Worrying too much?

[DecaffTastesWeird]

Bear with me please as I am pregnant with my first baby and don't know if maybe the hormones are making me more anxious than I usually would be. I also realise how selfish it is to be fixating on this when the situation is horrific and very real for thousands in W Africa, however anxiety is getting the better of me.

I am a few weeks away from starting my mat leave (I am office based). Before I go, I have a few co-workers returning from and some external delegates visiting from Nigeria. I am a little bit worried about Ebola, especially as my immune system isn't up to much being pregnant and also because of the higher mortality rates in pregnant women. Am I being completely irrational? Would you be worried?

Yes I would be worried in your situation. Your fears are individual but that doesnt make them real to you.

The only advice that I can take is to take sensible precautions. Wash hands etc as you would if it was flu.

*any less real to you.

Pregnancy definitely makes you worry more - it makes sense that you become more protective.

I wouldn't worry about people coming from Nigeria. They haven't had a case there since the 8th September. They aren't going to be a threat to you at all.

Ebola aside, I would check whether you need a flu jab. I think it's really important to protect yourself from flu and I'm fairly sure it is recommended for those in pregnancy.

Worrying about a disease which, if you catch it, is normal.

But you are not going to catch it from people visiting from now-Ebola-free Nigeria.

What you can do is help contain the spread of the disease by donating to any if the front-line organisations working in the affected areas.

Sorry, missed a few words: "Worrying about a disease which, if you catch it is likely to kill you, is normal"

Unless you're planning on touching their body fluids you should be fine.
Just try to remember the only people who have become sick outside of Africa so far are those who have been caring for ebola patients.

Thanks all.

Yep, I have had my flu jab. I also make regular donations to British Red Cross & MSF.