Flu during pregnancy

Colds and flu are a normal part of life for everybody, especially at this time of year. In fact, I am sneezing and coughing as I write this, and feeling rather rough. Many people see flu as an annoying condition that requires them to take it easy for a few days, and nothing more than that. But what if you are pregnant when you get the flu? Does it require any special care? What are the do's and the don'ts?

Because the immune system is weaker during pregnancy, you may just be more susceptible to the flu or the common cold, and it may even last for longer than it normally would. This does not, however, translate to the need to run to the doctor for some medications. The best approach to curing flu during pregnancy is staying in bed for a few days, making sure you get plenty of fresh fruits, drink teas to soothe your throat, and boost your intake of Vitamin C. As long as you are an otherwise healthy person, the flu does not pose any danger to you or your baby during pregnancy. Here are some more tips to fight that flu off as soon as you can, and to feel better sooner:

Make sure you stay hydrated. Dehydration, which can be caused by vomiting or simply not drinking enough, is always unpleasant, but can be dangerous for your unborn baby. Whether you are thirsty or not, make sure to drink around 10 glasses of water a day. Some of the ways to combat morning sickness can also be applied to throwing up due to flu. Try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, even if you don't really feel like eating. Do not stress over the "harm" you will be causing to your unborn baby because of the flu. Not such thing will happen the flu is quite normal. High levels of stress are bad, though. You can take over the counter pain killers while pregnant. Just make sure the particular pain killers you opt to take are safe for pregnant women.