the flu

[puppies]

Holly,
It was only 2 weeks ago that my MIL decided that she would still have us over for dinner even though she suspected she was coming down with the flu. Needless to say the next day I came down with it and I am not only upset and distressed I was angry for the lack of thought they had given me considering my delicate condition.
It is very hard to cope when your pregnant with the flu. I really struggled and knowing I couldn't take anything was making me stress more. I kept an eye on my temperature a few times a day and kept eating and drinking plenty. I know this sound yuck but every tim I blew my nose I checked the color and was relieved each time it was clear as I really wanted to avoid antibiotics even the ones that are supposed to be safe in pregnancy.
I am still coughing but thank fully it has almost gone and to be honest I am still very cautious about being near anyone who even sneezes in my direction.

My advice is sent him to sleep in the other room. Avoid any kissing near the mouth. Make sure he coughs or sneezes into a tissue when he is at home or driving the car. If it means you go through 3 boxes of tissues like I did then so be it. Try as best as you can to avoid this flu cause its a good one!

Good luck and yes if you get a temp of 38.5 and over for more than 24 hours your baby is at risk. So stack up on the Panadol. Otherwise I have been assured that the rest of the symptoms of the flu will not affect your bubs. I thought with all the coughing I was doing that bump would for sure have been affected but because they are in all that fluid they are pretty well protected.

Good luck and I really hope your DH gets over it quickly and you and DD can avoid it!

[satya]

As far as I know the only thing that can harm a fetus when mum has the flu is a high fever. So if you keep any temps under control you should be OK. Fevers in pregnant women have been recently linked to the adult children having mental illness. It was probably only one study that had those findings, but it certainly is interesting.

Our household just had the virus doing the rounds of Melbourne at the moment and it wasn't nice. I'd sleep in another room just to be safe.