Flu- what do I do?

[Sleeplessem]

Hiya,

I’ve got the flu, high temp, aches the whole 9 yards. I’ve just looked on nhs website and it says it’s linked to low birth weight and my previous baby was low birth weight so I’m terrified that this will happen again.

The symptoms have just come on today and the nhs website says your GP can prescribe meds to lessen the complications but my GP is refusing. What should I do?

Is it just the catching of the flu that can cause low birth weight or is it the complications like landing in hospital etc?

How many weeks are you? I think it is only a major factor in first trimester.

Definitely contact GP/Midwife and see what they recommend but try not to panic

In the meantime, tons of fluids, rest and paracetamol to bring temp down x

Hi OP, I’m sorry you’re so ill. Without being rude- how do you know it’s flu and not another virus/coronavirus?

If your GP is being an arse and not bothered then phone 111 and they might get you to see an out of hours GP tonight or book you in at a walk in centre.

Do mention what you said here though.
Obviously, they will want to rule out COVID too.

Hope you feel better soon x

@Amz6219 im 15 weeks, my concern is not only can I not get hold of anyone but the low birth weight complications, it terrifies me as it happened before. It was so scary going through that and I’ve been trying my best to not let it happen again. I had severe anxiety first time around and the flu in the first trimester and struggled to eat so I’ve really been working on myself. I also had an appendicitis last week too 😭

@Greenmarmalade not being rude at all, I’ve taken a lateral flow covid test this morning and it was negative. I also don’t really have a persistent cough. But I do have aches, sore throat, fever and general lethargy which seems pretty fluey to me xx

Paeacetamol, sleep and plenty of fluid.
Let your immune system do it's job.

Paracetamol

The lateral flow tests aren’t supposed to be accurate if you have symptoms, so I would definitely book yourself a test.

That being said, there is a horrible virus going round. We’ve had it for the past two weeks & have had negative tests.

As others have said, paracetamol, fluids and lots of rest. Speak to your midwife rather than your GP.

Firstly get a pcr test organised.
Secondly there is very little that you can do for a virus apart from drink plenty, rest and take paracetamol as needed.

Low birth weight isn’t always a problem. One of mine was under 4lb something and didn’t need any intervention. So try not to assume the worst, hard as that is.

@MaverickDanger lateral flow are the 30 min tests right? I’d done one a few days ago before being symptomatic would that put me in the clear?

I tried to call the community midwives office and they said it’s not a pregnancy concern so they can’t help

@Greenmarmalade it was the psychological impact it had, people would always pass comment on how small my little girl was and they still do, I also got blamed a lot for her size and it was part of the reason I developed severe PND

I would isolate and get a proper test by phoning up for one.

You need to get a PCR. They are a lot more reliable than the LFT, and you have one of the symptoms that requires that you get one or self isolate for 10 days if not.

If you don't get a negative PCR, then if you do get complications that require hospital, then they'd need to treat you in the red zone as a possible Covid case until your test result came through.

You need a PCR test, asap.

You were blamed? That’s awful. My tiny baby is now as tall as me as a young teenager!

I can imagine it’s all fuelling your anxiety- I’m sorry you’re going through this.

@Greenmarmalade my mother was viscous with it and to this day my husband throws it in my face in arguments. I stayed inside until she was 5 months old as I couldn’t face the comments I’d get from people about how small she was and what’s wrong with her

I’m calling up for a covid test appointment but they don’t have anymore for today, so will have to be tomorrow.

I don’t have a new or continuing cough nor have lost my sense of taste or smell, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign

@Sleeplessem I’m horrified that your husband and mum do that to you. How does he throw it in your face? Why does he seem to think it’s your fault?

You can order a postal test

@Greenmarmalade I’ve got a test booked for tomorrow at 10am, soonest appointment they had local. Covid is worse than the bloody flu so I really pray to god that I don’t have it.

I’m hopeful I don’t as hubby and LG had these symptoms first and had the pcr test 3 days ago and are negative.

My mother would make all sorts of comments ‘well yes you starved yourself when you were pregnant’ ‘ you didn’t eat and that’s why she’s so frail now’ ‘ it’s perverse how small she is, you were 8.5kg at 6 months and she’s less than that at a year’ she’d also make comments about how ‘well’ my cousin did having twins and them both being above 6lbs. Really made me feel like dirt.

Hubby would say it’s your fault she was small, she also had a nasty tongue tie at birth and I really struggled with breastfeeding and he’d turn around and say I couldn’t even feed her properly

@Greenmarmalade my anxiety was very very high in my last pregnancy and that’s linked to low birth weight, I had quite a few scares. My dating scan they advised me to terminate for ‘fetal hydrops’ when there was nothing wrong and it just left me with basically ptsd. I had a tough time at work too as my manager didn’t like the fact I was pregnant so actively tried his best to make my life difficult. Long story less long, I was just a nervous wreck and I had no one to talk to, it really affected my appetite too. I referred myself to mental health services but they refused to see me to an admin error, so the wait was over a year. I tried to talk to hubby but he’d just get angry and start shouting. He thinks that I should have been able to control myself

OP, your husband sounds abusive. I know there are good people on here to advise in the relationships board. What is he like in all other aspects? I’m worried about you.

2 of my children have had tongue tie too- I don’t hold myself responsible, these are just normal challenges that can’t and shouldn’t be blamed on the mother.

Do you have any counseling or therapy?

@MaverickDanger

The lateral flow tests aren’t supposed to be accurate if you have symptoms, so I would definitely book yourself a test.

That being said, there is a horrible virus going round. We’ve had it for the past two weeks & have had negative tests.

As others have said, paracetamol, fluids and lots of rest. Speak to your midwife rather than your GP.

Ooh really? I've been laid up for 5 days with flu (definitely flu and not just a cold) - was convinced it was Covid snd have been really poorly - didn't know it was doing the rounds and not entirely sure where I'd have picked it up from!

Sorry op I realise my response wasn't helpful to you!
I had very severe flu when pregnant eith my second. He was slightly smaller than my first but only by 2 oz, but I make small babies anyway - 5lb12oz, 5lb10oz and 6lb 1oz.

Try to get as much rest as you can, is there only thing I can suggest.

This isn’t his day to day behaviour, in an argument he’ll say things in the heat of the moment. He’s not like this regularly. I tend to be very hard on myself so I think that’s why I took those comments to heart. I’d never known anyone with a small baby either so i felt like the biggest failure. Mental health wise he’s not the most understanding, it’s a cultural thing for sure (south Asian) with anxiety he sometimes just sees red.

I was due to have some counselling on pnd but due to covid it all got cancelled and when services opened up again my baby was over 1 so they couldn’t see me anymore. They were meant to arrange follow up with a psychologist (around my abusive childhood and ptsd) but nothing came of it, I chased and sent emails and texts and was never replied too. I referred myself to mental health services again this pregnancy my first appointment is next week.