the flu

[2CheekyMonkeys]

my Dh is coming down with the flu he thinks. its more than just the common cold cause he has sore muscles and joints, chills etc. i am worried that a)DD will catch it off him and b)i will catch it off him. i know that at times (and depending on the strain of flu) it can lead to really serious complications and even death.

just wondering how bad is it to catch the flu while pregnant (aside from getting the complications.)

does having a temperature affect the baby?

should i send him to sleep in the other room or something?

[black_rose]

I have just gotten over the flu, I am 8 weeks so just a bit behind you. Bubs is safe and sound, no problems there but being pregnant all you can take is panadol to keep the fever and aches under control. so it would be best to avoid getting it if you can as it hasn't been much fun for me. DH keeps bragging that he is coping better than me but he was able to take the cold and flu tablets!

Oh and our DD got it to, she coped ok, just wanted lots of cuddles and she slept lots.

[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.

[Toomanytoomany]

my Dh is coming down with the flu he thinks. its more than just the common cold cause he has sore muscles and joints, chills etc. i am worried that a)DD will catch it off him and b)i will catch it off him. i know that at times (and depending on the strain of flu) it can lead to really serious complications and even death.

just wondering how bad is it to catch the flu while pregnant (aside from getting the complications.)

does having a temperature affect the baby?

should i send him to sleep in the other room or something?

Hollo, after the other night having dh cough in my face all night (I banished him to the couch the following night!) I caught the flu off him.

HIgh protracted fevers *can* be a slight risk factor for some problems in early pregnancy. There is no evidence i could find of flu causing miscarriage without a high fever.

I have been taking paracetamol all week to the allowable dose to keep my fever down. The doctor wasn't terribly concerned when I saw him for a medical certificate today.

[Nadine216]

I am currently suffering through my THIRD!!!!! flu for this pg I HATE it. It can't harm your unborn baby, but it taps your energy and makes you even more "hormonal" than usual. I've been crying on and off this morning and tbh panadol just don't do it for me, I have a monster headache.

I agree with the other girls, just watch your temp and keep up your fluid intake. Get LOADS of rest!!!

Oh yeah, and if he thinks he's coming down with the flu ... it's already to late for him to sleep in another room Those pesky germs and virussus LOVE to fly around the house even before you know they are there. Take some preggie vites and give dd some extra vites also and just pray the strain are weak and stay with your hubby

Goodluck and Good health!!