If you develop flu symptoms or a fever while pregnant, contact your maternity team or healthcare professional promptly, ideally the same day. Flu can cause more serious illness during pregnancy, and prescription antiviral treatment may be recommended even before a test confirms flu. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is usually the preferred medicine for fever when a clinician advises it. Rest, drink fluids, and seek urgent care for breathing problems or warning signs.
Managing flu fever during pregnancy involves reducing fever safely, treating influenza when appropriate, and watching for symptoms that need urgent medical attention. The right approach depends on your temperature, symptoms, stage of pregnancy, medical history, and any medicines you already take. Prompt advice is important because pregnancy increases the risk of complications from influenza.
Why does flu fever need prompt attention during pregnancy?
Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Pregnancy changes the immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, which can make influenza more serious than it might be outside pregnancy. Some pregnant people develop complications that require hospital care, so it is important to seek medical guidance early rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
Flu symptoms can include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, a runny nose, headache, body aches, and unusual tiredness. Some people also experience vomiting or diarrhea, and not everyone with influenza develops a fever. According to MedlinePlus, pregnant people who suspect they have the flu should contact their healthcare provider promptly for advice about evaluation and treatment.
A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is an important warning sign during pregnancy. Contact your maternity team immediately if your temperature reaches this level, and do not delay seeking help because you think the fever is related to an ordinary cold. A clinician can help determine whether influenza or another infection may be causing your symptoms and whether you need treatment.
What should you do first if you develop flu fever?
Call your obstetrician, midwife, or maternity care service as soon as possible if you develop flu-like symptoms or a fever. Explain when your symptoms began, your measured temperature, whether you have a cough or breathing difficulties, and how many weeks pregnant you are. Mention any medical conditions, allergies, and medicines you take, including prescribed low-dose aspirin.
Do not wait for a flu test result before asking about treatment. Healthcare professionals may recommend antiviral medicine based on suspected influenza because waiting for laboratory confirmation can delay care. Tell the clinician if you have already taken a fever reducer or cold medicine so that they can advise you on the next appropriate steps.
Which flu treatments are considered appropriate during pregnancy?
1. Antiviral medicines for influenza
Antiviral medicines treat influenza itself rather than simply lowering body temperature. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends prompt antiviral treatment for pregnant people with suspected or confirmed influenza, regardless of the trimester. Oral oseltamivir is the preferred treatment because it has the most available evidence supporting its safety and benefit during pregnancy.
Antiviral treatment works best when started as soon as possible, ideally within the first 48 hours after symptoms begin. However, treatment may still provide benefits when started later, particularly if illness is progressing or hospital care is needed. Do not assume it is too late to seek treatment simply because several days have passed. A healthcare professional can decide whether an antiviral is appropriate and prescribe the correct course.
Oseltamivir is a prescription medicine, and the usual treatment course is five days. It can be used during any trimester when clinically indicated. Other antiviral medicines are not automatically suitable alternatives during pregnancy; for example, the CDC does not recommend baloxavir for pregnant people because adequate safety and effectiveness data are unavailable. Do not use leftover antiviral medicine or someone else's prescription.
2. Paracetamol for fever and body aches
Paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, is generally considered the preferred fever-reducing medicine during pregnancy. It can help relieve fever and associated discomfort, but you should contact your maternity care provider for instructions about treating fever while pregnant. MotherToBaby advises using acetaminophen only when needed and at the lowest effective dose, unless a healthcare professional gives different instructions.
Follow the directions on the medicine label and the guidance you receive from your clinician. Check with a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are uncertain about the strength or timing of a dose. Taking more than recommended can cause serious harm, including liver damage.
Check the active ingredients in any cold or flu medicine before taking it. Some combination products contain paracetamol alongside ingredients for cough, congestion, or other symptoms. Taking more than one product containing paracetamol may lead to an accidental overdose, even when each product is being used for a different symptom.
3. Other fever reducers and cold medicines
Do not start ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, or a multi-symptom cold and flu medicine without checking with your pregnancy healthcare professional. These products do not all have the same safety considerations during pregnancy, and suitability can depend on the ingredient and stage of pregnancy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen and naproxen, from 20 weeks of pregnancy onward unless a healthcare professional specifically recommends them. These medicines can affect fetal kidney function and reduce the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. Prescribed low-dose aspirin is an exception for certain pregnancy-related conditions; do not stop it or change your dose without medical advice.
Antibiotics do not treat the influenza virus itself. They may be prescribed if a healthcare professional identifies a separate bacterial infection, but they should not be taken for flu fever without an appropriate assessment.
How can you care for yourself at home while recovering?
Home care can help you stay comfortable while you arrange medical advice and follow your treatment plan. It does not replace assessment of a fever during pregnancy or antiviral treatment when indicated.
- Rest as much as possible. Reduce strenuous activities and allow yourself time to recover.
- Drink fluids regularly. Water, broth, and other suitable fluids can help you maintain hydration. Take small, frequent sips if nausea makes drinking difficult.
- Monitor your temperature. Use a thermometer if available and record your readings, along with the times symptoms begin or change.
- Keep your surroundings comfortable. Wear comfortable clothing and avoid excessive heat. Do not use very hot baths or saunas to manage a fever.
- Choose medicines carefully. Follow your clinician's advice and check with a pharmacist before using herbal products, supplements, or nonprescription cold remedies.
- Limit the spread of infection. Wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, improve indoor ventilation when possible, and avoid close contact with other people while you are ill.
Get further medical advice if you cannot keep fluids down, your urine becomes noticeably less frequent, or your symptoms are getting worse instead of improving. Do not wait for a planned follow-up appointment if new or concerning symptoms develop.
Can flu fever affect your baby?
Having a fever does not automatically mean that your baby has been harmed. However, fever and the infection causing it deserve attention during pregnancy. Some studies have reported associations between fever in early pregnancy and certain pregnancy outcomes, while other studies have not found the same results. It can also be difficult to separate the effects of fever from those of the underlying illness.
MotherToBaby's information on fever during pregnancy explains that the available evidence varies and that factors such as the timing of the fever and the illness causing it matter when considering possible risks. This uncertainty is a reason to seek prompt advice, not a reason to assume that harm has occurred. Your healthcare professional can help determine whether any additional assessment is appropriate based on your symptoms and stage of pregnancy.
When should you seek urgent medical care?
Some symptoms need immediate assessment rather than home treatment alone. The CDC's urgent maternal warning signs guidance identifies the following symptoms during pregnancy and the year after delivery as reasons to seek medical care immediately.
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- Difficulty breathing, sudden shortness of breath, or a feeling that you cannot get enough air.
- Chest pain, chest pressure, or a rapidly beating heart accompanied by concerning symptoms.
- Fainting, confusion, or a severe headache that does not go away.
- Severe vomiting or an inability to keep fluids down.
- Severe abdominal pain that does not go away.
- Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking from the vagina.
- Your baby's movements stopping or becoming slower than usual, once you are at a stage of pregnancy when you normally feel movement.
If you cannot reach your maternity team promptly, seek urgent medical care. Call your local emergency number for severe breathing difficulty, collapse, or another life-threatening symptom. Tell the healthcare team that you are pregnant and describe your fever, respiratory symptoms, and any medicines you have taken.
How can you reduce the chance of flu during pregnancy?
Annual influenza vaccination is an important way to reduce the risk of flu and its complications during pregnancy. Ask your obstetrician or vaccination provider about the appropriate influenza vaccine for your pregnancy and local recommendations. Vaccination does not prevent every infection, so prompt assessment remains important if flu symptoms develop.
Regular handwashing, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and improving indoor airflow can also help reduce exposure to respiratory viruses. If a household member develops influenza, ask your healthcare professional whether any additional precautions or preventive treatment are appropriate for your circumstances.
Key points for treating flu fever during pregnancy
Flu fever during pregnancy should be taken seriously, but there are established options for managing it. Contact your maternity care provider promptly, ask whether an antiviral such as oseltamivir is indicated, and follow professional guidance about using paracetamol for fever. Avoid self-medicating with other fever reducers or combination cold medicines without checking their ingredients and suitability. Seek immediate medical attention for a fever or any other urgent maternal warning sign.