What If You Get Swine Flu While Pregnant?

Pregnant females are always rightly thinking regarding the health of their growing babies, thus it’s vital to be informed regarding the current H1N1 Swine Flu regarding pregnancy issues.

Although data regarding the current H1N1 Swine Flu and pregnancy is limited, observations with traditional seasonal flu and from previous pandemics suggest that pregnant females are at higher risk for more severe complications of influenza than women who aren’t pregnant. Pregnant females with other 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 likewise because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have counseled vaccination against influenza. As of this date, there are no definitive links with issues in pregnant females thanks to flu shots, whereas there are many reports of more severe issues with pregnant females once they get the flu. For these reasons, CDC recommends that pregnant females get {both} the 2009-2010 seasonal vaccine and the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine. Of course if any issues arise from the vaccines with pregnant females, these recommendations would change during a minute. However, there’s abundant data over many years with women obtaining flu vaccines showing no harmful effects to either mother or baby. The current vaccine is being created in the same approach {as the} vaccines over the past years, thus there’s no reason for CDC to expect any problems.

Many words are written on the internet regarding causal links between thimerosal preservative (used as a preservative in some flu vaccines) and autism in the babies later born to females who received flu shots when pregnant. Thimerosal {is a} mercury containing preservative, and mercury {is a} terribly toxic {heavy} metal. Flu shots are made in two forms: single doses without preservative and multi-dose vials containing preservative. Even though there’s no proven link between thimerosal and autism, I think it is sensible to decide on the one dose vial without thimerosal if available, especially if a woman is pregnant. “CDC advises pregnant females to get flu shots either with or without thimerosal.” CDC further states that pregnant females may 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 is not counseled that pregnant females get the live nasal flu vaccine.

If a pregnant woman does in fact get the flu, she should consult her physician immediately. Tamiflu is approved to be used during pregnancy, however in fact this will and should only be used when in the care of a physician. It is much better to avoid contacting the flu in {the first} place than trying to treat it {after} the fact.

Do {you have} more queries regarding flu and pregnancy, and other help on avoiding and surviving the flu? You’ll get the answers at Flu Facts for You.