Premature Birth Risk and the Flu Vaccine: Good News for Pregnant Women
The flu is a nasty virus and it can be particularly nasty when you are pregnant. Getting your flu vaccine is one way to help prevent getting the flu when you are pregnant. Getting this vaccine may also lower your risk of delivering a baby with low birth weight and premature birth. A flu vaccine is not guaranteed to benefit your pregnancy, however, and it is important that you talk to your doctor before getting the vaccine when you are pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant.
Research
New research shows that there is about a 40 percent reduction in premature birth in mothers who got the flu shot compared to mothers who were unvaccinated. Pregnant women who received this vaccine during times of high flu activity also lowered their risk of delivering a baby with low birth weight.
According to researchers, influenza-related pneumonia, influenza and other respiratory infections during pregnancy are associated with increasing your risk of low birth weight and premature birth. The flu vaccine during pregnancy helps to protect you from the most common influenza-causing viruses.
When Should I Get the Flu Shot?
November through March is the normal flu season so if you become pregnant during this time, you should talk to your doctor about getting the flu shot. Even if not pregnant, but trying to become pregnant during this time, you should talk to your doctor about getting your flu shot.
Other Beneficial Vaccines in Addition to the Flu Shot
In addition to the flu shot, there are a few other vaccines that are recommended for pregnant women. These vaccines include hepatitis B, pneumococcal, meningococcal and rabies. Talk to your doctor about these vaccines and do not get them without first talking to your doctor. All four of these vaccines do not contain live viruses so they are thought to be safe for your baby, but information on the pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines during pregnancy is limited.
Considerations
It is important that when you get the flu vaccine during your pregnancy, you get the flu shot and not the nasal version. The flu shot is made with killed viruses. You should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine because it is a live-virus flu vaccine. During pregnancy, it is also recommended that you avoid the measles, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), mumps, MMR and tuberculosis (BCG) vaccines because they are also live viruses.
Resources
Published by R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Rose is a freelance medical writer with a background in health care. She has been a freelance medical writer for five years. Rose is also an editor and writes on a variety of other subjects, such as sports... View profile
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