Should you get a flu shot in pregnancy?

Do you normally get a flu shot? Are you pregnant and wondering if you should be getting the flu shot because you are pregnant? Deciding whether or not to get this shot can be hard, particularly if you have never had it before. The flu shot isn't only suitable for pregnant women, but also recommended by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other professional organizations.

Deciding whether to get a vaccine is a personal decision. We are not here to tell you that you should get the shot, because that is not our decision to make obviously. I'll say that I have two children and never once had a flu shot it was never offered to me by my healthcare providers, and I never considered it. Having said that, there is no reason to be afraid that the flu shot in pregnancy is dangerous, and there are quite a few reasons to get one. What are they?

Flu is not normally dangerous for healthy people with a well-functioning immune system. However, influenza during pregnancy can cause serious problems. Pneumonia is a more likely complication of the flu for pregnant women, and preterm labor is another risk associated with having the flu while you are expecting a baby. In addition, mothers who have had a flu shot can, according to research, also offer some antibodies against the flu for their babies.

Babies whose moms had a shot for the flu are less likely to catch influenza while they are little tots, something that is a huge benefit of getting the flu shot (the flu can be really horrible for small babies). The flu can, actually, be pretty serious. We often confuse common colds with influenza, but the real flu is no fun at all. Pregnant women who have had flu shots say they were absolutely miserable. Making sure you don't get sick, even if you don't consider the possible complications, is a fair reason to get a flu shot in pregnancy all by itself.