Are You More Likely To Get Sick When Pregnant? | Risk Facts

Pregnancy shifts immunity, breathing, and circulation, so some infections hit harder even if you don’t catch colds more often.

You’re growing a whole new human. Your body reroutes blood flow, changes breathing, tweaks immunity, and rewrites daily rhythms. So the question “are you more likely to get sick when pregnant” pops up fast when a coworker starts coughing or a kid brings home a daycare cold.

The answer has two parts. You might not catch every bug more often. Still, a few infections carry higher odds of serious illness in pregnancy, and some “normal” illnesses can feel rougher. Knowing which risks are real helps you act early and skip the guesswork.

Are You More Likely To Get Sick When Pregnant? What The Evidence Shows

Pregnancy doesn’t shut your immune system down. It shifts it. The body needs to defend you from germs while tolerating a fetus that carries genetic material from another person. That balancing act changes over the trimesters, which can change how your body responds to certain pathogens.

Public health guidance also points to body changes outside immunity. Heart and lung demands rise, and breathing mechanics shift as the uterus grows. When a respiratory virus inflames the airways, those changes can raise the chance of severe illness. That’s one reason pregnancy is listed among conditions tied to higher complication risk from flu and other respiratory viruses.

It helps to split the question into two ideas:

• Catching an infection (exposure + transmission + your first-line defenses).
• Getting sicker from an infection (how intense symptoms get, and whether you need urgent care).

For everyday colds, many people don’t see a dramatic jump in how often they get sick. The bigger issue is severity, fever, dehydration, and breathing symptoms. Those are the reasons clinics often test earlier and treat sooner during pregnancy.

Why Pregnancy Can Make Some Illnesses Harder

Breathing and circulation changes

Blood volume rises and oxygen needs increase in pregnancy. You may also feel more short of breath even when you’re well. Add a virus that irritates the lungs, and it can tip into wheezing, low oxygen, or exhaustion quicker than you’d expect.

Urinary tract changes

Hormones relax smooth muscle and can slow urine flow. That can raise the odds of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and make it easier for an infection to move upward toward the kidneys.

Hydration is easier to lose

Nausea, reflux, and a smaller stomach capacity can make fluids harder to keep up with. When vomiting or diarrhea hits, dehydration can show up fast, and that alone can make you feel wiped out.

Which Illnesses Deserve Faster Action

This isn’t a list to panic over. It’s a short map of the infections where timing matters.

Flu and other respiratory viruses

Flu is a steady concern because pregnancy raises the chance of serious flu illness and hospitalization. The CDC’s guidance on Flu & Pregnancy explains why prompt treatment and vaccination matter during pregnancy.

Foodborne infections like listeriosis

Listeria can be mild in the pregnant person and still pose serious fetal risks. That’s why prenatal food advice is strict around unpasteurized dairy, deli meats that aren’t reheated, and refrigerated smoked seafood. The day-to-day odds are low, but prevention has a high payoff.

Urinary tract infections

UTIs are common in pregnancy. Symptoms can be subtle: burning, urgency, pelvic pressure, back pain, fever, or just feeling “off.” Many prenatal visits include urine checks because early treatment is simpler than treating a kidney infection.

Infections that can affect the baby

Some infections matter less for your own symptoms and more for fetal effects. The NHS page on infections in pregnancy that may affect your baby summarizes examples like CMV and chickenpox, plus prevention steps.

Red Flags That Need Fast Medical Contact

Pregnancy changes what “wait and see” looks like. Call your clinician or maternity triage promptly if you have any of these:

• Fever, or fever with chills and body aches.
• Shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheezing.
• Dehydration signs: dizziness, fainting, dark urine, or not peeing much.
• Severe vomiting that keeps fluids down only briefly.
• Symptoms of a UTI with fever or flank pain.
• Decreased fetal movement later in pregnancy.

Those symptoms can come from infection or pregnancy complications. Either way, fast contact is the safer move.

Habits That Lower Your Odds Of Catching Germs

Prevention advice can feel repetitive. That’s a good sign; it means the basics do most of the work.

Handwashing in high-touch moments

Wash right after coming home, before eating, after the bathroom, after wiping noses, after handling raw food, and after public transit. If soap isn’t available, sanitizer is a decent backup until you can wash.

Food safety that’s worth your effort

• Heat deli meats until steaming hot if you’re eating them.
• Skip unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses made from it.
• Reheat leftovers well and chill food quickly.
• Rinse produce and keep raw meat tools separate from ready-to-eat foods.

Small home tweaks during a household bug

• Wipe faucet handles, fridge handle, remote, and doorknobs once a day.
• Use your own towel and cup until everyone’s well again.
• Open windows for a short air refresh when weather allows.

Table: Common Pregnancy Infections And What To Watch

Condition or exposure	What you might notice	What usually helps
Seasonal flu	Fever, chills, body aches, cough, sudden fatigue	Same-day call for testing; antivirals may be used early
Common cold	Runny nose, sore throat, mild cough	Rest, fluids, and pregnancy-safe symptom care
COVID-19	Fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue	Testing and treatment options based on risk factors
UTI	Burning, urgency, pelvic pressure; sometimes no symptoms	Urine test and pregnancy-safe antibiotics
Kidney infection	Fever, back/flank pain, nausea, feeling unwell	Urgent care; fluids and antibiotics are common
Listeria exposure	Fever, aches, stomach upset; sometimes mild	Call if symptoms follow high-risk food exposure
CMV exposure (often from toddlers)	Often mild or no symptoms	Handwashing after diapers and saliva contact
Stomach bug (viral gastroenteritis)	Vomiting, diarrhea, cramps	Hydration plan; seek care early if fluids won’t stay down

Vaccines And Treatment Timing In Pregnancy

Avoiding germs is only one piece. Vaccines and early treatment can cut risk when exposure still happens.

Flu vaccination

Flu shots can be given during any trimester. ACOG’s advisory on Influenza in Pregnancy: Prevention and Treatment reviews why pregnancy and the early postpartum period carry higher odds of serious flu illness, and why prompt treatment matters.

Be careful with combo cold medicines

Many over-the-counter cold products bundle several drugs in one dose. That can lead to taking ingredients you don’t need. When symptoms start, call your clinic and ask what matches your symptoms and trimester. If you already take blood pressure medicine, thyroid medicine, or insulin, mention it so your care team can steer you cleanly.

Antibiotics and antivirals

If a bacterial infection is likely, pregnancy-safe antibiotics are available. For flu, antivirals work best when started early. If you have fever and flu-like symptoms, contact your clinician the same day instead of waiting it out.

How To Handle A Sick Day Without Guessing

When you feel bad, decision fatigue hits hard. A simple plan helps you act on autopilot.

Hydration first

• Take small sips often if nausea is active.
• Use oral rehydration drinks if vomiting or diarrhea starts.
• Track urine color and frequency as a quick check.

Food that tends to sit well

Bland carbs and simple proteins often go down easiest: toast, rice, bananas, pasteurized yogurt, eggs cooked through, and soups. Smaller meals can help when reflux is active.

Use a thermometer

“I feel hot” isn’t reliable in pregnancy. Take your temperature, write down the number, and note the time. If your clinician asks, you’ll have clean details.

Table: Pregnancy-Safe Prevention Habits By Setting

Setting	Habit	Extra note
Workplace	Wash hands before eating and after meetings	Keep water nearby to avoid dehydration
Public transit	Avoid touching your face until hands are clean	Sanitizer helps until you can wash
Home with kids	Wash hands after diapers and wiping noses	Don’t share cups or utensils
Kitchen	Separate raw meat tools from ready-to-eat foods	Reheat leftovers well
Grocery store	Bag raw meat separately	Wash produce before slicing
Prenatal visits	Ask about vaccines and screening results	Write questions as they come up

What To Do After A Known Exposure

Exposure happens. A partner gets the flu. A toddler gets a rash. You sat next to someone coughing on a flight. Next steps depend on the illness and your symptoms.

• If you have flu-like symptoms, contact your clinic the same day. Antivirals work best when started early.
• If you’ve been around chickenpox or shingles and you aren’t sure you’ve had it or been vaccinated, call quickly. Timing matters for preventive treatment.
• If you ate a recalled food tied to listeria and you feel feverish or achy, call and share the exposure and timing.

Takeaway That Fits Real Life

Pregnancy doesn’t make you a magnet for every cold. It does shift how your body handles certain infections, and it raises the stakes for a few illnesses like flu, UTIs that climb, and some foodborne infections. If you keep a steady prevention routine, keep vaccines current, and call early when red flags show up, you’ll spend less time guessing and more time resting.