Flu shots during pregnancy

Transcription:

The flu can be a much more serious medical problem in a pregnant woman than in a non pregnant woman because of immune system function. So you are more likely to have more complications and potentially very serious complications like pneumonia or worse. So that is what the Center for Disease Control is looking at. This is a public policy effort to maintain public health and reduce the risk of transmission, but also to reduce the risk to the individual woman. If you are a person who is at risk of coming into contact with others who have the flu, you probably should get the shot. If you travel, if you have a household member that travels, if you have other small children in your house, if you have a lot of contact with people, the chances of you getting exposed to the flu are fairly good and the chances of getting a horrible flu are good. You do not want to be the one that gets that flu and gets very, very ill. If you choose to not vaccinate, just be aware of the fact that you want to do everything you possibly can to reduce risk in other areas.

Video Categories: PREGNANCY, Pregnancy and Prenatal Health, Pregnancy Safety

OBGYN Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD, explains whether or not it is safe to have a flu shot during your pregnancy, and when it is recommended to get a flu shot while pregnant

Transcript

Expert Bio

Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD

Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz completed her undergraduate education at Wesleyan University and post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies at Mills College. She earned her medical degree in 1996 from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and has been in private practice of obstetrics and gynecology in Los Angeles, CA since 2000. After many years of a personal yoga and meditation practice, she completed her Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist degree at California College of Ayurveda in 2010 and was board certified in Integrative and Holistic medicine in 2008.

Suzanne is involved in women’s empowerment and public education, and appears frequently as an expert in women’s and integrative health on TV, online and in print. She is co-founder of Cedars Sinai Medical Center's Green Committee and is deeply committed to the promotion of healing that involves individuals, families, communities and the planet. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children in a "green" renovated home with a sustainable native plants garden and organic “urban mini-farm”.

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