Swine flu-Pregnant Women

General measures to prevent swine flu

You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by:

• Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Throwing away dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and warm water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face, or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles, frequently using a normal cleaning product.

Are you pregnant and feeling unwell?

• Stay at home and call your GP, who will be able to give a diagnosis over the phone.
• If swine flu is confirmed, your GP will advise you on how to collect antiviral medication.
• Ask a healthy friend or relative to pick up the antiviral medication for you.

In the meantime, take paracetamol to reduce fever and other symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

Why pregnant women are more at risk

In pregnancy, the immune system is naturally suppressed. This means that pregnant women are more likely to catch swine flu, and if they do catch it, they are more likely to develop complications.

Don't panic: your immune system still functions and the risk of complications is very small. Most pregnant women will only have mild symptoms.

Symptoms and risks

If you are pregnant and you catch swine flu, the symptoms should be similar to those of regular flu. You will typically have a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following:

• unusual tiredness,
• headache,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• shortness of breath or cough,
• loss of appetite,
• aching muscles,
• diarrhoea or vomiting.

Most pregnant women will have only mild symptoms and recover within a week. However, there is evidence from previous flu pandemics that pregnant women are more likely to develop complications.

Possible complications are:

• pneumonia (an infection of the lungs),
• difficulty breathing, and
• dehydration.

In pregnant women, these are more likely to happen in the second and third trimester.

If a pregnant woman develops a complication of swine flu, such as pneumonia, there is a small chance this will lead to premature labour or miscarriage. There is not yet enough information to know precisely how likely these birth risks are.

It is therefore important to be well prepared and to take precautions against swine flu.

Special precautions

If you are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel and avoiding crowds where possible.

Pregnant women should also follow the general advice outlined in the box, top right. Good hygiene is essential.

If a family member or other close contact has swine flu, your doctor may prescribe you antiviral medication (usually Relenza) as a prophylactic (preventative) measure.

If you think that you may have swine flu, call your doctor for an assessment immediately. If your doctor confirms swine flu over the phone, you will be prescribed antiviral medication to take as soon as possible.

Unless you have swine flu symptoms, carry on attending your antenatal appointments to monitor the progress of your pregnancy.