Is pneumonia in pregnant women dangerous for the fetus?

Pneumonia is a lung infection disease that is quite serious and risky death for anyone, including pregnant women. Pneumonia in pregnant women can pose a high risk of complications and can be bad for the fetus. Then, what are the symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women? What treatment should be done?

Symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women

When you are infected with pneumonia, the body will usually show its first signs through the flu and cold which is quite disturbing and prolonged. In addition, there are various symptoms of pneumonia in other pregnant women to watch out for, namely:

Hard to breathe
The body feels hot and cold
Chest pain
Cough that gets worse
Excessive fatigue
Fever
Loss of appetite
The breathing pattern becomes faster
Gag
Sore throat
Headache
Pain all over the body

Usually these symptoms will appear throughout pregnancy from the first to the third trimester with increasing intensity.

Causes of pneumonia during pregnancy

Pregnancy alone increases a person's risk of developing pneumonia. This is because the body is working harder than usual to support the growth of the fetus in the womb. As a result, the immune system experiences an excess of natural decline which makes it more susceptible to disease, including the flu.

The virus that causes the flu that eventually enters and spreads into the lungs can cause pneumonia. Other viral infections that can also cause pneumonia, namely respiratory distress syndrome and varicella or chickenpox.

Not only that, but bacterial infections are also the most common cause of pneumonia. Various bacteria that can cause pneumonia, namely:

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Streptococcus pneumoniae

In addition, pneumonia in pregnant women can occur if:

Have anemia
Have asthma
Have certain chronic diseases
Have a weak immune system
Smoke
Routinely visit the hospital so that it is susceptible to bacteria and viruses

Are there any complications that may occur to the mother and baby during pregnancy?

Pregnant women with pneumonia usually experience shortness of breath, as a result of which there is a decrease in the amount of oxygen that enters the body. This also affects the supply of oxygen to the fetus.

In severe enough cases, pneumonia in pregnant women can cause:

Babies are born prematurely
Babies are born with low body weight
Miscarriage
Respiratory failure

The bloodstream can also become infected with bacteria as a result of widespread lung infections. Although pneumonia causes the mother to have a quite severe cough. Fortunately, the effects on the baby are nothing to worry about.

This is because the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid which acts as a damper and protects the baby from vibrations, sounds, and pressure, including those caused by coughing.

Treatment of pneumonia during pregnancy

Treatment of pneumonia is adjusted according to the cause, whether a virus or bacteria is the cause of the infection. Usually drugs used to treat pneumonia are generally safe to use during pregnancy.

Antiviral drugs and respiratory therapy can be used as initial treatment. If you are infected with this disease due to certain bacterial infections, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) are also safe to use to reduce fever and pain.

Before using over-the-counter drugs on the market, it's a good idea to consult a doctor first to prevent unwanted things. Maintaining body hydration and adequate rest can also help speed up recovery.

How to prevent pneumonia in pregnant women

There are several ways you can practice to minimize the risk of contracting the viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia, namely:

Wash your hands often
Enough rest
Eating hygienic and nutritious food
Get regular exercise
avoid contact with sick people
Do not smoke
Regular physical exercise to strengthen the body's immune system
Do the flu vaccine. This is done in addition to preventing pneumonia caused by the flu virus, but also to protect babies from catching the flu after birth until they are six months old.