H1N1 and pregnancy

[spade22]

It is recommended that pregnant women recieve the H1N1, as well as regular, flu shot during pregnancy.  Here is quote from Dr Enoch Choi on a recent thread regarding this important topic.

"Why does CDC advise pregnant women to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza (flu) vaccine (shot)?

Getting the flu shot is the single best way to protect against the flu. It is important for a pregnant woman to receive both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu has a greater chance for serious health problems. Compared with people in general who get 2009 H1N1 flu (formerly called “swine flu”), pregnant women with 2009 H1N1 flu are more likely to be admitted to hospitals. Pregnant women are also more likely to have serious illness and death from 2009 H1N1 flu.

When a pregnant woman gets a flu shot, it can protect both her and her baby. Research has found that pregnant women who had a flu shot get sick less often with the flu than do pregnant women who did not get a flu shot.  Babies born to mothers who had a flu shot in pregnancy also get sick with flu less often than do babies whose mothers did not get a flu shot."


Here is a link to the discussion:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_chats/archive/34

[martikadragoon]

Wanted to say I had planned on getting H1N1 vaccine since I got the flushot.... but I'll find out soon if what I have now is H1N1....

and the inactive flu shots (including h1N1) do not contain live virus, HOWEVER your body can still have flu-like reactions to it. I had extreme fatigure, and sore muscles from the normal flu shot (my first ever)....

[JillyHemp316]

Juust to let everyone know, the "regular" flu shot you get every year is also new and barely tested. Every single year the "regular" flu is a new strain of the flu. So if your okay getting the regular flu shot then you should have no problems getting the H1N1 shot. The actual flu itself is more dangerous than the shot. I'm watching the news as I'm online and I just found out that a pregnant woman just died of H1N1 on the south side of Chicago. She was five months pregnant, the baby didnt survive. I have never gotten a flu shot before, but I am going to get a flu shot now that I'm pregnant, if I wasn't pregnant I wouldn't be getting the new shot. Like everyone has said, it is a personal choice that you and your significant other have to make. But I thought you should know that the "regular" flu shot is new every year, it no different. Europe gets the flu before we do, so when the get the flu we go over there and analyze the flu and then the scientists have 5 months to formulate, test, and produce the new flu shot. They do that every year! The flu is an active virus, it mutates and changes, so the vaccine for it must change. This is normal. The only difference between the H1N1 and the flu from last year is that the flu from last year has mutated and is stronger. People die from the flu every single year. This year it is just been broadcast over the television more. No difference, if you usually get a flu shot, get it like normal. If your paranoid, then think it over and make your decision as you see fit. But this is no different than any other year.

[akl_cdl]

I live in Texas and about a month and a half ago I thought I was coming down with something.  Went to the doctor they did test me for the flu but it took 5 days to get the results back because the testing center is so backed up.  There was no point in even testing me!  It was so aggrevating.  By the time my results came back saying I had the regular seasona flu A & B I was already almost over it.  Maybe that's one reason they are not testing and just treating it like the seasonal flu... but I know here they have tested some of my family members and it has came back as 2009 Novel H1N1 influenza.  As far as the stats when someone dies they need to determine the cause of death so maybe they are just testing the deceased...I'm not really sure.  I agree with you, It is up to us to make the best decision we can for ourselves and our families.  However, I really do trust my doctor...he is practically family.  Good luck to us all in any decision we make:-)

[penggal1]

Oh yeah and a few months ago when my sister inlaw thought she had it,. the ER told her they would not test for it anymore. Why the hell would that be? I was told by a nurse that it is the same as the reg Flu if you get it you do the same thing. And just relax......and stay in bed, let it pass. But i was pretty pissed they told her they were not allowed to test her for the Swine Flu, yet they are coming out with all these stats about who are dying, how would they know that if in some places they are not allowed to test, i don't know. in ny things are alittle bit more hi speed and we see things coming from a mile away when it comes to money and with out a doubt i do believe that a lot of these insurance and medical companies will profit greatly from this issue........do i think they are doing it to hurt us, no......but do i think they really think long and hard about our best interest over their dollar......sometimes no. For all we know the Swine Flu Does not exsist, and they are shooting us up with yet another drug.....I don't know. I still have more research to do, But ofcourse it is always up to you. I know you say to trust you Dr, and for the most part i do. I just think in general, it is hard to trust them when it comes to perscriptions and stuff, because i have seen first hand how they profit from these scripts, and are brain washed into thinking it is okay to perscribe, because they tell them selvs that the Patient needs it, they def justify it in their own heads, and DEF make a dollar off it. They have to make a living too, and unfortunatly Health care is really not about health care in the US it is a Corp game......sad but true, and that is why hopefully our president will change that soon. Good luck to all.

[conservativemommy]

Here's an intersting article if anyone cares to read it.  It talks about the deaths so far from H1N1 and the link that 29% of the deaths have resulted from contracting the H1N1 virus and a bacterial infection (like strep throat) at the same time.

http://origin2.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,558402,00.html?mep

[conservativemommy]

I meant Thursday of the prior week... sorry