Colds and other bugs one after the other...

[Mintie190]

Hello, feeling very sorry for myself so warning that my post is a bit pathetic.

I?m sick of being sick. I?m currently 28 weeks so past the morning sickness phase and it?s now just one cold or stomach bug after the other. Before Christmas I was really ill with one of the worst colds I have ever had, possibly the flu, and then had a large bleed and ended up in hospital for 2 nights (that was when I was 22 weeks). The NHS Dr didn?t think the bleed was related to the flu but I went to see a private obstetrician and he thought it could definitely be (there was no other explanation for the bleed and I have had none before it or since ? FX!!). Last week, I picked up a stomach bug and was violently ill for 6 hours. This week I have yet another cold. I only got over my pre-Christmas cold by taking antibiotics after it not going away for 5 weeks and being at risk of pneumonia. I really want to avoid having to take them again. But it feels like I am just on a continuous cycle of cold then stomach bug then another cold.

What can I do to ward off more illness? I take a pregnancy vitamin and my diet is pretty good. It?s complicated by the fact that my DD is 18 months and at nursery so picks up all the bugs there. In my last pregnancy with her which was at a similar time of year, I didn?t have any illness. I work 4 days a week in a job which can be quite stressful although feeling like a fraud at the moment sitting at my desk pretending to work when all I want to do is be in bed resting my snotty head. I will start maternity leave around 35 weeks as I feel I need more time to prepare for the birth this time around.

Any ideas appreciated.

I've had three colds this winter so far! I've become obsessive with cleaning my hands and using anti bacterial gel at work as there is always something going around, and I've noticed how disgusting some people can be!

I've had two random days of vomiting since my ms stopped, so not sure if they were a bug or just one of those things.

My immune system was pretty damn good before I got pregnant and could miss various rounds of colds no problem. Now I'm continually waiting for the inevitable! :(

The bugs this winter seem to have been much worse than I remember in other years. I have not had a stomach bug but have had cold after cold, as has DD and DH. I also work in a pharmacy so get a lot of contact there too. The most recent cold also brought conjunctivitis, which is still a problem after 2 weeks and 2 different drops from the doc. Virtually every customer I see has got this cold with conjunctivitis, and then handling the money etc... I am not really surprised I am ill! I am 19 weeks and hoping it all clears off soon. With DD I had no illness at all during pg, so she is getting much of the blame bringing it all home from preschool lol!

Have you been offered the flu jab yet? If so, take it, and if not, ask for it (you should be offered it free during pregnancy). I am pregnant and have a preschooler, a school age child and run a toddler group so figured it would make sense to get the jab-best thing I ever did-it hasn't totally prevented me catching colds, but it has meant I've suffered only very mildly.

Antibacterial wash - that's a good idea, thank you. I shall get some of the gel you can carry around and apply it after I drop her off at nursery. Just had an email to say that they have had a case of chicken pox reported in her room - at least I have had that!

I am finding this pregnancy so much harder than my first. And am much, much bigger this time around. I am only 5ft 1 so the baby has nowhere to go other than outwards.

I am so grateful to be having another child but this pregnancy is tough going!

And yes I have had my flu jab (I think when I was about 13 weeks) but it doesn't seem to have offered me much protection this time around. I will be getting the whooping cough one soon too.

if you want to avoid the stomach bugs - make sure you wash your hands before eating or touching your face or eyes. The antibac gels do not kill Norovirus, only bleach or vigourous handwashing will do it.

Same thing here. Pregnancy 1, no illness (apart from maybe one or two colds that I'd usually get anyway). Pregnancy 2, with 20mo toddler at nursery: I'm like a walking petri dish.

What we do (which seems to have worked so far unless it's just random) is lots of handwashing. Washing DSs hands a lot as well. No sharing of cutlery/cups etc between me and DS.