Some pregnant women can become quite sick with flu. During flu season it is best to take precautions to protect yourself.
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Precautions include:
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- cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in a plastic-lined rubbish bin after you use it.
- regular hand washing with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze and before meals. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- if you have the influenza, you should avoid public places and close contact with others, especially children.
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It is also important that your family take the same precautions.
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Flu vaccination
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In your second or third trimester, it is quite safe to have a flu vaccination. This will protect you from a range of flu viruses.
At the time of writing, there is no vaccination for H1N1 (swine) flu.
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If you have flu-like symptoms
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If you develop a flu-like illness you should visit your General Practitioner (GP). Other than managing your symptoms (such as headache, fever and cough) there is generally no treatment for seasonal flu. The GP may wish to examine you for other symptoms, as well as making sure that you and your baby are otherwise well.
At the time of writing, if your GP suspects that you may have H1N1 (swine) flu they may also wish to prescribe antiviral medications (such as Relenza or Tamiflu). This is to manage the spread of that particular virus.
GPs are no longer required to test everyone with flu-like symptoms for H1N1. However, because you are pregnant your doctor may decide to test you. This will involve collecting a nose and throat swab to look for the virus. Women who are near term (>38 weeks gestation) or those with complications of their pregnancy may be admitted to the Royal Women’s Hospital.
If you are concerned about your health or your baby’s health you should contact your GP or your local hospital to discuss or to make an appointment.
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If I have flu-like symptoms should I attend my hospital appointments?
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If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, it may be best to go to your GP to be tested for H1N1 (swine) flu in advance of your appointment.
If you have a confirmed case of H1N1 (swine) flu and you are due to have a pregnancy appointment at the Women’s, you should contact the hospital before you come. Unless there are medical reasons as to why you must come to the hospital, it may be more appropriate to make another appointment.
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Am I am higher risk of getting H1N1 (swine) flu while I am at the hospital?
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The risks of catching flu are right across the community. Anywhere that brings people together will bring a slightly higher risk. It will be difficult to avoid being exposed at all. At this point the government is not recommending that people are isolated.
The Women’s is continuing to provide appointments to all women in its care because it is important that we monitor your pregnancy. However we are also taking additional infection control precautions when required, to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
For general information from the hospital please call (03) 8345 2000.
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General information about how you can protect yourself and your unborn baby against H1N1 (swine) flu is also available at: http://health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/swine-influenza
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Disclaimer
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The Royal Women’s Hospital does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or use of such information or advice) which is provided in this fact sheet or incorporated into it by reference. We provide this information on the understanding that all persons accessing it take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy. Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner. If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest Emergency Dept.
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Published July 2009
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