swine flu during preg. protects babe?

[mamaonthefarm]

Hi-
I keep reading how flu-vaxing a pregnant woman is supposed to protect the baby after it is born up to 6 months old. (I don't do flu vaxes and am not interested in doing vaxes for myself or the kids) But my question is: If the pregnant woman contracts swine flu or other flu during pregnancy, does this also mean that the baby will probably be immune to the flu(s) for the first 6 mos of its life?

[october]

That makes sense!

[Kidzaplenty]

No proof, but if the baby would be immune from other things the mom is, I don't see why not.

[chai]

I would think so. It works the same way as the vax.

[mamaonthefarm]

Yes, it definitely makes sense, doesn't it? I've always wondered why it isn't mentioned in the media. (I had what seems to have been swine flu back when I was 19 wks preg. I'm now 30 wks)

[october]

And it's probably better protection than the vaccine since they say getting the actual swine flu creates more anti-bodies than the vaccine itself.

[ACsMom]

That's a really good goshdarn question. Another question I've been wishing I could ask a doctor is: why are you so heavily recommending the H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women, yet children under 6 months are NOT supposed to get it? Isn't an unborn baby under 6 months?

[mamaonthefarm]

Originally Posted by ACsMom

That's a really good goshdarn question. Another question I've been wishing I could ask a doctor is: why are you so heavily recommending the H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women, yet children under 6 months are NOT supposed to get it? Isn't an unborn baby under 6 months?

I was wondering that too. It's also weird how they push the vaccine on pregnant women even if she already HAD the virus! I had the swine flu and the nurse on the telephone was still telling me I still should have the vaccine. (I did not do it of course)

[khaoskat]

Putting in that I am not sure how much of this I believe...but throwing it out.

Someone on another thread asked about having flu at birth and requiring separation of mother and baby and anti virals for both.

I looked up the CDC's guide, and basically it said there are no research or data available, but this is our stance...

they commented that if mother has flu at time of delivery that baby would not be immune for approximately two weeks..

[mamaonthefarm]

Originally Posted by khaoskat

they commented that if mother has flu at time of delivery that baby would not be immune for approximately two weeks..

Because it takes 2 weeks for the breastmilk antibodies to take effect?

Now the baby gets antibodies from the placenta if mom gets flu (or supposedly, the vax) while pregnant, right?

[mamaonthefarm]

Another thing, is the phone advice nurse acted as if it was so horrible and potentially dangerous that I had had swine flu while pregnant and that I hadn't used any fever-lowering meds. (My fever got no higher than 101. I did homeopathy and extra fluids) I even explained that taking fever-lowering meds puts a strain on the liver and because I had cholestasis in a previous pregnancy, I wanted to keep my liver as healthy as possible. The nurse didn't listen to that and kept promoting the use of acetomeniphen and scolded me for not having taken any.

But I keep feeling such relief that I had had the swine flu already. I feel like the baby got antibodies from it. And that because my whole family got it (husband and 3 kids), I am relieved that none of them will get it in the future and infect the baby when it is born.

[Jenica]

Ugh, I hear you mamaonthefarm, I hate pushy doctors and nurses!!! The nurse at my ob's office pushed drugs on me every single time I called. I had the flu twice and the second time they scared me into taking Tamiflu and I so regret it. They look at you like your nuts for questioning the drugs. She told me Tamiflu is completely safe when in fact there's never been any studies done on how it will affect human fetuses. Then when the tamiflu made me throw up every 15 minutes for four hours after taking it, all the nurse said was to keep taking it and here's some drugs for the nausea. Make's me so mad!! Shortly after that incident I switched to a midwife, soooo much better.

I was thinking the same thing with the flu and antibodies and all that. I hope the baby does get the antibodies and it does make perfect sense that they would.

[mamaonthefarm]

Originally Posted by Jenica

Ugh, I hear you mamaonthefarm, I hate pushy doctors and nurses!!! The nurse at my ob's office pushed drugs on me every single time I called. I had the flu twice and the second time they scared me into taking Tamiflu and I so regret it. They look at you like your nuts for questioning the drugs. She told me Tamiflu is completely safe when in fact there's never been any studies done on how it will affect human fetuses. Then when the tamiflu made me throw up every 15 minutes for four hours after taking it, all the nurse said was to keep taking it and here's some drugs for the nausea..

That sounds so annoying. They are shameless with how they push meds on people.

[mamaonthefarm]

[QUOTE=mamaonthefarm;14822280]Another thing, is the phone advice nurse acted as if it was so horrible and potentially dangerous that I had had swine flu while pregnant and that I hadn't used any fever-lowering meds. (My fever got no higher than 101. I did homeopathy and extra fluids) I even explained that taking fever-lowering meds puts a strain on the liver and because I had cholestasis in a previous pregnancy, I wanted to keep my liver as healthy as possible. The nurse didn't listen to that and kept promoting the use of acetomeniphen and scolded me for not having taken any.
QUOTE]

Oops, I had to edit my post. I had forgotten to put in the word "not" in the "The nurse didn't listen... " sentence. Just added it. Sorry if the unedited version had confused people. I meant to say that I never took acetomeniphen and the nurse kept scolding me and insisting that I should have taken it. lol

[elfimka]

Yes! My doctor said that if you had swine flu during pregnancy, then both and the babe will be immune to it. In a way I wish I had it during pregnancy, but my baby is coming on Tuesday, too late for that...

[mamaonthefarm]

Originally Posted by elfimka

Yes! My doctor said that if you had swine flu during pregnancy, then both and the babe will be immune to it. In a way I wish I had it during pregnancy, but my baby is coming on Tuesday, too late for that...

Very nice! Thanks for asking the doc.