Why new parents get sick more often

Wondering why you seem to be getting sick far more frequently now you are a parent? Delighted and fulfilled as you may feel in your new role, it can take a toll on your immune system.

First, getting less than seven hours a night can lower your antibody production and reduce the effectiveness of your immune cells. The CDC reports a study¹ where restricting sleep to four hours a night for six days resulted in a more than 50% decrease in production of antibodies in response to flu vaccine, compared with subjects who had regular sleep hours.

Secondly, prolonged stress elevates your levels of cortisol, which suppresses the immune system. “Many new parents experience stress, from anxiety about caring for a newborn, to being able to provide for them adequately as they grow,” says Dr Elizabeth de Gouveia, a Pretoria-based obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Thirdly, parents face constant exposure to viruses and bacteria from their little ones, from nappy changes and cleaning up sickness, and germs they bring home from crèche, playschool and playdates. “Babies’ immune systems are still developing, gradually helping them build resilience to fight off illness in future,” says Durban-based specialist paediatrician Dr Ridwan Omar. Until then, they are susceptible to infection – and can pass it on when you sleep in the same room to monitor their symptoms, or rock and snuggle them to comfort them.

Parents with an autoimmune disease or compromised immune function and those who are older are at higher risk, but even if you have a robust immune system, close contact can lead to you contracting your child’s illness.

Babies and toddlers get around 7-8 colds a year on average, and a study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases² found having a child made adults about five times more likely to get sick, while with two children that jumped to about eight times.

“New moms can also be at risk of ‘postpartum immune dysfunction’,” says Dr De Gouveia. In pregnancy, your body deliberately reduces parts of your immune system to prevent it seeing your baby as a ‘foreign invader’. After delivery, it needs to rebuild strength and fight off germs again, which may take 3-6 months or more. “More research in this area is required,” adds Dr Omar. 

Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can also leave some moms physically and nutritionally depleted – research suggests around one-third to a half of women experience immune-related issues after giving birth, fighting recurring infections such as UTIs, colds, sinus infections, bronchitis, skin infections, slow-healing wounds and yeast infections. 

The postpartum period can also see a triggering of autoimmune conditions such as postpartum thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease, or flares in existing conditions. “This has been linked to dramatic changes in women’s reproductive hormones after delivery (drops in estrogen/progesterone),” Dr De Gouveia says.

What you can do

The key is for moms to support their bodies’ natural healing processes after childbirth, and for both parents to support their immune systems.

• Practice good hygiene – wash hands often with soap and water to help prevent germ transmission.

• Optimise sleep – try to sleep when baby sleeps, nap when they nap. Share nighttime feeds and nappy changes with your partner, and use weekend mornings, for example, for dad to step up while mom sleeps later and recovers.

• Prioritise sound nutrition. Have a balanced diet high in antioxidants and fibre (fresh vegetables, fruit), with lean protein and healthy fats. Pregnancy and breastfeeding make significant demands on a mom’s body, so check you are not depleted in vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids – critical for immunity and for helping to control inflammation. “Stay hydrated with plenty of water, especially if breastfeeding,” says Dr De Gouveia.

• Get your annual flu shots. They are considered safe while breastfeeding, providing protection for both mother and, through antibodies passed in breastmilk, baby. 

Book a flu vaccination at your nearest Clicks Clinic: https://bookings.clicks.co.za/

• Work at stress management – try deep breathing, mindfulness (during feeding, bathing and rocking baby) and progressive muscle relaxation. Get some exercise each day  (walking, stretching, yoga), if possible in nature.

• Get help from a mental health professional if you struggle with anxiety, depression, experience significant changes in sleep or appetite, or difficulty bonding. Contact SADAG, which provides free helplines run by trained counsellors 24/4, 0800 567 567, SMS 32312, www.sadag.org

Sources

1. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/work-hour-training-for-nurses/longhours/mod2/05.html

2. https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2015/08/viruses-thrive-big-families-sickness-and-health

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