Immunity in pregnancy

[Ihatemarmite123]

I've just been reading through some leaflets about coughs, colds and flu in pregnancy. It states that a women's immune system is more susceptible to illness when she's pregnant. I haven't had a flu jab yet but I'm going to get one.

I wondered if women did suffer with more illnesses in pregnancy?

Yup got every cough and sniffle going around when normally I'm fine.

I haven't had a single thing, not even a cold. 40+3 today. I took vitamins religiously, including high dose vitamin D and I think that helped.

Before being pregnant I hadn't had a cold for a couple of years.

Since being pregnant I've had 3 colds, sinusitis, chest infection and an eye infection!! I take all my vitamins religiously, wash my hands and use hand gels but seem to be picking up everything. I'm so glad I had my flu jab because I'm pretty sure I'd have caught that as well.

Yes, you tend to pick up everything when you're pregnant. Your immune system is naturally suppressed so that you don't reject the foetus, which is technically foreign genetic material.

I've had loads of really bad coughs and colds and I don't usually get any of them!

Nope nothing.
And I was working in 5 schools during pregnancy.

Yep, I seemed to get every cold going when I carried my dd, not as much this time round with Ds, but still a fair few so far!

Yes - both times. Food poisoning, colds and chest infections.

Plus my asthma got worse and I was one of those people they start to worry about during heatwaves.

Absolutely. My worst coughs/colds were always in pregnancy.
Wash your hands... a lot. I didn't do this until the last couple of years. I always had this 'a little dirt never hurt' approach. But I've changed my mind on that one.

The good news is, baby is well padded and protected.

20 weeks and I’ve a shocking head cold - I may have got it off my DD tho but I suspect it’s as my immunity is compromised as I’m never ill

i'm 33 weeks and Ive had 3 rounds of coughing, sinusitis and ear ache.

I'm usually the smug one at work that doesn't even get s sniffle while everyone else around me is dropping like flies so the tables have turned lol

I didn’t. I was at home a lot more though so the opportunity to catch anything was less.

Just got a couple of colds but that's not always pregnancy related.
Don't take any vitamins apart from pregnancy NHS ones and been fine so far and first pregnancy was same.

Personally, I've not had any issues, but I think it has much more to do with if you are exposed to lots of illnesses. I work from home (so don't get exposed to them in the office anymore) and my dd is 5 and in school, so she's already had every bug there is and doesn't bring many home anymore. When she was around 1-3, I was literally sick from November to May every year. But yes, it's definitely true that your immunity is lower (to protect baby), but if you are careful you can protect yourself pretty well. Extra vitamin C and D will help too.