Pregnant

Pregnancy and 2009 H1N1 Flu: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby

Pregnant women can get seriously ill with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). Learn how to protect yourself and your baby and what to do if you have symptoms of the flu.

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, 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 can die from 2009 H1N1 flu. To protect yourself and your baby, make sure to get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot.

If you are pregnant and have flu symptoms, call your doctor right away. Treatment should begin as soon as possible. Treatment works best when started early (within 48 hours after symptoms start).

Read more about the 2009 H1N1 Influenza and Pregnant Women

• What Should Pregnant Women Know About 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?
• 2009 H1N1 Influenza Shots and Pregnant Women: Questions and Answers for Patients
• Protect Yourself and Others
• What to do if You Have Symptoms of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
• Treatment during Pregnancy
• Feeding Your New Baby
• Pregnant Women at Higher Risk of Flu at Work

Flu Shots and Pregnant Women

Pregnant women should get both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot because they can get seriously ill from any type of flu. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"—a vaccine made with killed flu virus. This one is given with a needle, usually in the arm. Both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu shots are "killed" vaccines, so you cannot catch the flu from getting these shots. The other type of flu vaccine—a nasal spray—is not approved for pregnant women.

There is no evidence that thimerosal (a mercury preservative in vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about thimerosal during pregnancy, vaccine companies are making preservative-free seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC advises pregnant women to get flu shots either with or without thimerosal.

• Learn more about the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine and pregnant women

Protect Yourself and Others

Take these everyday steps to protect your health

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, call your doctor. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without using a fever-reducing medicine like Tylenol®) except to get medical care or for other critical needs. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick.
• Read more about What Should Pregnant Women Know About 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?

*Read information on hand sanitizers

What to do if you have Symptoms of Flu

If a pregnant woman thinks she has flu, she should call her doctor right away. If needed, he or she will prescribe an antiviral medicine that treats the flu. The medicine is most helpful if it is started soon (within the first 48 hours) after the pregnant woman becomes sick. If lab testing for flu was done, treatment should not wait for test results to come back. Start treatment right away.

Talk with your doctor about how to reach him or her quickly by telephone if you think you have the flu.

Call your doctor immediately if you think you have any of these symptoms.

• fever **
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

**Not everyone with flu will have a fever.

• Learn how flu spreads and how to care for your family
• Read general information about 2009 H1N1 Flu and how other family members can protect themselves

Treatment during Pregnancy

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) can be used to treat 2009 H1N1 flu. To get these medicines, a doctor needs to write a prescription. These medicines fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious health problems that can result from flu illness. At this time, Tamiflu® is the best medicine to treat pregnant women who have 2009 H1N1 flu.

Fever should be treated right away. It can cause problems for the pregnant woman and her unborn child. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is best for a pregnant woman to use to lower a fever.

Is it safe for me to take antiviral medicines for flu while I am pregnant?

The flu can cause severe illness and even death in pregnant women. Taking antiviral medicines can help prevent these severe outcomes. At this time, there are no studies suggesting harm to a pregnant woman or her unborn baby if she takes antiviral medicines. Being pregnant should not stop women from using antiviral medicines if their doctor advises them to take the medicine. Antiviral medicines can be taken at any stage during pregnancy. Take the medicine your doctor prescribes.

• Questions and Answers for Pregnant Women on Antiviral Recommendations

Feeding Your New Baby

If you can, breastfeed. Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. There are many ways that breastfeeding and breast milk protect your baby’s health. Babies who are breastfed get sick from infections like the flu less often and less severely than babies who are not breastfed. Flu can be very serious in young babies. You do not have to stop breastfeeding if you have the flu.
If you are sick with the flu, certain precautions can be taken to protect your baby.

• Learn more about feeding your baby while you are sick

Pregnant Women who work in Schools, Child Care or Health Care

Pregnant women who work in schools, child care and health care are at higher risk for being exposed to the flu. Certain precautions can be taken to reduce this risk.

• Information for pregnant women more likely to be exposed at work

Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby

• Get your flu shots — pregnant women will need both the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot.

• Take everyday precautions.

• If you have been exposed to someone who likely had the flu, call your doctor.

• If you start to feel sick, call your doctor right away. Take the medicines your doctor prescribes.

• Plan to breastfeed as soon as your baby is born.

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