What Pregnant Women Should Know About H1N1 (formerly called swine flu)
Virus
What
if I get this new virus and I am pregnant?
We don't know if
this virus will cause pregnant women to have a greater chance of getting
sick or have serious problems. We also do not know how this virus will
affect the baby. We do know that pregnant women are more likely to get
sick than others and have more serious problems with seasonal flu. These
problems may include early labor or severe pneumonia. We don't know if
this virus will do the same, but it should be taken very seriously.
What can I do to
protect myself, my baby and my family?
Take these everyday steps to help prevent the spread of germs and protect
your health:
Cover your nose
and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or sneeze into your
sleeve. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands
often with soap and warm water especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based gel hand cleaners are also good to use.
Avoid touching
your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close
contact with sick people. (If you are pregnant and you live or have close
contact with someone who has H1N1 flu, talk to your doctor about
medicines to prevent flu.)
Have a plan to
care for sick family members.
Stock up on
household, health, and emergency supplies, such as water, TylenolŽ,
non-perishable foods.
Washing your hands
often will help protect you from germs.
Washing with soap
and water: Use warm water. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds.
Using
alcohol-based gel hand cleaner: Don't add water. Rub the gel on your
hands until dry.
What are the
symptoms of H1N1?
Symptoms are like seasonal flu and include the following:
Sometimes,
diarrhea and vomiting
What should I do
if I get sick?
If there is H1N1
flu in your community pay extra attention to your body and how you are
feeling.
If you get sick
with flu-like symptoms, stay home, limit contact with others, and call
your doctor. Your doctor will decide if testing or treatment is needed.
Tests may include a nasal swab which is best to do within the first 4-5
days of getting sick. Like regular flu, H1N1 flu may make other medical
problems worse.
If you are alone
at any time, have someone check in with you often if you are feeling ill.
This is always a good idea.
If you have close
contact with someone who has H1N1 flu or is being treated for exposure to
H1N1 flu, contact your doctor to discuss whether you need treatment to
reduce your chances of getting the flu.
Treat any fever
right away. TylenolŽ (acetaminophen) is the best treatment of fever in
pregnancy.
Drink plenty of
fluids to replace those you lose when you are sick.
Your doctor will
decide if you need antiviral drugs such as TamifluŽ (oseltamivir) or
RelenzaŽ (zanamivir). Antiviral drugs are prescription pills, liquids or
inhalers that fight against the flu by keeping the germs from growing in
your body. These medicines can make you feel better faster and make your
symptoms milder.
These medicines
work best when started soon after symptoms begin (within two [2] days),
but they may also be given to very sick or high risk people (like
pregnant women) even after 48 hours. Antiviral treatment is taken for 5
days.
TamifluŽ and
RelenzaŽ are also used to prevent H1N1 flu and are taken for 10 days.
There is little
information about the effect of antiviral drugs in pregnant women or
their babies, but no serious side effects have been reported. If you do
think you have had a side effect to antiviral drugs, call your doctor
right away.
When should I get
emergency medical care?
If you have any of these signs, seek emergency medical care
right away:
Difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure
in the chest or abdomen
Severe or
persistent vomiting
Decreased or no
movement of your baby
A high fever that
is not responding to TylenolŽ
How should I
feed my baby?
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.
Breastfeeding protects babies. Breast milk passes on
antibodies from the mother to a baby. Antibodies help fight off
infection.
Is it ok to
breastfeed my baby if I am sick?
A mother's milk is
made to fight diseases in her baby. This is really important in young
babies when their immune system is still growing.
Do not stop
breastfeeding if you are ill. Breastfeed early and often. Limit formula
feeds if you can. This will help protect your baby from infection.
Be careful not to
cough or sneeze in the baby's face, wash your hands often with soap and
water.
Your doctor might
ask you to wear a mask to keep from spreading this new virus to your
baby.
If you are too
sick to breastfeed, pump and have someone give the expressed milk to your
baby.
Is it OK to take
medicine to treat or prevent H1N1 flu while breastfeeding?
Yes. Mothers who
are breastfeeding can continue to nurse their babies while being treated
for the flu.
The content above
was provided directly from the CDC website. This information should
be used as a guideline. If you suspect that you or a family member
has swine flu, please contact our office or your primary
care provider for appropriate medical treatment.
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