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Complications of influenza in pregnant women

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Flu in pregnant women is primarily dangerous because of its complications. It is more than just a runny nose and a sore throat. Complications after flu in pregnant women can cause a serious risk of miscarriage, as well as a threat to the life of the pregnant woman herself. What should you pay special attention to when pregnant women have flu?

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Why is flu so dangerous for pregnant women?

Many pregnant women sincerely believe that they have the flu, when in fact they have a cold. But if it is the flu, it can lead to serious illnesses. And for pregnant women, it can be life-threatening. It is worth knowing that pregnant women are in a high-risk group for serious health problems due to the flu.

Flu spreads easily from person to person. When a person with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks, the flu virus spreads through the air. You can get the flu if you stand within three feet of someone who is sick. You can also get it if you touch a contaminated object (like a doorknob or phone) that has the flu virus on it, and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth, which spreads the virus into your body.

The best way to protect yourself from the flu when you are pregnant is to get a flu shot every year before the flu season, which usually starts in October. Even though you are more likely to get the flu during the season (October through May), you can still get vaccinated at any time of year. The exceptions are the first trimester of pregnancy, when you can’t get vaccinated, and sensitivity to the chicken protein in the vaccine and acute conditions that involve fever.

Flu Symptoms in Pregnant Women

Elevated temperature
Chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body pain, aches
Headache
Feeling extremely tired
Vomiting and diarrhea

For most people, these symptoms last for a few days. But pregnant women may experience flu symptoms for a long time.

How does flu harm pregnancy?

Complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, tracheitis, hearing loss, kidney problems, can be serious and even fatal, especially if you are pregnant. Pregnant women who get the flu more often than other women may have a premature birth. This can happen before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Keep in mind that premature birth can lead to serious health problems for your baby.

Weakening of the immune system during pregnancy

Flu during pregnancy can be very dangerous because pregnancy fundamentally affects the immune system. Your immune system is your defense against various diseases. When the body senses an invasion of a virus that can harm the health of a pregnant woman, the immune system actively works to eliminate this virus.

When a woman is pregnant, her immune system does not respond to illnesses as quickly as it did before pregnancy. The pregnant woman's body knows that it needs to protect the baby first. So it naturally reduces the immune system's ability to protect the mother and respond to illnesses. But this increases the risk of getting the flu and experiencing its complications with greater probability.

Lung problems due to flu

Another reason for complications in pregnant women due to flu may be that the expectant mother's lungs now need more oxygen, especially in the second and third trimesters, and the baby needs it too. The growing belly of the pregnant woman puts pressure on the lungs, forcing them to work harder, but in a smaller space. A pregnant woman may experience shortness of breath during the flu. The heart is also working hard. It is busy supplying blood to the mother and baby.

This stress on all body systems during pregnancy can increase the risk of flu in pregnant women and complications after it.

Rhinitis as a complication after flu in pregnant women

Nasal congestion is very common during pregnancy, as hormonal changes can cause mucus to accumulate in the nasal passages. Flu can make rhinitis symptoms worse in pregnant women. These complications of flu during pregnancy can be dangerous because pregnant women should not take most medications.

Most decongestants that block rhinitis are not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks). Pregnant women are advised to avoid decongestants for rhinitis because there is no scientific evidence that they are safe during pregnancy.

How to treat flu in pregnant women?

If you have flu symptoms, see your doctor right away. They can recommend medications to help protect you and your unborn baby from infection. It is important to start taking these medications right away.

The Centers for Influenza Control and Prevention recommends two flu medications for pregnant women:

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
Zanamivir (Relenza)

In addition, if a pregnant woman has the flu, she needs to rest a lot and drink a lot of fluids. But she needs to eat a little. Try to eat small portions to help the body cope better with the disease.

How to stop the spread of flu in pregnant women?

The spread of flu can be prevented in the following ways.

Here's what you can do to help prevent a pregnant woman from getting infected.

Stay home if you are sick.
Limit contact with other people.
Don't kiss.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or handkerchief. And throw used tissues in the trash immediately.
Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
Try to stay at least two meters away from the source of infection, since this is the distance that the flu virus spreads when coughing and sneezing.
Wash your hands with soap and water after touching contaminated surfaces or being outdoors. You can also use alcohol-based sprays or gels to clean your hands (sanitizers are available in pharmacies and stores).
Do not let a sick person use your plate, glasses or toothbrush.

How to alleviate flu complications in pregnant women?

To reduce the risk of flu in pregnant women, you need to drink vitamin-rich drinks. Preferably warm and in large quantities (if there is no swelling). These can be teas with lemon, fruit drinks, tea with honey, rosehip or sage decoction. Tea with raspberries is also very good - raspberries reduce fever and alleviate flu symptoms.

Breast infusions or cough medicines prescribed by a doctor will also have a beneficial effect on the treatment of flu in pregnant women. On the recommendation of a doctor, you can also use steam inhalations with calendula, chamomile, soda, St. John's wort, mint and eucalyptus oil.

Antibiotics are not useful for flu because they only affect bacteria, and flu is a viral disease.

Complications of flu in pregnant women will not become your problem if you follow all the doctor’s recommendations at the first symptoms of this disease.