While pregnant, a woman’s body is under a great deal of physical stress and hormone changes leave a pregnant woman more susceptible to getting the flu virus. If a woman does contract the flu, she will likely survive, but complications like pneumonia and respiratory distress can harm the unborn baby and lead to premature labor.
The flu shot also can protect your newborn even into the early months of their life. Since a baby is unable to receive a flu shot until approximately six months of age, the antibodies passed from the mother are invaluable. Just as the flu virus can have potentially dangerous complications for a pregnant woman, a newborn is at risk too.
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