What is the H1N1 flu and how do you get it?:
The H1N1 flu is also known as the swine flu. The official name is 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1). It is a strain of the flu discovered in the United States in April 2009. It spreads from person to person, like the seasonal flu, mainly through coughing and sneezing from an infected person. This includes coming into contact with people who are infected with the H1N1 flu virus, including contaminated hands, objects, etc. You may wish to severely limit hand shaking and other physical contacts for greetings. Avoid sick people. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as germs can spread this way.
What is the risk of the H1N1 flu in pregnancy?:
Pregnant women seem to be at a greater risk from complications from the 2009 H1N1 flu including hospitalization and death. This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have classified them as a priority patient, someone who is at the front of the line to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
How will I know if I have the H1N1 virus?:
The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are very similar to the seasonal flu. You might notice any combination of these flu symptoms:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- stuffy or runny nose
- chills
- body aches
- headache
- vomiting
- diarrhea
It is possible to have the 2009 H1N1 flu and not have a fever. Currently the CDC is the only group testing for the actual H1N1 virus. These tests are only being performed on a select basis. Anyone with influenza like illness is being treated as if it is the H1N1 flu.
How can I protect myself from the H1N1 virus?:
Prevention is always the best thing you can do. This includes washing your hands frequently with soap. You can also use hand sanitizer. Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it away. Stay home if you are sick.
Some families are choosing to avoid public places. The real key is to avoid places where sick people are in general. This might mean something like choosing a childbirth class not held at a hospital, asking if there is a well waiting room in your midwife or doctor's office, etc. Not everyone who is contagious will have symptoms.
There is also an H1N1 vaccine.
What about the H1N1 flu vaccine?:
The
H1N1 flu vaccine is being recommended to pregnant women as priority patients, in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine. There may be reasons that you are not a candidate for this vaccine, but that is something that your doctor or midwife would be able to discuss with you. Many mothers are concerned. Researchers and doctors assure us that a rapid response is not the same as lack of quality. This is a variant of the seasonal flu vaccine which has been used in pregnant women for years. Some mothers-to-be are concerned about thimerasol (eythylmercury) in the H1N1 vaccine. Not all of the vaccines have this additive.
What happens if I get H1N1 while pregnant?:
You should call your doctor or midwife as soon as you have symptoms. You may be able to get
Relenza or Tamiflu to shorten the duration of your symptoms if you call quickly enough. Other than that, treating the symptoms with
medications like
ibuprofen and
acetaminophen are recommended. Ask your doctor or midwife for reasons that you should seek emergency care, which will include:
- shortness of breath
- dehydration
- 5 or more contractions in an hour
You will want to be sure that you are taking in enough fluids to stay hydrated, but avoid excessively sugary drinks. Have someone checking in with you regularly.
How should I protect my baby from H1N1 after birth?:
After you have your baby you should plan on limiting baby's exposure to other people. Some hospitals have drastically
decreased the number of visitors during and after birth. You should require everyone, including hospital staff, to wash hands and wear gloves if touching your baby. Consider rooming in for a healthy baby.
Breastfeeding is also recommended as it can help prevent illness in your baby by passing along your antibodies. This is true, even if you have the H1N1 flu yourself. Wash your hands frequently and consider wearing a mask, you may breastfeed or used your pumped milk.
