Flu in labour

[Mustang27]

Hi just a question to ask if anyone has ever given birth whilst floored with the flu. My toddler got it a few days ago and we ended up at hospital with him with suspected sepsis thankfully it was not but it is a particularly nasty strain I knew it was likely i would get it but god it's broken me as much as him. I'm 40+ weeks so labour is imminent either via induction or naturally a bit sooner.

I'm also worried about the baby getting it as well, hopefully they will be getting some immunity at the mo and if breastfeeding works they get extra immunity through that.

Any advice and experience welcome. Thank you in advance.

Oh no! I had the flu jab, but I did have a very heavy cold when I gave birth 3 weeks ago (my white bloods cells were very raised when they came to discharge me!). I have to say it was manageable, I think your body does rally and baby cake a bit late - I think to allow me to recover as much as possible. Gas and air with a stuffed nose wasn’t ideal and the sneezing/coughing afterwards with stitches was probably the worst part.

I had mine back in October im asthmatic so tend to get it due to a couple of years where I had to end up on steroids due to chest infections at about Christmas.

That's sounds dreadful and yeah I had stitches last time so I'm not holding out hope to avoid them this time.

Let's hope it does rally, so glad you managed. Hope you are feeling much better and congratulations on your new addition.

I didn't have it in labour but we did all get swine flu when dd was a newborn. I have to say we all ended up very ill, including toddler ds with pneumonia EXCEPT for dd who got a bit of a cough but otherwise was fine!

I had flu whilst I had DS1. I was an idiot and never went for the flu jab. My chest hurt so badly that I couldn't inhale the gas and air. I had a pool birth which helped a lot...I felt like I was wallowing in a warm bath (which I do a lot of I'm ill)!

Im 37 weeks today, head was engaged at last appt. I did have the flu jab but husband was told he had the flu n Sat he was prescribed tamiflu but managed to pass it onto my 5 year old and yep youve guessed it...hes now passed it to me 😣. Terrified about going into labour feeling so run down & tired. Can a cold/flu bring labour on, im just thinking all the coughing etc acting as pushing 🙈

Naz19 it's done nothing for me in that front still pregnant. Been bloody awful been totally deaf in one ear for a week cough feels like I'm being punched from the inside, just ache everywhere and the mucus good god 😷🤧. I really hope you and your family feel better soon it's not fun.

Ohbergine im hoping for a pool birth that way I can hope that it helps me cough less and breath a bit easier.

Haudy that sounds utterly horrible hope you all made a full recover, pneumonia your poor wee boy.