Pregnancy with Swine Flu

While most pregnant women with swine flu will only have mild symptoms like most other people, there is a higher risk of developing complications. If you are pregnant and think you may have swine flu, call your GP.

Pregnant women with swine flu may be given an antiviral drug called Relenza. Relenza is taken through an inhaler rather than a tablet. This means it builds up in your throat and lungs but not in your blood or placenta and should not affect your baby.

The Chief Medical Officer issued this advice on 20 July:

Some pregnant women who catch the swine flu virus will develop complications of the infection (including pneumonia) that could put their own and their baby’s health at risk. The risks are greatest in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It is too early in the pandemic of influenza to be able to quantify these risks for the individual but most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery.

Bearing these risks in mind, at present, mothers-to-be are not advised to curtail normal activities such as going to work, travelling on public transport, or attending events and family gatherings.

They are advised to take the following steps to reduce their risk of infection and complications:

• observe good hand hygiene (frequent use of soap and water or sanitizer)
• wherever possible, avoid contact with someone who is known or suspected to have swine flu
• if they have flu-like symptoms, to make early contact with their General Practitioner who may advise treatment with antiviral drugs

Some mothers-to-be may wish to continue their day-to-day activities but exercise their choice now, on a highly precautionary basis, to avoid large densely populated gatherings where they have little control over personal contact.

When the pandemic reaches its height (probably in the autumn) as many as 1 in 3 people may be affected. At that point, the Chief Medical Officer may make a more specific recommendation to mothers-to-be and others (such as those on chemotherapy) with weakened immune systems to avoid densely populated gatherings.

There is no need for other family members (partners and children) to take special precautions but they should also practise good hygiene.