What if you get swine flu while pregnant?
Pregnant women are more likely to get sick than others, because pregnancy weaken the immune system. This may put them at particular risk of swine flu – they already tend to suffer from more serious problems with seasonal flu. These problems may include early labor or severe pneumonia.
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, fever reducers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), and non-perishable foods.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs but it’s important to do it properly. Use warm water and rub the soap into your hands for 15 to 20 seconds. If you are using hand sanitizer gel, be sure to selcet one that is alcohol based as it is more effective at killing germs.
What are the symptoms of H1N1?
The symptoms of swine flue are like those of seasonal flu and include the following:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Chills and fatigue
- 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 four to five 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. If you have been in 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.
How is H1N1 flu treated?
Treat any fever right away, as overheating in pregnancy can be harmful to your unborn baby. Acetaminophen is safe to use in pregnancy, but avoid ibuprofen. Drink plenty of fluids to replace those you lose when you are sick.
Your doctor will decide if you need antiviral drugs, which can make you feel better faster and make your symptoms milder. These medicines work best when started soon after symptoms begin (within two days), but they may also be given to very sick or high risk people (like pregnant women) even after 48 hours. Antiviral treatment is typically taken for five 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
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Decreased or no movement of your baby
- A high fever that is not responding to acetaminophen.
How should I feed my baby?
If you have already had your baby, keep in mind that 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, so
don’t stop breastfeeding if you’re ill. If you feel to unwell to breastfed, express your breast milk and have your partner feed it to your baby via a bottle.
Be careful not to cough or sneeze in your baby’s face if you have swine flu or seasonal flu, and wash your hands often with soap and water. Your pediatrician might suggest that you wear a mask to keep from spreading the virus to your baby.
Is it OK to take medicine to treat or prevent H1N1 flu while breastfeeding?
Yes – moms who are breastfeeding can continue to nurse their babies while being treated for the flu.