Flu-Like Symptoms In Early Pregnancy | What’s Normal Vs. Not

Waking up sore, tired, and congested in early pregnancy can feel like bad timing. Some of those sensations come from normal pregnancy changes. Some come from a plain cold. A smaller slice comes from influenza or COVID-19, and those can turn serious faster in pregnancy.

This article helps you sort the mix without guesswork. You’ll learn which symptom patterns fit early pregnancy, which ones point to infection, what you can do at home, and when it’s time to call a clinic.

Why Early Pregnancy Can Mimic A Cold

Early pregnancy shifts your hormones, circulation, and energy use. Progesterone rises, blood volume starts climbing, and your heart rate can run higher than your usual baseline. You can feel warm and wiped out from that alone.

Nasal stuffiness is also common. Hormones can swell nasal tissues and boost mucus, so you may sound congested without a virus. Dry indoor air, lying flat, and warm rooms can make it feel worse at night.

Add nausea, smell sensitivity, and sleep disruption, and the whole picture can read like the start of an illness even when no virus is present.

Flu-Like Symptoms In Early Pregnancy: Causes And Timing

“Flu-like” is a loose label people use for chills, aches, fatigue, and a sore throat. In early pregnancy, those symptoms can come from three buckets: normal pregnancy changes, viral infections, and less common problems that need prompt care.

Pregnancy-linked causes

• Hormone shifts: fatigue, warmth, mild nausea, smell sensitivity.
• Circulation changes: lightheaded spells, faster pulse, low energy.
• Nasal swelling: blocked nose, postnasal drip, scratchy throat.

Infection causes

Colds often start in the nose and throat and build over a day or two. Influenza often hits fast with strong body aches and fever. COVID-19 varies, though cough and fatigue are common.

If flu is circulating where you live, it’s worth knowing that pregnancy is treated as higher risk for flu complications. ACOG reinforces vaccination during pregnancy and notes that antivirals should start quickly when flu is suspected. Read the official ACOG influenza in pregnancy advisory for details.

Clues That Point Toward Infection

Use cues that don’t rely on online symptom checkers: onset speed, fever, and breathing comfort.

Onset speed

A sudden shift from “fine” to “I feel awful” in a few hours fits influenza more than pregnancy changes. Pregnancy discomfort tends to creep in and stay steady.

Fever

A true fever is 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. If you hit that mark, treat it as an infection signal until a clinician tells you otherwise. Fever can also drive dehydration, which can make dizziness and nausea worse.

Breathing and chest symptoms

Shortness of breath at rest, chest tightness, wheezing, or chest pain are not normal early-pregnancy symptoms. If you have those, treat it as urgent.

Patterns That Fit Pregnancy More Than A Virus

These patterns often match early pregnancy changes:

• Stuffy nose with no fever.
• Fatigue that improves after food, hydration, or a nap.
• Nausea that comes in waves, with smell triggers.

Still, pregnancy and infection can overlap. A person can have morning sickness and a cold at the same time. That’s why the “fever and breathing” checks matter.

How symptoms tend to shift over a few days

Pregnancy discomfort often stays steady. Viral illness more often adds new features over a day or two, like cough, fever, or deeper aches. If you feel worse each day, treat it like infection until proven otherwise.

Symptom Check Table For A Fast Decision

Use this table to decide what to do next. It’s meant to reduce guesswork, not replace medical advice. If you can’t decide, call.

Symptom Or Sign	Most Common Fit	Next Step
Stuffy nose, mild sore throat, no fever	Pregnancy changes or mild cold	Saline spray, humid air, fluids, rest
Sudden strong body aches	Influenza or COVID-19	Call a clinic same day for testing advice
Temperature ≥38°C (100.4°F)	Infection more likely	Call a clinician; treat fever with pregnancy-safe options
Dry cough plus fatigue	Virus more likely	Watch breathing; test if exposed
Burning when peeing	Possible UTI	Call a clinic; UTIs need prompt treatment
Repeated vomiting with little fluid intake	Dehydration risk	Same-day call, even without fever
Shortness of breath at rest or chest pain	Needs urgent evaluation	Seek urgent care now
Heavy bleeding or severe one-sided pain	Needs urgent evaluation	Seek urgent care now

What To Do In The First Day

When symptoms start, your goal is comfort, hydration, and a clean read on what’s changing.

Track two things

• Temperature: morning and evening, plus any time you feel chilled or flushed.
• Hydration: aim to pee at least every 4–6 hours; pale urine is a good sign.

Use comfort steps that work

• Warm shower or steam for nasal blockage.
• Saline spray or rinse to thin mucus.
• Small, steady meals: toast, rice, soup, yogurt, oatmeal.

If nausea makes hydration hard, try ice chips, cold fluids, or oral rehydration drinks. Sip often instead of drinking a lot at once.

Fever, Pain, And Medication Safety In Pregnancy

Many cold products are combo packs with several active ingredients. In pregnancy, fewer ingredients is safer. Pick single-ingredient products and check labels so you don’t double-dose.

Paracetamol basics

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely listed as the first-choice option for pain and fever in pregnancy when used as directed. The NHS page on paracetamol during pregnancy summarizes that position.

The UK regulator has also reaffirmed this guidance and notes there is no evidence linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism when used as directed. See the MHRA statement on paracetamol use.

Medication Snapshot Table

This table is a label-check helper. National guidance differs, so follow your local maternity guidance and pharmacist advice.

Item	Pregnancy Notes	Label Check Tip
Paracetamol (acetaminophen)	Common first-choice for fever and pain when used as directed	Avoid doubling up across combo cold products
Saline spray/rinse	Non-drug option for nasal blockage	Use sterile or boiled-then-cooled water for neti-style rinses
Honey in warm water	Can calm a tickly throat	Skip if you have strict sugar limits from your care team
Menthol lozenges	Often used for sore throat	Choose simple lozenges with fewer additives
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)	Not routinely advised in pregnancy without clinician guidance	Check labels on “period pain” and “cold & flu” products
Decongestant tablets	May be restricted for some people and in some trimesters	Look for pseudoephedrine/phenylephrine on labels
Herbal blends	Quality and dosing vary	Skip mixes with long ingredient lists

When You Should Seek Care Fast

Don’t wait it out if any of these show up:

• Temperature at or above 38°C (100.4°F) that doesn’t come down with paracetamol.
• Breathing trouble, chest pain, blue lips, or fainting.
• Severe dehydration: no urine for 8 hours, dizziness when standing, or repeated vomiting.
• Severe belly pain, shoulder pain, or heavy bleeding.

Flu Prevention Steps That Matter In Pregnancy

Influenza vaccination is recommended during pregnancy and also helps protect babies in the first months after birth. CDC’s flu vaccine safety and pregnancy page explains timing and benefits.

Daily habits still count: hand washing, avoiding sharing drinks, and cleaning door handles and phones.

Bottom Line

Early pregnancy can feel like a cold. A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, fast onset body aches, or chest symptoms should push you to call a clinic the same day. Use comfort care first, treat fever with pregnancy-safe options, and keep a short note of symptoms and times so you can act fast if the pattern changes.