Have any of you pregnant ladies had swine flu?

[jojochanel]

I'm 20 weeks and have been called for the vaccine and at present I'm not that up for it. If I were in my third trimester I think I'd maybe be more inclined as my pregnancy would be that bit further on but at the moment I've sort of got my fingers in my ears going 'lalalalala'.

I'm hearing one in three of us will get it (although who really knows) and as I have two boys at nursery and work in a stinky office I assume I'm in with as good a chance as anyone of getting it.

All I'm hearing about is dramatic pregnancy hospitalisations and fatalities which is really scaring me. I'm starting to count each day as another day which I've survived without it. I know I'm starting to overreact slightly so I'm looking for some reassurance. Have any of you had swine flu whilst pregnant and how it was for you in reality?

[AKMD]

I found out I was pregnant the same day I came down with swine flu - my husband refused to believe it was swine flu and thought it was all in my head! However, it was properly diagnosed. To start off with it wasn't too bad, just a thumping headache, a temperature and a runny nose, but by the end of the second day I was running to the loo every half hour, including during the night, so tired that it was an effort to lift my head from the pillow, not eating anything except dry toast and mints and being sick too. It?s hard to sort out what was pregnancy hormones and what was the flu but I?ve had a very fuss-free pregnancy since then so I would guess that all of those were flu symptoms. The worst thing was the tiredness, which knocked me out for at least a week (and then pregnancy tiredness kicked in so I was sleeping for 16 hours a day for 6 weeks). I also managed to be the first person in my very large company to get swine flu (and pass it around the department, oops) so the constant staring and whispering when I got back was a bit of a pain!

WRT the baby, it is absolutely fine. It?s your choice whether you get the vaccine or not but it sounds like it might stop you worrying about it so much!

[lucybrad]

my mother in law working in maternity and she said they are getting a few pg ladies in with swiney. She also had one of the poor ladies in that didnt make it. Her pregnant daughter has just had the jab, as have myself and my children. Its very scary, but they say in later pg (as opposed to early pg) you are much more likely to be seriously ill with it ( thats not to say you will though... not everyone will be of course).

[Freyjaz]

I had swine flu when i was 15 weeks i took the medication i was ill for a week and a half with it.it was like a bad case of the flu reallybut i survived i am now 28 weeks and will not be having the swine flu injection as i dont think u should rly tamper with ur body when pregnant. if i hadnt of been so ill with swine flu i wouldnt of taken the meds.

[lucybrad]

so you took the antiviral while pg but you wont take the vaccine

[graciem]

hi jojo, i was just about to ask the same question. im 32 wks now and petrified of swine flu although not sure whether or not to have the vaccine. i am goin to make an appointment with the gp or health visitor and discuss it b4 i decide what to do.

[Bathsheba]

I've had it - I was a strange case as I got it when I already HAD a chest infection and it made me very ill indeed.

I'm better now and I took the Relenza I was given. I'm not having the vaccine as I've had it (I was swabbed and tested so I KNOW I've had it rather than being diagnosed by tick box) so I don't need the vaccine....if I hadn;t had it I'd have the vaccine.

[Bathsheba]

Sorry, I was about 25 weeks when I got it -I'm now 30.

[jojochanel]

goof to know you've come ou the other side Ok though Bathsheba. There must be lots of ladies that do survive it right?

[jojochanel]

oops - good not goof - eating whilst typing

[ReneRusso]

I had it when I was about 8 weeks pregnant. I'm now about 20. Unfortunately it wasn't confirmed as swine flu so I am still wondering whether to have the vaccine just in case it wasn't. I was offered Relenza but didn't take it. I was quite poorly, but I had no complications. Perhaps better to have it when I did than in the 3rd trimester.

[Luxmum]

Both DS and I got it, and were swabbed to make sure. We both got a low (barely 38) 'fever'and then a wet cough for a week. By the time the swab results came back, DS was bouncing off the walls, and had been kicked back to school before I lost my mind. I took the tamiflu, and felt better for it almost instantly. I was 35 weeks gone at the time. So I was grand. But my friend, not preggers, has been laid up for a week now. Tho she catches anything, she's just the type..

[marie23]

i am 32 weeks pg and i am worried sick my daughter just today has been diagnosed with swine flu and i rung my doctors up and the first batch has been offered out to the high risk group already so am i not high risk group?? i am confused and scared?? HELP

[whensmydayoff]

Sorry to hear that marie23, you must be stressed.
Someone on another thread said it takes 5 weeks for immunity after the vaccine so it probably wouldn't help in time IF you got it.
My DH's workmate got it with 2 young children and his PG wife in the house and they didn't catch it. (it was tested properly).
Make sure your DD washes her hands constantly, uses tissues. Keep going over door, kitchen cupboard handle, the toilet flush with antibacterial wipes/cleaner.
More importantly, can anyone else help to look after her?

[Freyjaz]

I was offered relenza i took a pouch from the inhaler and didnt take anymore i wont b having the swineflu jab because relanza is used for other antivirals NOT just swine flu so it has been around longer than the jab...its the TAMIFLU that is the stuff they brought out.

[HeartOfCrystal]

I had it when i was 10 weeks, took the relenza. It took about 2weeks to clear fully, saying that i have just had pneumonia so not exaclty the picture of health lol

[catski]

Not me, but my midwife told me she had another pregnant lady on her books who got it (confirmed by swab) at 32 weeks. She didn't take any anti virals and she was fine.

marie 23 - I have been told that the vaccine takes 2 to 3 weeks to develop full immunity, so taking the vaccine now might not be all that helpful. Aren't some pregnant women being prescribed ralenza on a preventative basis though where close relatives have devloped SF? Agree with whensmydayoff that it would be good if you can get someone else to help take care of her.

[mosschops30]

please freyjaz stop posting heresay on these threads, you were really out of order on the other one with your scaremongering.
FYI Tamiflu is not new, its in the oldest BNF I have (2005) so was used then and probably before I suspect.

Alsdo the vaccine does not take 5 weeks to offer immunity. The issue over offering women the vaccine that requires two does 3 weeks apart was seen as a problem for pregnant women as they would be unprotected for that 3 week period. So I would suggest that the Pandemrix one dose vaccine (which ive had) offers protection within that 3 week window.

I had flu at 37 weeks, wasnt sure if SF as not swabbing here in Wales. I was prescribed Relenza but didnt take it as risk of bronchospasm for mne was too high. I was very scared though of it progressing as I know there have been a lot of serious ITU admissions due to SF especially in pg women.
As it was I couldnt wait to get my SF vaccination to protect myself, my baby and my children. My GP still hasnt organised clinics, I had mine in work luckily so that was an option for me.

jojo can I suggest that if you want some decent stuff on SF and vaccinations you speak to your GP, your LHB, look at reputable websites (WHO, NHS - really theyre not all out to get us) and dismiss what random people on a parenting website tell you (yes including me )

[catski]

There are some good, balanced links from reputable sources on the long thread about the vaccination (starting 'Quick Poll...'.

The other advantage with getting the vaccination is that it will give your newborn some protection for the first months of his/her life.