Flu when pregnant

[Brunette28]

Hi girls it's the second day of being ill for me, and even though I've had the flu jab I've caught the flu. Just wondering whether it's worth taking a trip to the doctors or shall I just rest up and get better at home like I have been doing? I'm 35 weeks

[spacefrog35]

Do you have flu or do you have a really nasty cold? If you genuinely have flu then I believe there is a risk to your baby so you should phone and ask your GP. If you have a really bad cold then whilst you have my sympathy there is nothing the GP can do so you just need to rest.

[Brunette28]

Well I've had a blocked/runny nose And am very de congested. Also feel nauseous and have a headache. Starting to get a sore throat aswell, not feeling great

[Scoopmuckdizzy]

It's more than likely just a horrible cold. I've only ever had flu once and thought I might die.

If you're concerned though I'd go and see your GP.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

I had flu when I was pregnant and I felt so so ill. Could barely move, eat, anything. I have never ever felt so ill in my life.

If it's just a bad cold, just drink plenty of water and rest as much as possible plus paracetamol as needed.

If you feel it is flu then get an appointment with your GP. I didn't and ended up with a bad secondary chest infection that took a while to clear.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Agree with PP. Also thought I might die. And didn't care, I felt so bloody awful

[madsaz76]

important question I guess is what's your temperature?

If no raised temp then may well be a cold based on description. If temp >38 degrees then I would contact GP as current Health Protection Agency guidelines suggest treatment for pregnant women with suspected flu at this point in time

[Artioo2]

If it was me I would ring the doctor and ask their advice on whether you should go in before I booked an appointment.

[Wolfiefan]

I'm sorry but that sounds nothing like flu.
I spent three days semi comatose and hardly able to leave my bed with flu. If you're on MN I doubt you have it!

[Junosmum]

Yeah sounds like a really horrid cold. Flu is a whole body experience - shakes, sore joints, digestive issues, standing up and feeling dizzy/ fainting/ vomiting/ head swimming plus the sore throat/ bunged up/ snot monster exhaustion stuff. I had it a few years ago, was almost hospitalised, was delirious, honestly never ever felt so horrendous and asked the doctor if I was going to die, I couldn't even walk to the loo. Genuine flu is dangerous in pregnancy, a nasty cold isn't. Genuine flu can be treated with ant-viral medication (not antibiotics, they won't do anything) but anti-virals are rarely prescribed and usually only after a positive viral test.

A cold can't be treated, paracetamol (not lemsip etc) plenty of fluids and sleep sleep sleep. Sorry you feel rotten, it's just even worse in pregnancy isn't it?!

[makingmiracles]

Yep def doesn't sound like flu, as others have said above, I had flu when 7months pregnant 12yrs ago and I thought I was going to die, I couldn't move, everything hurt, I peed in a bucket by the side of the bed for 10days because I couldn't get up to go to the toilet, could barely eat etc

[Sleepybeanbump]

You have my utmost sympathy as I was poorly twice when pregnant and it was utterly grim, especially with no meds! However agree with others that doesn't sound anything like flu. I've had it twice, once worse than the other. As someone else said I wouldn't have much cared if I'd died. I cried because the pain in my joints was so bad. I lay in bed for a week.

[kd83]

The main thing either way is to keep your fluid intake up.

I got a nasty vomiting bug from my toddler when I was 10 weeks pregnant and was told by the MW there wouldnt be any impact from the bug on the baby but dehydration would so even if you cant eat, keep constantly sipping water.

[maybebabybee]

That probably isn't the flu, just a virus. Proper flu completely knocks you out to the extent getting out of bed is nigh in impossible.

[jamtartandcustard]

I think the fact you are posting on mumsnet suggests this is not flu.
I was always taught the old fashioned way of diagnosing flu: there's a £50 note on the floor - if you pick it up you have a cold. Too ill to get it then it's flu

[Everythinggettingbigger]

sounds like a horrible cold and would get to bed and rest!

I was off work last week with the bug, it seems to be doing the rounds. I had it for a good few days building up before it hit me properly, and still not completely gone now but no where near as bad as last week so unfortunately you may have it for a little longer yet!

Make sure you keep your fluid in take up, if you feel you cant keep fluids down might be a good idea to be checked out in case you are dehydrated.

[Iwonderif]

Fluids fluids and more fluids. Keep an eye on your symptoms. Sounds like a very bad cold. Which are pretty grim and when pregnant feel so much worse. I have had flu and I would have left that £50 on the floor. All I did was sleep. Never left my bed. Only woke up to stagger to loo and sip water. Hope this lifts and you feel loads better very soon. X

[madsaz76]

just to reiterate - the current Health Protection agency advice is to treat pregnant women.

Lots of people self diagnose flu when its a cold but I have also met people who are very sick but still trying to work. The £50 note argument isn't always the case. Therefore objectively I would take your temperature as I said above.

COI registered medical practitioner

[jellybelly85]

madsaz76 the HPA has not existed in England for 3 years... it was dissolved in 2013. Health protection teams have been absorbed by Public Health England. Just FYI.

This website helpfully explains the difference i symptoms between colds and flu www.nhs.uk/Livewell/coldsandflu/Pages/Isitacoldorflu.aspx hope you feel better soon, OP!

[madsaz76]

Makes no difference still send us protocols out to follow

I am merely quoting that rather than telling the op she can't have flu as she is well enough to be on here

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Of course you can be on MN and have flu


OP, how are you?