Flu and pregnancy

If you’re pregnant and you develop flu symptoms you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.  

Unfortunately, yes as your body struggles to fight infections while you’re pregnant. Flu during pregnancy can lead to premature birth or low birth-weight, also new-born babies can catch flu from their mothers. In more extreme cases, it can cause stillbirth or death in the first week after birth. This is why it’s important to contact your GP as soon as you suspect that you have the flu.

Most people who catch the flu begin to feel better after about one week.

For pregnant women, the risk of serious complications is higher, and the symptoms may last longer. It is therefore important you contact your GP as soon as possible after symptoms develop.

If you think you have the flu you should speak to your GP as soon as possible. The standard treatment for the flu is to stay home, keep warm, get plenty of rest, and drink plenty of fluids to ensure you’re properly hydrated.

It maybe an option for pregnant women to take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of fever and headache. However, pregnant women should always consult with their midwife or GP first. Products containing ibuprofen must be avoided.

Staying hydrated is really important when you have the flu. You should be drinking enough water to keep your urine light-coloured or clear – if it is dark-coloured or strong smelling this can be a sign of dehydration.

It’s fine to drink hot drinks to stay warm while you have the flu, but just remember that pregnant women shouldn’t consume more than 200mg caffeine each day. As a guide, one mug of tea normally contains around 75mg caffeine.

The standard symptoms of the flu are fever, aches and pains, tiredness, sore throat, headache and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can be unpleasant but – provided your GP is aware that you have the flu – they can usually can be managed at home.

However, it’s worth noting that in pregnant women the flu is more likely to cause serious complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, sepsis and encephalitis.

The general guidance for people with the flu is to call 999 or attend A&E as soon as possible if you are:

Coughing or sneezing while pregnant won’t do any harm to the baby, but it may cause more pain and discomfort than it usually would for the mother. This is because coughing or sneezing can trigger round ligament pain, which is where the ligaments around the belly (which have expanded during pregnancy) stretch and tense causing a cramping sensation.

Round ligament pain is not harmful to the mother, but it can be uncomfortable. You can treat it by applying a hot water bottle or taking a warm bath.