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You know that unpasteurized brie is a no-go during pregnancy, and those double martinis and oysters on the half shell are strictly verboten. But what about cold and flu medications" When you inevitably come down with a hacking cough, myriad aches and pains, and a serious case of the sniffles, what can you take" Here, our guide to navigating cold and flu season with a baby on board.
Get the vaccine

First things first: It?s strongly recommended that pregnant women get the flu shot.
Influenza?a severe respiratory illness that causes fever, cough and congestion?is not something to be trifled with. (And it?s not to be confused with ?stomach flu,? a distinct and less serious infection.) As Laura Magee, an obstetrician and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia, says, ?women who are pregnant and have the flu are at an increased risk of serious complications.? And that list of potential repercussions includes pneumonia, kidney failure, swelling of the brain, premature labour and even death. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of Canadians becomes infected with influenza each year, causing upwards of 12,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths. The good news is the vaccine is safe throughout pregnancy. Be sure, however, to request the injection, which is made from an inactivated virus, and not the nasal-spray vaccine, as that?s made from a live virus and not recommended for use by pregnant women.
While it can be impossible to ward of...