Lowered immune system early pregnancy

If you’ve ever been sick while pregnant, you’re well aware of how picking up any little virus can make you feel like you’ve basically been run over by a truck.

The lethargy, aches, pain, and downright ickiness of it all is just soul-crushing. Then, your toddler pukes their guts up, but your body skips right over those particular germs.

Immune system pregnancy second trimester

What gives? Exactly how does pregnancy affect your immune system? As it turns out, there’s a reason why a simple cold can make you feel like you’ve been attacked by a herd of antelope, but then other days you feel just like Superwoman.

“During pregnancy, the immune system changes in order to provide protection for both the mother and the baby from disease,” obstetrician Neely Elisha, D.O., with Inspira Medical Group tells Romper.

“Some parts of the immune system are enhanced while others are suppressed. This balance can prevent infection in the baby without compromising the mother’s health.”

Basically, your body is in the middle of a giant give-and-take situation where your immune system is concerned

is my immune system weaker while pregnant

is your immune system weaker when pregnant third