Pregnant with the swine flu

Yep, I’m down with swine! (ok, H1N1) 

Well, my doctor just confirms a positive flu test.   There is no official swine flu testing unless you send it away to some super secret location.    So they just stamped my file as “Swiney”, gave me my drugs, and sent me on my way.

At which time I took my 34 week pregnant self and googled “pregnant and swine flu”, which I definitely do NOT recommend.   Yes, pregnant women are at greater risk and having complications but that doesn’t mean EVERYONE.   (can you cross your fingers and toes that it doesn’t become me? thanks!)

So what are the flu symptoms to be on the watch for? Here is some information from the March Of Dimes website:

The symptoms of H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu. They include:

• Fever (however, some people with flu may not have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Often symptoms come on very quickly.
If anything gets worse, you MUST call  your doctor ASAP!   Worse meaning:

For Infants and Children

• • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child doesn’t want to be held
  • Fever with a rash
  • Flu-like symptoms improve, but then come back with fever and worse cough

For Adults

• • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or belly
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe vomiting
  • Vomiting that goes on and on
  • A high fever that is not responding to acetaminophen

So why are pregnant women more at risk?

Lower Immune System
During pregnancy, your immune system isn’t as quick to respond as it was before pregnancy. Part of this is because your body is carrying something that it considers foreign and isn’t normally part of you (in this case, your baby). Usually when this happens, the immune system wants to protect you and will do its best to fight off this foreign object. But, since your body doesn’t want to reject your baby, it naturally lowers the immune system’s ability to defend and respond. But, a lowered immune system means you’re more defenseless against illnesses like the flu.

Time Spent Around Small Children
Pregnant women often spend much time around little children. And since kids spend so much time with other kids, often get close to one another and are always putting things in their mouths, this makes them perfect carriers of germs and bacteria. These germs can eventually make their way to you. And remember, your immune system during pregnancy isn’t as tough as it is when you’re not pregnant.

Body Working Overtime
During pregnancy, especially in your second and third trimesters, you need more oxygen than before because you’re supplying it to both you and baby. Your growing belly puts more pressure on your lungs, making them work harder in a smaller space. You may even find yourself feeling some shortness of breath at times. Your heart is working very hard, too! It’s busy supplying blood to you and baby. All of this means your body is stressed during pregnancy. This stress on your body can increase your risk of getting an illness like the flu.

So there is some important information for you to digest. Be sure to protect yourself as best you can and if you think you have ANY of the symptoms, please see your doctor ASAP.

The H1N1 vaccine is not really available in my area yet and now I’m on the fence about getting it. (Have I built up natural immunity already?)

What about you? Are you getting vaccinated? Why or why not?

Meanwhile, I am crawling back into bed……can you please go and be active FOR me?  Thanks!

photo credit: giant mice kill rabbits

Tagged as: Health, Immune system, Infectious disease, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, March of Dimes, pregnancy, pregnancy and H1N1, pregnant and swine flu, Swine influenza, Vaccination