What should you know about pertussis and pregnancy?

Pertussis can begin with cold-like symptoms and progress to repeated, forceful coughing bouts. Pregnancy may make coughing more exhausting and can increase discomfort in the chest or abdominal muscles. The absence of a whoop does not rule it out. A clinician will consider the cough pattern, contact with illness, pregnancy stage, breathing, and other symptoms. Fever, breathlessness, dehydration, or persistent vomiting may need separate assessment. The goal is to choose an approach that considers the pregnant person’s health and the baby’s protection.

Call your maternity or primary-care team promptly if you have been exposed to pertussis or develop a cough in bouts. Explain that you are pregnant and mention your stage of pregnancy, medicines, allergies, and vaccination history. If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it as directed and check before using non-prescription cough products. Rest upright if that feels more comfortable, sip fluids, and avoid smoke. Use hand hygiene, cover coughs, and reduce close contact with newborns or other vulnerable people until you receive specific advice. Ask whether household contacts need assessment or preventive care.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, fainting, confusion, chest pain, or inability to keep fluids down. Contact your maternity team urgently if coughing is accompanied by reduced fetal movement, vaginal bleeding, fluid loss, regular painful contractions, or a sudden change in your usual pregnancy symptoms. Prompt review is also sensible when bouts are becoming more frequent or preventing sleep and food intake.

Do my symptoms need testing? Is antibiotic treatment suitable at this stage of pregnancy? Which cough medicines should I avoid? How can I reduce exposure for my newborn? What symptoms require maternity triage or emergency care?