Swine Flu in Pregnancy: Worries Justified
It seems that Federal health officials have vastly underestimated the amount of H1N1 (swine flu) flu vaccine to be distributed. Although there were originally supposed to be 40 million doses of the vaccine available by the end of this month, as of October 26, 2009, not even half of the predicted amounts were available. Obviously, this is not good news for pregnant women as they are one of the groups most in need of the vaccine. The H1N1 virus is even more dangerous for pregnant women. The CDC announced that pregnant women are four times more likely to be hospitalized for complications from swine flu.
Regardless of the seriousness of the issue, a new survey indicates that just 25% of pregnant women are planning on getting the swine flu shot, despite recommendations to do so. Also indicated in the study is that about half of pregnant women with children under two years of age plan to get the regular flu shot which is up considerably from last year.
Pregnancy quells the immune system and as the child develops lung capacity the virus can severely inhibit the room needed for the organs to expand, affecting breathing ability.
A 27 year old woman from South Florida, Aubrey Opdyke, nearly died from contracting the virus recently. She was six months pregnant when she came in contact with the virus and spent the remainder of her pregnancy fighting for her life in an intensive care unit. She suffered from collapsed lungs, kidney failure, seizures, and had to spend five weeks in a drug-induced coma. High-pressure ventilation blew her up like a huge balloon until “she looked like she weighed 400 pounds,” her husband, Bryan, said, and she has stretch marks from her neck to her ankles. Her muscles and lungs are still so weak that she uses a walker.
The gravity of the situation intensified when her husband was faced with a horrible decision: save his wife or his unborn child. Their child was delivered via emergency caesarean section and weighed in at only 2 pounds 3 ounces. Devastatingly, the little girl only survived for seven minutes.
So far throughout the swine flu pandemic, about 100 pregnant women have been admitted into ICUs throughout the United States due to complications arising from contact with the virus. Out of those 100 expectant women admitted, 28 have died.
Pregnancy is the most wonderful and difficult experience a woman will ever endure. Being pregnant during a pandemic just adds onto the list of worries expectant mothers have today. This is why it is beyond urgent for the H1N1 vaccine to be made available to any pregnant woman as soon as possible.
Tips for Pregnant Women
- Get the vaccine.
- Avoid crowds or places where there are many people.
- Wipe down grocery cart handles with anti-bacterial wipes and bathroom door handles (away from home).
- Use hand sanitizer and frequently.
- Wear a face mask when in a Doctor’s office, even your OB.
For additional info on swine flu and pregnancy, go here.
