by Cynthia Ramnarace
That's because swine flu, or H1N1 virus, hits pregnant women hard. Most people recover from the disease without any treatment. But pregnant women are more likely to develop dangerous complications that require hospital treatment. (If you catch the symptoms early, you may just need a prescription for antiviral medication.) They also have a greater risk of death from the disease than the general population, according to a study in the British medical journal The Lancet. Six pregnant women have died following an H1N1 infection, accounting for 13 percent of the 45 U.S. deaths attributed to the disease.
So how can you stay healthy this flu season? Here are five things every pregnant woman should know about swine flu:
1. It puts you and your baby at risk. "Women are at greatest risk of mortality from all flu in their third trimester," says Ron Jaekle, director of perinatal services in the division of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "That's the time you have the least ability to tolerate changes in pulmonary and cardiac function."
If you've ever been eight months pregnant and tried to race up a flight of stairs, you understand what Dr. Jaekle means. In fact, four of the six women who died after swine flu infection were in their third trimester, and all six developed pneumonia and were on respirators.
The baby can also be harmed. High fever increases the risk of birth defects and preterm birth. There also have been isolated cases where the baby contracted H1N1 while in utero. Antiviral treatment with a drug such as Tamiflu or Relenza might reduce the chances of this occurring.
2. The vaccine can protect you. The swine flu shot is not yet available, but once it is, roll up your sleeve. A federal panel has named pregnant women as one of the groups that should get the vaccination first. Currently, only 14 percent of pregnant women receive the regular seasonal flu shot, despite the fact that it's recommended by the CDC. Fears that the vaccine will affect the baby are unfounded, Dr. Jaekle says. "The traditional flu vaccine has been shown to be very safe in pregnancy," he says.
3. Go on the offensive. Wash your hands regularly and use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Avoid shaking hands, and try not to touch your nose, as this is a common way that the virus enters the body. Masks are unnecessary and probably won't afford you much protection anyway, says the CDC. If someone you are in close contact with contracts swine flu, the CDC recommends pregnant women receive a 10-day course of antiviral medication as a preventative measure.
4. See your doctor if you feel ill. Swine flu has a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and in some people, vomiting and diarrhea. If you develop any of these, don't wait to see if they go away. When administered within the first 48 hours of illness, antivirals can help women recover more quickly and make the illness less severe. None of the six pregnant women who died received antivirals early enough in the infection to effectively fight the illness.
5. Don't panic. The good news is that the medications work. A 35-year-old woman who was 32 weeks pregnant when she developed swine flu fully recovered after receiving antiviral treatment within 24 hours of first feeling ill. And while there have been 43,000 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S., there have only been 45 deaths in total. Most of those people recovered fully without any medical treatment.
"I would tell women not to be panicked," says Dr. Elliot Philipson, director of the OB/GYN residency program at The Cleveland Clinic. "If you're coughing, if you have a fever, see your doctor. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Wash your hands. These things may reduce your risk of illness."
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