gethealthy

Expectant mothers are constantly receiving advice when it comes to producing healthy babies.  These pointers may include: eating right, reducing stress, taking your vitamins, and getting the proper amount of exercise.  However, you will now want to add getting a flu shot to that list.  In America, only 12% of mothers-to-be get a flu shot.  This shot can help prevent the dangerous influenza virus for the mother but also for the baby.

Since flu shots are not given to babies under 6 months of age and the antiviral drug treatments to treat the virus are not approved for children under 1 year of age; getting a flu shot basically in utero is the best alternative.

Recent clinical trial for Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, uncovered that if a mother receives a flu shot while she is pregnant it can potentially protect the babies from contracting the virus up to 6 months after birth.

The study concluded that with the flu shot an infant’s risk of getting the flu was reduced by  63% and a 29% reduced risk on respiratory infections.  It also concluded that for every 16 mothers that are vaccinated, one confirmed case of the flu had been prevented. In addition, mothers and infants risk of having a respiratory disease accompanied by a fever was reduced by a third.