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Concern over the swine flu may have quieted a little, but it was just last week that a pregnant Texas woman died from the disease. She was one of three deaths in the U.S. so far and we now have more than 3,000 confirmed cases (20 of those are confirmed or probable swine flu infections in pregnant Americans.)
Now, given that pregnant women -- with their weakened immune systems -- are more likely to suffer from pneumonia or dehydration when they catch the flu, health officials are urging that they be treated immediately with the antiviral drug Tamiflu.
The drug isn't normally given in pregnancy since the effects on an unborn child are unknown. But because a positive test for the H1N1 flu can take several days -- the woman in Texas entered the hospital with pneumonia five days after flu symptoms had begun -- the CDC is recommending that Tamiflu be given to any pregnant woman with flu symptoms and a history of likely contact with someone else with the swine flu.
As pregnant moms, we're always extra-concerned about our health and how it may affect the baby.
Are you worried about swine flu? If you developed any possible symptoms, would you rush to see your OB? And how would you feel about taking Tamiflu?
Comments (16)
Oh god...what a disaster. I would highly suggest any pregnant woman thinking of following this absurd advice do some research on Tamiflu first.
I'm not going and getting an injection of Tamiflu, because like you said exactly, they don't even know if it's safe for my baby. SCREW that.
They'd rather I risk getting an untested drug injected into my body, than risk MAYBE contracting a relatively minor disease? Yeah, no thanks.
The only three people in the US who have died have been two people with underlying health problems, and a toddler who was foreign and whose parents' waited until last second to take to the hospital anyway.
I thought the lady died because she had long term health problem anyway that any disease would possibly kill her/???????
baby1love, the New York Times article that I linked to in this post said the Texas woman had mild asthma and psoriasis but was relatively healthy.... And was on no known medication other than prenatal vitamins.
Tamiflu isn't safe for the average healthy adult, WHY would I allow them to give it to me and my unborn child (or anyone in my family) without a physical fight? No, I'll be staying home and only going in to see someone if it gets HORRID.
I'm not really afraid of the swine flu. I'm afraid of getting sick in pregnancy, period, because it blows. However, the swine flu is just another virus to avoid to me.
Melisa: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5281362/Swine-flu-Texas-woman-becomes-first-US-resident-to-die-from-virus.html
"The victim, who was in her 30s, had "chronic underlying health conditions" before contracting the H1N1 virus, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services."
Would they really call mild asthma something like that? I mean, they might... but I'll keep looking for more explanation.
Keeping in mind, though, that swine flu is a respiratory virus, and so something with breathing problems is obviously higher risk for complications from this specific type of virus.
The media loves to sensationalize. Asthma is a chronic health condition as is psoriasis. But there is good news here. Her baby was born and is healthy. Still a terribly sad story.
Nope. I wouldn't get Tamariflu, or anyother supposed anti viral that helps with Swine Flu. I am not worried about Swine Flu. 36, 000 people die a year in the US from the regular flu. I also don't get flu shots.
If I developed symptoms and my natural treatments didn't work. I would get checked by an OB. There are tons of natural anti-virals that are safe during pregnancy. I would go that route first.
I am not pregnant and I but I would sure have to think about it before I would take Tamiflu if I was. I have taken it before and read the disclaimer and it isn't to be taken lightly (no pun intended). I was nursing my DD at the time and I quit taking it after I read the disclaimer. I would rather be sick personally. But I don't have asthma.
True that, Melisa! Everything they say needs to be taken with a grain of salt and rationalized. And yeah, her story is really sad. Brand new baby with no mommy. :(