Ok i am a nurse and just got called to say one of the ladies i look after had whooping cough, she appears asymptomatic however her last carer has contracted it. Is there any risk to my baby if i do catch whooping cough??
I got whooping cough at about 17 weeks. It was one of the most horrible things ever. I was assured that as long as my baby is inside me she will be ok. If however i had her while i had it thats a different story.
I would get tested asap if i were you, coz there is medication you can take. i hope you havent got it tho, its terrible.
the only thing they can do now really is send you off to get the throat/nose swabs. the take blood as well, but my doc said the virus is in the nose/throat swab.
how are you feeling?
I have no idea where i got mine from, but i was fine and then one day woke up coughing, and had one of those annoying itchy coughs that wouldnt go away, i couldnt even talk without coughing within a few days it becamse sooo flemy (TMI i know sorry ) thta i was choking on it but i wasnt diagnosed with it for like 2 weeks i was at the doctors every 2 or 3 days (my reg doc was away) telling them that something was wrong with me, and it wasnt just a chest infection or a throat infection. One of the docs said it might be whooping cough and gave me a referal, then when i went back the next day to try n get something to stop the flem 9it was a dif doc) he told me its not whooping cough and not to bother being tested, but i went against him and got tested anyway, my theory was i may as well do it even just to rule it out. but it turned out it was WC and my doc was VERY annoyed with the other doctor for telling me not to bother being tested lol.
The baby will be far safer in your womb than outside - if you were to contract WC.
How long ago did you see the lady with WC? Its likely that if you have not contracted it by now, your immunity is strong and you will be fine. Being a nurse I would expect that your immune system has been exposed to various bugs which works in your favour.
The best thing you can do to decrease the liklihood of contracting this or any other infection during pregnancy is to keep your nutrition to an optimum, take a good probiotic supplement and additional vit C, (ie freshly squeezed lemon), drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest (sleep!).
And try not to stress - stress puts the immune system under attack.
The WC vaccine is best avoided when pregnant - as it contains adjuvants such as aluminium and formaldehyde which cross the placenta and are toxic to the baby.
i looked after her wednesday and friday! so with a 9-14 day incubation period i wont know for a while yet.
I have an ob appointment of wednesday i will ask him them and see what he thinks?
From what I understand the main concern with a pregnant woman contracting WC is if this infection occurs in the 3rd trimester, as the fear is that it will be passed to the baby at birth.
WC immunity is not passed through the placenta to the child generally either.
So limiting the severity and most importantly the length of active infection would be crucial.
Upping your intake of vitamin C well and above the suggested intake, rest, eating properly in general and limiting your exposure to other infections if you do become infected, as JB said
Ask your doctor to test you, and test you again in a week if necessary, it is important also tht you stay away from other people during the incubaion period - especially children, babies and pregnant women - until you know whether or not you are actually infected.
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HELP- whooping cough info needed!
i hope you havent got it tho, its terrible.
within a few days it becamse sooo flemy (TMI i know sorry
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