How to Deal with Pregnancy and Swine Flu

By Lane, on December 9th, 2009

Pregnant women are continually rightly concerned concerning the health of their growing babies, thus it is important to be informed concerning the current H1N1 Swine Flu with regard to pregnancy issues.

Though data concerning the current H1N1 Swine Flu and pregnancy is limited, observations with traditional seasonal flu and from previous pandemics counsel that pregnant women are at higher risk for more severe complications of influenza than women who are not pregnant. Pregnant women with different medical conditions like asthma or cardiovascular disease are thought at notably high risk for flu related complications. Furthermore, the viral infection and resulting high fever commonly related to influenza place developing babies at risk for complications like preterm birth and birth defects.

For these reasons, {American} {College} of Obstetricians and Gyneologists in addition as the Centers for Disease Management (CDC) have suggested vaccination against influenza. As of this date, there are no definitive links with issues in pregnant women thanks to flu shots, whereas there are various reports of a lot of severe issues with pregnant women after they get the flu. For these reasons, CDC recommends that pregnant women get {both} the 2009-2010 seasonal vaccine and the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine. After all if any issues arise from the vaccines with pregnant women, these recommendations would amendment in a minute. However, there is a lot of data over several years with women getting flu vaccines showing no harmful effects to either mother or baby. This vaccine is being created in the same method {as the} vaccines over the past years, thus there is no reason for CDC to expect any problems.

Several words are written on the internet concerning causal links between thimerosal preservative (used as a preservative in some flu vaccines) and autism in the babies later born to women who received flu shots when pregnant. Thimerosal {is a} mercury containing preservative, and mercury {is a} very toxic {heavy} metal. Flu shots come in 2 forms: single doses without preservative and multi-dose vials containing preservative. Even though there is no proven link between thimerosal and autism, I think it is smart to settle on the one dose vial without thimerosal if doable, particularly if a female is pregnant. Ã¢â‚¬Å“CDC advises pregnant women to get flu shots either with or without thimerosal.Ã¢â‚¬Â CDC additionally states that pregnant women can get the flu shots at any time during pregnancy {and that} they may get {both} the seasonal flu shot and also the H1N1 Swine Flu shot at the same time. It’s not suggested that pregnant women get the live nasal flu vaccine.

If a pregnant female does in fact get the flu, she should consult her physician immediately. Tamiflu is approved to be used during pregnancy, however in fact this could and should solely be used when in the care of a physician. It’s significantly preferable to avoid contacting the flu in {the first} place than making an attempt to treat it {after} the fact.

Do {you have} more queries concerning flu and pregnancy, in addition to different advice on avoiding and surviving the flu? You’ll get the answers at <a href=”http://www.flufactsforyou.com”>Flu Facts for You.</a>