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Tips & Tricks to Stay Healthy This Flu Season

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Being pregnant during cold and flu season can be miserable. My immune system seems to have taken a hit and I’ve been sick for the past two weeks. It’s been pretty miserable beginning as an infection in my throat and general feeling of being sick to progressing to a full blown ear infection among other cold symptoms. After trying several different antibiotics and working up to a stronger one I have finally found the proper antibiotic for my ear infection and I can hear again! I’m still suffering from congestion and I’m regretting the hit my immune system has taken. I was so proud of how healthy my family has stayed all the way into November. That’s quite a task seeing as my oldest child started Kindergarten this year and is a prime magnet for germs to latch on and be carried into our home. Prior to my illness we were all well. Then it hit us all and we are all now recovering. Moving forward I plan to do as much as possible to prevent cold and flu germs from taking hold in our home again! Here are some great tips and tricks for staying healthy this flu season (click to make it larger). Be sure to pin this for later!

MedImmune-Specialty-Care-Flu-inofgraphic

I have gotten my flu shot and let me tell you why I believe it’s especially important to get your flu shot while pregnant. When I was pregnant with Aiden I was in my first trimester and entering flu season. I wasn’t far enough along in my pregnancy for the flu shot to be recommended. I was waiting to hit my second trimester so I could get my flu vaccine. While waiting I ended up contracting the flu virus. Many people confuse the actual flu with a stomach virus. The actual flu is not a stomach virus. It’s a terrible virus that comes with respiratory symptoms and a general feeling of awfulness. It was terrible and I battled a high fever the whole time. I was so worried about my unborn baby and the effects the flu was having on him. It was stressful and absolutely miserable.

parents guide to cold and flu season

Kids are more likely to contract the flu as they have developing immune systems. It’s important to get them vaccinated every year as well. If you haven’t got them vaccinated yet it’s not too late! Flu season runs from October to May! Considering the fact that more kids go to the hospital because of flu complications than any other vaccine preventable disease, it’s highly recommended that you vaccinate your children. Flu can lead to not only hospitalization but also to death.

Once your child comes down with the flu it’s likely to spread to other family members. Protect your family by getting vaccinated. This is especially important for those that cannot be vaccinated such as very young babies. Protect them by vaccinating those around them which creates a bubble around them of immunity so that you aren’t spreading it to them.

Tips for preventing cold and flu:

  • Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
  • Keep children home if they have a fever or are exhibiting flu symptoms. Wait 24 hours after the fever has disappeared before sending them to daycare or school
  • Get enough sleep each night
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue to prevent the spread of germs
  • Disinfect commonly used surfaces

Get more tips for preventing flu from Elizabeth Pantley’s FREE ebooklet, “A Parent’s Guide to Flu Season“.

What are your best tips to stay healthy this flu season?

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4 Comments

  1. great information! it is so true about keeping kids home when they are sick, i do not understand how some parents let their kids out when they are sick!

  2. we always do a lot of hand washing and hand sanitizing spray we take elderberry and probiotics too to build up the immune system

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