Your body does an amazing thing when you fall pregnant – it allows your immune system to lower its guard, so your body doesn’t reject the baby.
But this also means you’re more likely to pick up colds, coughs and even the flu more easily. That’s why it’s really important to look after yourself, and why pregnant Australian women are encouraged to get a flu shot.
How to boost your immunity during pregnancy
Getting your body strong and well-fed will go a long way to staving off pregnancy illnesses (and will make you feel good too!)
- Take prenatal multivitamins.
- Eat foods high in protein – meat, chicken, pork, eggs and cottage cheese.
- Foods that are rich carotenoids will help increase your immunity – these include yellow, orange, and green leafy fruits and vegetables (carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe).
- Drink plenty of water to flush away toxins.
- Reduce the amount of caffeine and junk food in your diet.
- Get a pregnancy massage to prevent stress (we recommend five a week!)
What to do if you get sick while pregnant
The tell-tale sore throat that hangs around for a couple of days and turns into a runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and a dry cough usually means you have a cold.
The flu packs more of a punch. It unleashes its symptoms much quicker and is usually accompanied by a fever, headache, chills and a sore throat that gets worse rather than better on the second and third days. If you do get sick, make sure you:
- Chat to your doctor or pharmacist about what medicines are safe to take.
- Rest.
- Keep warm.
- Drink plenty of water.
Read next …
Are you pregnant and feeling under the weather? Here are a few articles that you might like to read next:
- 9 caffeine-free hot drinks for expecting mums
- The best prenatal vitamins and supplements
- 10 natural winter cold cures for mums-to-be
