A lot of moms dread cold and flu season. Chasing after runny noses and soothing sore throats for months on end is unpleasant and gross. Add a baby bump to the mix, and things get tricky — or, in some cases, dangerous.

The flu is estimated to cause between 4,900-51,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to 2010-2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the bulk of those deaths are in older adults and very young kids, pregnant women — including previously healthy ones — can die, too.

If a pregnant woman gets the flu, she’s more likely to be hospitalized or die from it than other adults. The changes going on in your body make it easier for you to get sick and longer to recover. When you’re pregnant with the flu, you’re also at risk of miscarrying, going into labor early, or having your baby born underweight.

The 2017-2018 flu season was one of the worst on record in the United States, with an estimated 41 million flu-related illnesses reported. Many of the outbreaks took place in schools and day-care facilities, where young children brought the disease home to their siblings, parents, and other family members.

For all of these reasons, it’s important for pregnant women to know what the flu is, what to watch out for, and how to prevent it.

WHAT IS THE FLU?

Contrary to popular belief, the flu is not just a stomach bug or a bad cold. You can usually recover from a stomach bug after a day or two. A cold can be unpleasant, but it won’t necessarily prevent you from going about your day. The flu knocks people flat, often forcing them to stay in bed for days with symptoms like:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Feeling extremely tired
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Vomiting or diarrhea (more common in kids than adults)

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

You don’t have to have all of these symptoms to have the flu. Not everyone will get a fever, for example. But if you start to experience some of the signs above, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Getting treatment early for the flu can help you feel better faster and lower your chances of being hospitalized.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with the flu and are recovering at home, there are a few very important signs to watch out for, namely:

• Having a difficult time breathing or being unusually short of breath.
• Feeling pain or pressure in your chest or abdominal area.
• Getting suddenly very dizzy.
• Being confused.
• Vomiting a lot, and it won’t go away.
• Spiking a high fever that doesn’t go away when you take acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Not feeling your baby move, or feeling like their movements have slowed down significantly.

HOW TO PREVENT THE FLU

The best way to prevent the flu is through vaccination. Pregnant women (as well as those who might become pregnant during the winter) should get a flu shot in September or early October before the flu season kicks off. The shot takes about two weeks to give you the protection you need to stave off a serious case of the flu. Wait too long, and you might not have the protection you need before getting infected.

The flu shot is safe and effective in pregnant women. Not only does it help shield you from the flu, but it can also pass on some of that protection to your baby during the first few months of life when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Flu vaccines are available starting in early fall. If your OB-GYN or midwife doesn’t have flu vaccines at their clinics, you can get the shot from any pharmacy or at the Florida Department of Health in Orange County at 832 West Central Boulevard, in Orlando, for a relatively small fee.

In addition to getting vaccinated yourself, your family and any close friends that will be around you during the flu season should be vaccinated, too. You can also take additional steps to prevent the flu by:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Steering clear of people who have flu-like symptoms.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
• Routinely disinfect surfaces and common objects, like doorknobs, TV remotes, and cupboard handles.