Preventing flu during pregnancy

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The flu always makes patients feel uncomfortable and affects a lot at work and daily life. The disease can be more severe in pregnant women, leading to complications such as pneumonia and an increased risk of preterm birth.

1. Some flu prevention measures

You should get a flu shot Flu season can begin as early as October and last into late May. October or November is the best time to get a flu shot. Getting vaccinated will protect both you and your baby from the flu for 6 months when you give birth. This is especially important because the flu shot is not safe for babies younger than 6 months old.
If pregnant women come into contact with people with flu, antiviral drugs can be used as a measure to prevent flu. There is currently no vaccine for the common cold. The way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. The flu shot is safe during any stage of pregnancy from the first few weeks to your due date.
Don't expose yourself to the risk of flu transmission The viruses that cause flu can be spread through the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, or talks. It is also spread by hands when sharing utensils with an infected person, then the mother touches her nose, mouth or eyes.
Because the flu spreads easily, the best prevention is to stay away from anyone with flu symptoms. To avoid catching the virus that causes colds during pregnancy, you should wash your hands often with soap and warm water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth.
The most important thing to prevent the flu virus is to adopt healthy habits to ensure adequate sleep, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, regularly exercise to improve health and resistance .

2. Is the flu vaccine safe for pregnant women?

You may feel tired and sore muscles after getting a flu shot because your body's immune system is reacting to the vaccine. You can still get a flu shot while breastfeeding. This will not cause any harm to you or your baby.
Pregnant women should not use a spray flu vaccine such as the Mist vaccine because recent studies have shown that the vaccine is not effective and there is no guarantee of safety during pregnancy.
Your doctor will prescribe you some medicines to treat flu such as:
When you have fever and pain, you can use Acetaminophen Use saline spray or wash your nose Use decongestant Pseudoephedrine, note should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy or if you have high blood pressure Your doctor will prescribe you prescription medicines that you can use: baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), oseltamivir (tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), or zanamivir ( Relenza) for pregnant women with suspected influenza. These drugs have been tested. Xofluza and oseltamivir can be taken orally directly because of their high safety and effectiveness.

3. Some home remedies for colds and flu for pregnant women

Pregnant women can take some of the following measures on their own to treat flu symptoms such as:
Use sugary lozenges or honey to relieve sore throat and cough Take plenty of time to rest Drink a lot water such as water, juice, tea, do not drink beverages containing caffeine Put a humidifier in your room to add moisture in the room

4. How to prevent the flu?

To avoid catching the flu during pregnancy you should:
Wash your hands often Avoid crowded places Avoid people who have the flu Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth as the virus is often spread when you are pregnant. touching contaminated surfaces, they enter your body and cause disease. You should seek medical care immediately if the symptoms of a cold or flu get worse, such as:
You find it difficult to breathe Flu symptoms do not improve or may get worse after 3 -4 days After you feel better, you may start to have some more serious symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, high fever, chills, chest pain, or a cough with thick yellow-green mucus. Influenza is usually a benign disease, but it can also have serious and dangerous complications, especially for pregnant women with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Therefore, pregnant women need to pay attention to health care, especially flu vaccination to have a healthy pregnancy.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of qualified doctors Regular check-up, early detection of abnormalities Maternity package helps to facilitate the process. birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: Webmd.com