Pregnancy and your immune system
Your pregnancy and your immune system have an important relationship. In fact, changes in your immune system play an essential role from conception through delivery, strengthening and recessing at key points to support your developing baby.
Because of this balance and the changes your body and your immune system are going through, you’ll want to take care to keep your immune system strong and functioning at its best, so it can do its amazing job.
Perfect timing
Pregnancy alters the immune system in very specific ways at various stages. Formerly, it was thought that the immune system weakens to avoid attacking the fetus. A recent study at Stanford University found that an aggressive immune system response is essential for implantation, which is when the embryo burrows into the lining of the uterus, where it will remain until birth. What they found was that the exact timing of the immune system response is aligned for the ideal outcome for mother and baby. In a normal pregnancy, the precise timing follows a predictable pattern (2). According to Dr. Gaudilliere, “Pregnancy is a unique immunological state.”
A holistic complex system
Research shows that the immune system does not act in isolation. Multiple factors including the mother’s biology, genetics, metabolism, and the body’s microbial communities all interact to create the ideal clock (2).
During pregnancy, the immune system is hard at work for both you and baby. The immune system helps protect mother against the environment and helps prevent damage to the developing fetus. The maternal immune system is characterized by a reinforced network of recognition, communication, trafficking, and repair. Like an alarm, your immune system can go to work to maintain the well-being of both mother and baby.
A unique immune condition
At the same time, the developing active immune system of the fetus has an effect on how the mother responds to the environment. This symbiotic relationship is another example of how uniquely the immune system works during pregnancy. Pregnancy does not imply more susceptibility to infectious diseases. Rather than the original thinking that the immune system was suppressed, it is now considered modulated, acting the right way at the right time. This is why researchers now refer to pregnancy as a unique immune condition (4).
Baby’s developing immune system
Until recently, experts thought that the baby received its first dose of microbes during birth. Recent studies have found microorganisms in the baby’s first stool. This means that some transfer of microbial species from mother to fetus occurred before the baby was born. When it comes to microbes and fetal development, fragments of microbes and the products of microbial digestion can be transferred through the placenta (5). This shows that it is not only living microbes that can play a role. Recent work at the University Hospital of Bern in Switzerland shows that this process might be important for the immune system of the newborn (6).
Healthy microbiota
Maternal microbiota can have an effect on the baby’s immunity. Many environmental factors have an influence on maternal intestinal microbiota, including maternal nutrition. What mama eats can be passed to the developing baby in the womb or through breastfeeding. For instance, maternal microbiota can metabolize dietary components, pharmaceuticals, and toxins. There is a complex interplay between nutrition, the maternal microbiota, and ingested chemicals.
Immune health and preterm labor
There is a relationship between your immune health and your risk of preterm labor. In the United States, one in every ten births is preterm (7) and 40 percent of preterm deliveries are linked with having been sick while pregnant (8). You can’t completely control whether you get sick while you’re expecting. But you can take some simple actions to make sure your immune system is as strong as possible.
Strengthen your immunity
- Practice common sense.Your best bet to support your immune health system function well throughout your pregnancy is to take common-sense steps, like washing your hands frequently, staying away from sick people, and keeping hydrated.
- Take care. Nutrition plays a big part in maintaining a strong immune response. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “A balanced diet consisting of a range of vitamins and minerals, combined with healthy lifestyle factors like adequate sleep and exercise and low stress, most effectively primes the body to fight disease (9).”
- Get plenty of rest and reduce stress.It may be easier said than done, but one of the most effective ways to support your immune health system naturally is to make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Your body is working overtime to keep you going and nurture a growing baby at the same time, and plenty of sleep is integral to staying healthy. When it comes to your immune system, sleep is one of the drivers of supporting your immune cells (10, 11). With sleep, your body’s melatonin levels rise. With your melatonin, your growth peptides are released. And these put your immune cells to work. Good sleep leads to empowered immune cells.
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Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is also important in order to prevent illness and manage the symptoms if you do get sick. Our bodies are mostly water, so we need water for our immune systems to run effectively. Other sources can also help with hydration, but avoid caffeinated beverages and drinks high in sugar.
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Exercise regularly: This is highly beneficial for both mama and baby. It can help keep a tab on your body temperature, regulate blood flow, and help with hormonal balance as well.
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Get your nutrients. You can naturally boost your immune system by eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and protein, and low in sugar and other refined carbohydrates. Eating a balanced diet (particularly fruits and vegetables) can also support your recovery should you get sick by supporting your immune system health with essential vitamins and minerals.
The following nutrients are important in keeping your immune system in good working order:
Vitamin C – Found in citrus, berries, kiwi, and peppers, this antioxidant supports immune cell function and helps protect against oxidative stress.
Vitamin D – Supports immune cell regulation. It can be tough to get enough from sunlight or diet alone, which is why many mamas choose to supplement with Mama Bird Vitamin D Drops.
Vitamin E – This antioxidant supports immune cell membranes. You’ll find it in nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.
Vitamin A – Important for both innate and adaptive immunity. Sources include carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, and fish.
Carotenoids & Bioflavonoids – Found in colorful produce like citrus, cherries, and squash, these antioxidants help modulate immune response.
Zinc – Critical for immune function. Found in pumpkin seeds, lentils, and whole grains. If you're not getting enough through food, a prenatal multivitamin can help.
Selenium – A powerful antioxidant found in Brazil nuts, eggs, and brown rice, selenium supports immune defense.
Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA & EPA) – Support your baby’s brain, vision, and immune development. Found in fatty fish—and in high-quality supplements like Mama Bird Prenatal DHA or Mama Bird Vegan Prenatal DHA if you follow a plant-based diet.
Probiotics – Since much of your immune system lives in your gut, maintaining a healthy balance of good bacteria can support immunity during pregnancy. Probiotics may also help baby develop a strong gut microbiome.
Allicin – Found in garlic, allicin has antimicrobial properties that may support immune defense.
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Take a high-quality prenatal vitamin: Pregnant women have special dietary needs to support a growing baby. These needs can be hard to meet, especially since you have to be extra careful with your diet. One solution to support your immune system, as well as your overall health, is to take prenatal multi+ vitamins.
Getting sick during pregnancy
Your unique immune state can determine your risk of illness and food poisoning during pregnancy. Experts in high-risk maternal-fetal medicine caution that there is increased susceptibility to certain illnesses during pregnancy. But don’t stress if you end up with a common cold. Most babies aren’t harmed from mom being sick (3). Healthy habits will help prevent sickness and help you recover faster.
Prenatal supplementation
It can be hard to meet all your nutrient needs through food alone—especially with morning sickness or food aversions. A high-quality prenatal vitamin is one of the best ways to support your immune health during pregnancy.
Mama Bird Prenatal Multi+ includes many of the essential nutrients mentioned above in forms your body can absorb and use. You can also add Pre+Postnatal DHA to help meet your specific needs.
