Pregnancy Increases Swine Flu Risks
Drug companies are currently at work on a vaccination that will help protect people from the swine flu. They expect to test it on volunteers in August. After tweaking they hope to have nearly 160 doses available by October. There are actually pecking orders for who has priority in pandemics for medications. Due to the discordant numbers of pregnant women suffering serious side effects, it is rumored that they will be at the top of the list, after health care workers, though this has not yet happened.
To prevent the H1N1 virus from taking hold here is some advice:
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer
- Avoid sick people
- Have a plan if you become ill
- Keep household supplies like fever reducers (Tylenol, etc.)
If you think that you have been exposed to the H1N1 virus, contact your doctor or midwife. You can discuss taking medications that might help prevent you from actually getting sick, even if you were exposed. These antiviral drugs, TamifluŽ (oseltamivir) or RelenzaŽ (zanamivir), are safe to take in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Even the seasonal flu can be very serious for pregnant women. If you find yourself with symptoms, treat your fever and be sure that you stay hydrated. The main risks are preterm labor from dehydration and other serious complications. You should contact your doctor or midwife if you have any signs of the swine flu:
Signs of Influenza Like Illness
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Chills and fatigue
- Sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting
After your baby is born, you will want to protect your newborn as well. Flu vaccinations have not been recommended for babies under six months with the regular seasonal flu vaccines. Immunities that the baby has are passed directly through the mother. The CDC says: "Flu can be very serious in young babies. Babies who are breastfed do not get as sick and are sick less often from the flu, than do babies who are not breastfed."
Breast milk is the best treatment for your baby in a preventative way. The CDC recommends as much breast milk as possible, even if this means that you use a breast pump and have someone else feed it to your baby. Breast milk is such a good thing that they still recommend breastfeeding if you have an active case of the swine flu, because of how it protects your baby.
What's on your mind as we head into the fall and likely an up swing in the flu season? How are you preparing? Is the swine flu changing your mind about pregnancy or birth in any way?
Previous Posts on Swine Flu and Pregnancy:
ugh… I am trying to get pregnant now…and this bothers me. I worry about things like this a lot.
Nancy, I don’t blame you! I am 6 weeks along with my 3rd(totally a surprise!), but I am worried! We don’t do Flu vacs in our house as we all end up terribly sick!!! This is a different worry as we aren’t sure what to do….
I just found out I am three weeks pregnant and this swine flu truly scares me. I had it in June of this year and I was hospitalized for it. It was the sickest I have ever benn. Keep in mind I have two high risk situations that made me a candidate for it being worse:heart condition, asthma. Most people are getting mild cases. I have read that I may have immunity to it now but what if a new strain pops up? It is frightening and the vaccine idea is frightening. The CDC and the drug companies are not neutral parties in my opinion. They are tied together and want to “sell” all of us on getting vaccinated. England put out a warning regarding neurological side effects from the swine flu. I just am not sold 100% on this. If the majority of the cases are mild and there is no supporting fact that this flu has evolved or mutated, then why all the hype to get everyone vaccinated? Sounds like a money train in my mind. How do they know this vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies? The very reason pregnant women are more susceptible to illness with swine flu after they get it is by nature the fact that they are pregnant, then wouldn’t the same be true of side effects from the vaccine itself?
I’m in my third trimester and I am nervous about even considering getting the vaccine. My boyfriend and my doctor both want me to get the vaccine but I do not know where all the research is. I’m afraid I could hospitalize both me and my unborn baby by getting the vaccine. I’m on a college campus and have no respiratory problems. My boyfriend is worried that if I don’t get the vaccine and don’t get the medical help on time if I get H1N1, that he would lose both of us. I wash my hands and stay away from most sick people. It’s actually scary stuff
My sister got the H1N1 vaccine friday, since she got it, she said she hasn’t beel feeling good, and 3 days later, she was rushed to the ER because of shortness of breath and underwent C-Section. I do believe it had to do with the shot, she didn’t have no absolute complications with her pregnancy at all, and now doctors say she has the swine flu, baby doesn’t and her life is in danger, we have no clue if she’s going to make it or not. She wasn’t due until 3 weeks. I don’t trust this vaccine and I know if my sister doesn’t make it, this vaccineis to blame.