So you’re pregnant and you feel a cold, or worse, a bit of flu coming on. What do you do? What can you do?
Firstly, let’s explore prevention. The old saying an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure is never truer than in pregnancy. Given that up to 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, it seems logical to start making sure the health of your gut, which includes your intestines – both small and large – is up to scratch.
Did you know that the surface area of your intestines, if spread out, is about the size of a tennis court?
This means that your ‘inner skin’ covers a greater area than your ‘outer skin.’ Now why did I call your intestines your ‘inner skin?’. The tissue that makes up your skin, and the tissue that makes up your intestines are both epithelial tissue. They are sort of the same type of tissue (with differences) because both represent your boundary between the outside world and your body. What has all this got to do with pregnancy and your immune system?
Simply this – a lot of bacteria and viruses enter via the gut, and here is where millions upon millions of probiotics live. They perform a whole host of functions, one of which is to prevent pathogens entering your bloodstream and to signal immune cells in the blood.
But, I hear you say, don’t viruses also enter through the nose and the lungs? Yes they do – however, and here is something that medical science and research has yet to fully explain - there seems to be a direct relationship between the health of the epithelial tissue lining the lungs, throat and mouth , and the numbers, effectiveness and health of the probiotics in the intestines.
We can recommend that a suitable, effective way to support your immune system during pregnancy, with no threat to your developing baby, is to use probiotics. Probiotics will keep the gut’s immune system working.
Cold and Flu Remedy
So what happens then if you do get a cold whether mild or severe? Firstly, if you are not sure where the problem lies, then be sure to see your GP.
- Vitamin C is an effective support during times of infection. Up to 5000mg per day is acceptable short term, though watch for bowel tolerance. High doses of Vitamin C can cause loose bowel motions, and while not dangerous, is undesirable when pregnant.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables help keep your lymphatic system stay clear. Your lymphatic system is one place inside your body where immune cells travel and patrol. Anything that is gluggy and mucous forming can tend to slow the lymphatic system down – so watch those cravings for ice cream and cream doughnuts.
- Lastly there are a lot of reputable herbal and nutritional products on the market that support the immune system when it comes to helping the body’s natural defences fend off ills and chills, however some of them are not indicated in pregnancy. There is not enough room here to go into them all, other than to say make sure you check with the relevant health professional before taking them.
If you have any questions please post on our facebook wall or contact Shane directly.