Does norovirus pose any risks for pregnant women?
—Cristina
Norovirus is the worst. (This is just a generic comment.) Before getting into pregnancy, you might enjoy this long explainer about norovirus in general — how it spreads (easily!) and why we get it over and over again.
With pregnancy, there is good news and also caution. Norovirus during pregnancy doesn’t pose a viral risk to the fetus. It’s not a risk for birth defects or other fetal complications. That’s the good news.
However: the main concern with norovirus is dehydration, which is a more significant concern for pregnant women than for others, both because of a higher need for hydration and because severe dehydration could be dangerous for the pregnancy. For this reason, if you’re pregnant, you should let your doctor know if you are vomiting and try to stay hydrated. Small sips of water between bouts of vomiting if you can keep it down, possibly some electrolyte drink if that’s feasible.
It’s also important to be more aware of the signs of acute dehydration: dry mouth, increased thirst, lethargy, confusion, sunken eyes. If you’re worried, do not hesitate to call a doctor.
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