Pregnant Women & New Moms
Pregnant women and new moms are more likely to be hospitalized and/or suffer complications if they catch the flu.
- Get vaccinated! Contact your doctor today to schedule your H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations.
- It is recommended that pregnant women and people caring for babies under six months of age get the H1N1 flu vaccine.
- Pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized and/or suffer serious complications if they catch the H1N1 flu.
- Take extra precautions this flu season. Avoid close contact with people who have cold or flu symptoms.
Protect yourself and your baby
Q: How can I protect myself and my baby?
A: Vaccination is your best protection. This season it is necessary to have two vaccinations, one for the seasonal flu and one for H1N1 flu. To reduce the risk of flu exposure for you and your baby, consider limiting visitors during pregnancy, birth, during pregnancy, while in the hospital, and when you return home. Also take everyday precautions:
- Practice good health habits like washing your hands regularly, covering your sneeze or cough and staying home when sick.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs from entering your body.
- Wash your hands for 15 to 20 seconds with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and warm water several times per day and use a paper towel or a personal hand towel for drying your hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who have cold or flu symptoms, such as fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Ask your doctor if you should take an antiviral medication to further reduce your risk of developing H1N1 flu.
A: Vaccination for both seasonal and H1N1 flu are highly recommended. Talk to your doctor about getting both vaccinations.
- Other family members in your home such as your spouse or children should also be vaccinated for both types of flu.
A: Pregnant women with the flu are more likely to be hospitalized and/or suffer complications if they catch the flu. Pregnant women are at risk for complications if they catch H1N1 flu. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and follow his/her recommendations to protect yourself and your baby.
If you’re exposed to the H1N1 virus
Q: What if someone in my home catches the flu?
A: If someone in your home develops flu-like symptoms have a plan to reduce your risk of exposure. This may include:
- Isolating the sick person in a single room
- Asking someone else to care for the sick person
- Having the sick person wear a mask or at least cover his or her nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing
A: Although you will want to care for your sick child, you must take extra precautions to protect yourself and your baby. Pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized and/or suffer complications if they catch the flu. If possible, isolate your sick child in another room and ask someone you trust to care for your child.
Q: What should I do if I think I may have H1N1 flu?
A: If you get sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home, limit contact with others and call your primary care doctor right away. Your doctor will decide if testing or treatment is needed. Like regular flu, H1N1 flu may make other medical problems worse.
If you catch the H1N1 virus
Q: If I get H1N1 flu, how should I treat it?
A: Ask your doctor to recommend a fever-relief medication. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is typically the best treatment of fever in pregnancy. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Ask your doctor if he/she recommends antiviral medications.
Q: Are antiviral drugs safe for my developing baby?
A: Antiviral drugs have not been tested to determine their effect in pregnant women or their babies. However, so far, no serious side effects have been reported to the CDC. Based on evidence so far, many experts feel the potential benefit of these medications in pregnant women with H1N1 flu outweighs any potential risks.
Q: What if I get sick after delivery? How can I protect my new baby?
A: Flu can be very serious in young babies, but those who breastfeed typically do not get as sick and are sick less often from flu. When a baby breastfeeds, the mother’s antibodies pass to the baby through the milk. To ensure babies get the full benefit of their mothers’ antibodies, experts at the CDC encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding even if they become ill. To reduce the spread of the flu virus, avoid coughing or sneezing in the baby’s face and wash your hands with soap and water before picking up your baby. You may even want to wear an infection-prevention mask in case you accidentally cough or sneeze on your baby.
More Information
Flu.gov | H1N1 Flu Virus: Facts for Parents (& Expecting)
CDC.gov | H1N1 Flu: Resources for Pregnant Women
CDC.gov | H1N1 Flu: Resources for Parents and Caregivers