlike the common cold, if the expecting mother develops flu, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, they have higher chances of developing secondary complications, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. They will be at risk of preterm labor and premature birth [5].
Taking a flu shot during pregnancy( will shield the expecting mother as well as the baby (till six months after delivery).The flu vaccination, though, may have some mild side effects like redness or swelling at the site of injection, mild headache and fever.
How Can I Prevent Flu In Pregnancy?
The only way to prevent getting flu during pregnancy is to take the flu shot. Ideally, the best time to take the shot during pregnancy is before the seasonal flu starts. Taking the vaccine any time during pregnancy protects the mother and the baby from the deleterious complications of the flu [6]. Other ways to keep the flu away is to follow good hygiene. Avoid large gatherings and close contact with sick people. The use of face mask can also reduce the risk of infection greatly.
So, if you are pregnant and are feeling unde ethe weather then don’t delay to take your flu shot. This will make sure that you will have a healthy pregnant ahead. Make sure to incorporate a nutritious diet full of antioxidants. A warm cup of soup can show wonders and help you with cold and flu during pregnancy.
Read Also: Flu Shot During Pregnancy – Is it Safe?
FAQ’s
1. Can I Take Paracetamol For Cold And Flu During Pregnancy?
During all stages of pregnancy, paracetamol is considered safe. Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) should not be used during pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor.
2. How Long Does Flu Last During Pregnancy?
Usually, an uncomplicated flu takes around three to seven days to get better. Although, the weakness and fatigue can last upto two weeks. Some pregnant women might take a little longer to recover completely due to weak immunity.
3. Are Colds Worse When You Are Pregnant?
Yes, it’s very easy to catch a cold during pregnancy and it can be worse than usual. This is because of a weak immune system in pregnancy which makes it difficult to fight off the infections. Hence, symptoms of cold are slightly more and takes a longer time to get better.
References –
- Talking about colds and flu: The lay diagnosis of two common illnesses among older British people
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953610007987 - Maternal report of fever from cold or flu during early pregnancy and the risk for noncardiac birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2011
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bdr2.1147 - Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full - Influenza Vaccine Efficacy and Effectiveness in Pregnant Women: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-019-02844-y - Influenza Vaccination among Pregnant Women: Patient Beliefs and Medical Provider Practices
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/idog/2016/3281975/ - Influenza Vaccine Requirements in Pregnant Women
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13224-016-0867-1
