Pregnant women are known to be at higher risk for complications from infection with seasonal influenza viruses, and severe disease among pregnant women was reported during past pandemics.

Cases of confirmed novel (H1N1) influenza virus infection in pregnant women resulting in severe disease have been reported, and a pregnant woman died in 1988 after being infected with another type of swine influenza virus.

Oseltamivir and zanamivir are "Pregnancy Category " medications, indicating that no clinical studies have been conducted to assess the safety of these medications for pregnant women.

Although a few adverse effects have been reported in pregnant women who took these medications, no relation between the use of these medications and those adverse events has been established.

Pregnancy should not be considered a contraindication to oseltamivir or zanamivir use. Because of its systemic activity, oseltamivir is preferred for treatment of pregnant women.

The drug of choice for chemoprophylaxis is less clear. Zanamivir may be preferable because of its limited systemic absorption; however, respiratory complications that may be associated with zanamivir because of its inhaled route of administration need to be considered, especially in women at risk for respiratory problems.