If you get the flu while pregnant, the most important step is contacting your healthcare provider right away to ask about antiviral medication. The flu carries higher risks during pregnancy than it does at other times in your life, but prompt treatment significantly reduces the chance of serious complications for both you and your baby.
Call Your Provider Immediately
The single most time-sensitive action is getting antiviral medication started as early as possible, ideally within 48 hours of your first symptoms. The CDC recommends oral oseltamivir as the preferred antiviral for pregnant people because it has the most safety data behind it. Your provider can prescribe it based on suspected flu alone, without waiting for a test result.
Even if more than 48 hours have passed since your symptoms began, treatment is still worth pursuing. Studies of patients hospitalized with flu during pregnancy have found clinical benefit from antivirals started beyond that 48-hour window. So if you’ve been putting off calling because you think it’s too late, it’s not.
Why the Flu Hits Harder During Pregnancy
Your body isn’t simply “weaker” when you’re pregnant. It’s running a deliberately altered immune system designed to protect the pregnancy, and that shift has trade-offs. During pregnancy, your immune cells produce less of the signaling proteins that fight viruses, and certain white blood cells that normally clear infections circulate in lower numbers. At the same time, hormonal changes promote an immune profile that’s better at tolerating the baby but less aggressive against respiratory viruses.
Your lungs are affected too. Flu can reduce the ability of your lung tissue to clear fluid, which increases susceptibility to pneumonia. Research in animal models has also shown that flu impairs the lung’s ability to repair itself during pregnancy. These factors together explain why pregnant people are more likely to be hospitalized with flu complications than the general population.
Risks to Your Baby
Maternal flu can affect your baby’s development depending on when during pregnancy the infection occurs. Exposure early in the first trimester is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and higher rates of neonatal and infant mortality. Second-trimester exposure is linked to lower birth weight even after accounting for how long the pregnancy lasts. Third-trimester flu is associated with both shorter pregnancies and smaller babies.
To put some numbers on it: a moderate flu season compared to a mild one can reduce birth weight by about 45 grams (roughly 1.3%), increase the likelihood of low birth weight by about 15%, and raise the risk of preterm birth by a similar margin. During a severe flu season, those effects are substantially larger, with low birth weight risk climbing by as much as 77%. These are population-level estimates, not individual predictions, but they underscore why treatment and prevention matter so much.
Safe Home Care While You Recover
Beyond antiviral medication, recovery at home looks like what you’d expect, with a few pregnancy-specific considerations. Rest as much as you can. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, especially if you’re running a fever. For body aches and fever, acetaminophen is safe during pregnancy. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin unless your provider specifically tells you otherwise.
A cool-mist humidifier can help with congestion and coughing. Warm broths and teas contribute to your fluid intake while soothing a sore throat. Keep eating even if your appetite is low, since your baby still needs consistent nutrition. Small, frequent meals are easier to manage than full ones when you’re feeling sick.
Warning Signs That Need Emergency Care
Most pregnant people recover from the flu at home, but certain symptoms signal that you need immediate medical attention. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you experience:
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain or a racing heartbeat
- A fever that won’t break despite acetaminophen
- Severe nausea and vomiting beyond what you’d expect from morning sickness
- Your baby’s movements slowing or stopping
- A headache that won’t go away or keeps getting worse
- Dizziness or fainting
- Changes in your vision
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking
Some of these overlap with flu symptoms, and some point to pregnancy complications that can happen alongside the flu. If you’re unsure whether what you’re feeling is normal flu misery or something more serious, err on the side of getting checked.
Preventing the Flu in the First Place
The flu vaccine is the most effective preventive tool, and it’s recommended during every pregnancy regardless of trimester. For the 2025-2026 flu season, the CDC specifically recommends that pregnant people receive only thimerosal-free, single-dose formulations of the flu vaccine. The nasal spray vaccine (FluMist) is not recommended during pregnancy.
Getting vaccinated during pregnancy also protects your baby after birth. Antibodies you produce cross the placenta and give your newborn some flu protection during the first several months of life, before they’re old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
Beyond vaccination, basic precautions make a real difference: frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and keeping your hands away from your face. If someone in your household has the flu, ask your provider whether preventive antiviral medication makes sense for you. The same drug used for treatment can also be used to prevent infection after a known exposure.