WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2016 -- Getting get sick with the flu early in pregnancy makes you twice as likely to have a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain, spine, or heart as women who don't catch the virus, the March of Dimes says. Flu vaccine for the 2016-2017 season is available now, and pregnant women should make an appointment right away, so they can be sure to get their shot early, says Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, chief medical officer of the March of Dimes.