Flu Like Symptoms Before Labor

What Does Labor Feel Like

Having flu-like symptoms? Call your doctor before heading in

Signs of labor typically include contractions, which feel like a tightness that covers your entire abdomen and pubic area. Regular contractions for a pregnant woman five minutes apart mean that baby is on the way.

You should contact your doctor or go to the hospital when contractions reach this point.

Early Signs And Symptoms Of Impending Labor

So you want to know when your baby will be joining you earthside. You are either over the whole pregnant-thing, or you are just so excited and anxious that you are looking for clues. The internet is full of crap-shoot ideas that will get your hopes up for weeks possibly! Dont read too much into any of it. The truth is that your baby will come when he is ready. We are not meant to pick our children’s birthdates, and we are all meant to grow our babies until they are ready to be born.

Now that’s out of the way, lets get to the fun stuff. Its always fun trying to read into anything and everything, right?

Its like walking on pins and needles once you hit full term in pregnancy . After 5 babies of my own, and instructing more couples than I can count over the last 10 years, I have compiled a list of the most common signs that labor is near.

Again, take it all with a grain of salt because after all of these experiences, my fourth baby arrived on the bedroom floor, unassisted, he came so fast. You would think I would be able to know labor was around the corner, but apparently, it needs to hit you like a freight train sometimes!

Before I get to the list, there are a few signs that many women assume mean labor will begin soon. This is simply untrue, and I want to clear those first:

Why Are Pregnant Women Advised To Have The Flu Vaccine

The flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.

There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.

If you have flu while you’re pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

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Cold And Flu During Pregnancy

5-minute read

Related information on Australian websites

Colds and flu symptoms can be very similar to the symptoms of COVID-19. Even if your symptoms are mild, get tested for COVID-19 immediately use the colds and flu Symptom Checker if you’re not sure what to do. You can also learn more here about COVID-19 during pregnancy.

Getting the cold or flu when you are pregnant can affect your unborn baby. If you are considering pregnancy or are already pregnant, it is highly recommended that you have the flu vaccination to help protect you and your baby.

Sick Or About To Go Into Labor What Those Cold Symptoms May Tell You

When I recall my pregnancies, I recall that I was big into nesting as I got close to giving birth. But I also remember at 38 weeks pregnant flu-like symptoms.

Im going to be giving birth with a cold, I mused. Oh, how I didnt know how right I was.

As it turns out, it wasnt a run of bad luck. Flu-like symptoms in the third trimester are pretty common before its go-time. For me, it was a runny nose before labor. Oh, yes, and sore throat before labor too.

That sore throat didnt really clue me in simply because I lived in China. The air quality there is awful, and it wasnt uncommon for me to have a sore throat during my entire time living there .

My stuffy nose before labor should have perhaps clued me in too. But no, congestion before labor and even body aches before labor are also common in many women.

This topic came up recently with a neighbor of ours, Tracy. Tracy and her husband, Jimmy, are a little younger than my husband and me. They were expecting their first child, and she had loads of questions for me.

Which I didnt mind one bit!

As she started to get closer to her delivery date, I would make a point to reach out more. If you have anyone in your life, even if youre not super-close to them, that is expecting, I urge you to do the same. You never know how much that means or how helpful it is.

Tracy was hesitant to open the door. She said she had a runny nose, sore throat, body aches, and congestion. But she didnt have a fever.

But I was right.

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How Long Were You Nauseous Before Labor

Much like nausea you may have experienced in the first trimester of pregnancy with morning sickness, you may feel stomach pain, diarrhea, food aversion, vomiting, and low energy associated with nausea as you enter labor.

Most women find this was likely to happen anywhere from hours to a week before going into labor. This is most likely due to your body trying to clean out your system for the pushing and stress of labor that you will be experiencing. In most cases, its normal.

If you have any cause for concern, contact your doctor.

Pushing Your Baby Out

Your body will tell you when to push in fact, the urge will probably be overwhelming and pretty difficult to resist!

Once your babys head is visible, your midwife may encourage you to try and slow the process down by asking you to stop pushing and pant instead. Its a delicate stage and this is important, as it may help reduce the risk of tearing. Youll gently push your baby out on the next contraction.

At last your baby will be born. Youll probably be encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact at this point and you can finally say hello to your baby.

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Is It Safe To Get A Flu Shot During Pregnancy

Its safe for most pregnant women to get the flu shot. Tell your health care provider if you have any severe allergies or if youve ever had a severe allergic reaction to a flu shot. Severe allergic reactions to flu shots are rare. If youre worried about being allergic to the flu shot, talk to your provider to make sure its safe for you.

Some flu vaccines are made with eggs. Most women with egg allergies can get the flu shot. But if you have severe egg allergies, get the shot in a medical setting from a provider who knows how to treat severe allergies and allergic reactions.

Pregnant women should not get the flu nasal spray. This is a spray thats put in your nose.

What Is The Delivery Process Like

How should I treat the flu when pregnant?

The delivery process can vary depending on a number of factors, such as whether you are having a vaginal or cesarean delivery. However, in general, the delivery process will involve pushing the baby out through the birth canal. For a vaginal delivery, this usually takes place over the course of several hours. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord will be cut and you will be able to hold your little one for the first time!

We hope this information was helpful for all of the expecting mothers out there! If you have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. Thanks for reading!

Guide To Being 39 Weeks Pregnant

Whether this is your first child or your fifth, pregnancy always goes hand in hand with anxiety and excitement. Every pregnancy is different, of course. You may hear people say your first baby will take the longest to deliver, but it could be your second child who is the stubborn kid!

That being said, don’t worry if you go into labor a week or so early. Many babies arrive naturally a few days to a week early. It’s helpful to know the signs of early labor in advance, in case your baby decides to make a surprise appearance. You’ll want to call your doctor if you experience any of the following, since it may be time to check in to the hospital:

Flu-like symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, can occur a few days before labor. This is just your body reacting to hormonal changes.
An obvious sign that labor is starting is your water breaking. Contrary to many movies and TV shows in which the pregnant woman’s water breaks and causes a flood, your water breaking can feel like either a big rush of water or a slow trickle.
The loss of your mucus plug can occur a few days or a few hours before you begin labor. The mucus plug, also called a bloody show, looks exactly like how it sounds. It’s a signal that the cervix is starting to open for labor to begin.
You’ve probably been experiencing your fair share of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but pain like menstrual cramps coming from your back and moving toward your front is a better sign that labor is starting.

Is It True You Get Sick Before Labor

Yes, it is true that you may get sick before labor. This is because your immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, which makes you more susceptible to getting sick. However, it is important to note that not all women will get sick before labor some may not experience any symptoms at all!

Do you have any other questions about How long you have flu like symptoms before labor? Let us know in the comments below and well be happy to answer them! Thanks for reading! 🙂

What Are Some Tips For Staying Comfortable During Labor

There are a few things you can do to help make labor more bearable. First, try to relax as much as possible and breathe through the contractions. It may also help to take a warm bath or shower, or use a heating pad on your lower back. Additionally, your healthcare team will likely be able to provide pain medication if needed. Just remember youre almost there! Hang in there!

Is It Normal To Be Sick Before Birth

Yes. Every pregnant woman feels sick before giving birth to the infant. This happens if the mother has recently eaten something and the labor starts, and the digestion stops. This causes nausea and puking.

The body sends out signals for the muscles to relax, which causes the rectum to relax too. This causes diarrhea and the passing of loose stool.

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Let The Waiting Game Begin

Much like the bloody show, which can occur as your body prepares for labor and the babys head travels downward into the birth canal, not all women who have flu-like symptoms before labor goes into labor within a few days.

It could be a few weeks, a few days, or even a few hours. This is a time to pay close attention to your body and be prepared for labor to start.

What Should You Do If You Are Pregnant And Get Sick With Flu

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms–even if you have already had a flu shot–call your doctor or clinic right away. If needed, the doctor will prescribe an antiviral medicine that treats the flu.

Having a fever caused by flu or other infections early in pregnancy can lead to birth defects in a developing baby. A fever can be brought down with Tylenol but you still need to call your doctor or clinic right away.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or belly
Sudden dizziness

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A Flu Vaccine Is The Best Protection Against Flu

Getting an influenza vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu. Pregnant people should get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant parent and the baby from flu. Vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant people by up to one-half. A 2018 study showed that getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant persons risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40 percent. Pregnant people who get a flu vaccine also are helping to protect their babies from flu illness for the first several months after their birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated. A list of recent studies on the benefits of flu vaccination for pregnant people is available.

Dealing With A Cold While Pregnant

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A cold is a very common mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It can cause a blocked nose followed by a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and a cough. The cold will usually last for about a week as the body fights off the infection.

There is no cure for a cold, although you can usually relieve the symptoms of a cold at home by taking over-the-counter medication, such as paracetamol, and drinking plenty of fluids.

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So Heres The Takeaway

As you might have gathered by now, all pregnant women go through these flu-like symptoms just before the onset of labor as this is the bodys way of announcing the childs arrival.

However, the symptoms may differ for each pregnant lady, so do not worry if you experience some lesser or higher symptoms. Though, if you feel these symptoms more often than deemed normal or before your 37th week, then you need to consult a doctor.

Is Walking Good During 9th Month Of Pregnancy

You may not know what moves are safe to perform during the 9 months of your pregnancy if you have never exercised before or even if you have a regular exercise routine when you are not pregnant. For the most part, doctors advise pregnant women to engage in a moderate amount of aerobic activity like walking because it is well-tolerated, effective, and convenient.

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How To Time Your Contractions

To help monitor the progress of your labour its important to start timing your contractions once they get going. One of the main reasons for this is that when you call your maternity unit to tell them youre in labour, one of the first things they will ask is how often you are contracting.

To time your contractions, try and count the seconds between each one. If youre able to use a clock or stopwatch, or better still, get your birth partner to help, this will ensure youre monitoring them correctly. Its often easier to note down the time each contraction started and how long it lasts for. You can then count the time between each one. This also helps to show if they are regular.

A typical pattern for your early phase contractions is for them to begin by lasting about 40 seconds and come every 10 minutes. By the time youre ready to give birth, the contractions will last about a minute and come every 2 minutes. These timings are just a guide, and theyll vary from person to person.

Why Is The Flu So Harmful During Pregnancy

The flu can be dangerous during pregnancy because pregnancy affects your immune system, heart and lungs. Your immune system is your bodys way of protecting itself from illnesses and diseases. When your body senses something like a virus that can harm your health, your immune system works hard to fight the virus.

When youre pregnant, your immune system isnt as quick to respond to illnesses as it was before pregnancy. Your body knows that pregnancy is OK and that it shouldnt reject your baby. So, your body naturally lowers the immune systems ability to protect you and respond to illnesses so that it can welcome your growing baby. But a lowered immune system means youre more likely get sick with viruses like the flu.

Another reason the flu can be harmful during pregnancy is that your lungs need more oxygen, especially in the second and third trimesters. Your growing belly puts pressure on your lungs, making them work harder in a smaller space. You may even find yourself feeling shortness of breath at times. Your heart is working hard, too. Its busy supplying blood to you and your baby. All of this means your body is stressed during pregnancy. This stress on your body can make you more likely to get the flu. If youre pregnant or had a baby within the last 2 weeks, youre more likely than other women to have serious health problems from the flu.

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How Can You Stop The Flu From Spreading

When you have the flu, you can spread it to others. Heres what you can do to help prevent it from spreading:

Stay home when youre sick and limit contact with others.
Dont kiss anyone.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your arm. Throw used tissues in the trash.
Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching anyone. You also can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Use enough hand sanitizer so that it takes at least 15 seconds for your hands to dry.
Use hot, soapy water or a dishwasher to wash your dishes and utensils.
Dont share your dishes, glasses, utensils or toothbrush.