Boosting immune system??

[AdinaL]

So I can get my immne system in great shape when I am not pregnant...but am not so clear on how to do it while pregnant....

I am also concerned about it because I am Rh-, which might be silly, but I don't want to do anything that might potentially cause me to be sensitive if I ever manage to get pregnant again....

I am going to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, got pretty sick last year as well. There will be three, possibly four, kids there - two who are super healthy, one who is mid-range and one who is prone to colds and ear infections and the like. I caught a hell of a cold last year from him.

Since I am pregnant, I don't want to come home from Thanksgiving with a nasty cold again...but if I do - I am not sure what I can do to treat it. I almost never take cold medicine - just vit. c, echinacea, oscillococcinum(sp?), zinc...and so on. Plus lots of hot tea and citrus juices.

Help?

[KerriAZ]

Adina -

I am RH-, too... Also I have been wondering about all of these things myself! Tell ya what... I have my appt on Wed. I will ask them when I go in these questions and I will let you now what they say! (Especially for me seeing as I have such bad m/s that it has been hard for me to drink my juices as of late!!)

Kerri

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by AdinaL

So I can get my immne system in great shape when I am not pregnant...but am not so clear on how to do it while pregnant....

I am also concerned about it because I am Rh-, which might be silly, but I don't want to do anything that might potentially cause me to be sensitive if I ever manage to get pregnant again....

I am going to a friend's house for Thanksgiving, got pretty sick last year as well. There will be three, possibly four, kids there - two who are super healthy, one who is mid-range and one who is prone to colds and ear infections and the like. I caught a hell of a cold last year from him.

Since I am pregnant, I don't want to come home from Thanksgiving with a nasty cold again...but if I do - I am not sure what I can do to treat it. I almost never take cold medicine - just vit. c, echinacea, oscillococcinum(sp?), zinc...and so on. Plus lots of hot tea and citrus juices.

Help?

The Rh sensitivity is an interesting issue, because it's an issue of your immune system overreacting.

I'm not sure if you'll notice this, but I got sick a heck of a lot less when I was pregnant than I usually did. I think that you're less likely to come home from Turkey day with a cold. If you do, however, I'd advise things like steamy baths. I use Vicks and SudaCare vaporizers (the really cool, really cheap ones that you plug into the wall), but I think that some people might consider those seriously unnatural.

There's always homeopathy and hot tea. I'm not sure if echinacea is safe for use in pregnancy, though; I'd definately look that one up.

[AdinaL]

I thought I might be less likely to get sick too- butmy other friend who also does T-giving with us was pregnant last year, and caught the same thing - I am hoping I won't get it- but I didn't know.

[aprilushka]

Lots of Vit C (around 1000 mg total a day). It's good for the amniotic sack too.

[AdinaL]

Yeah I already take that.

[pfamilygal]

This may seem crazy, but do you not plan on having the Rhogam shot after delivery?

I had a patient who became Rh sensitized after delivering in another country and did not get the shot. She lost a baby at 22 wks from erythroblastosis fetalis and then during her next pregancy carried to term after having PUBS (fetal intrauterine blood transfusions) weekly. The baby still had severe jaundice.

Is it not a "natural parenting" thing to do? Why?

I'm not being snarky, just curious. I'm Rh +, but would definitely take the shot if I were negative. Of course, I'm not as crunchy as some of y'all. So LMK what your take is.

[AdinaL]

A lot of people do not have it. There is some concern over the potential of thimerasol in the shot, and some people don't believe it is neccessary.

It is not always neccessary. If my DH is Rh- - then there is no need. If my baby is RH- there is no need. So, I probably won't be having the 28 week shot - as I don't really see the need, becuase I have not developed anitbodies, nor have I had any instances of spotting, so the liklihood of the blood mixing is very low. The midwives will type the baby's blood after birth and we will go from there.

This is my first pregnancy, so the chances of me being sensitized is pretty low at this point.

I just was more interested in boosting my immune system and if that has an affect when you are RH- and if it could cause problems...

[KKmama]

I've always had the Rhogam shot, without a second thought. I knew I wanted at least 3 kids, and it just didn't seem worth the risk to me to *not* have the shot.

As far as immune strengthening... I'd say lots of ginger and garlic. Probiotics, too.

[pfamilygal]

Okay, that makes sense. When I worked postpartum we always did a blood type on the baby if mommy was Rh negative. So we only gave it when baby was positive.

Yeah, I can't imagine how you would be sensitized yet, unless you've had losses in the past. It's not a worry with the first baby, it's the subsequent pregnancies.

That was actually something I always wondered about homebirths. Does the midwife give Rhogam afterwards? Or do you go to your primary care doc?

[aprilushka]

Originally Posted by pfamilygal

Okay, that makes sense. When I worked postpartum we always did a blood type on the baby if mommy was Rh negative. So we only gave it when baby was positive.

Yeah, I can't imagine how you would be sensitized yet, unless you've had losses in the past. It's not a worry with the first baby, it's the subsequent pregnancies.

That was actually something I always wondered about homebirths. Does the midwife give Rhogam afterwards? Or do you go to your primary care doc?

If the state doesn't allow the mw to prescribe it you have to get it elsewhere. If the state allows, then the mw should be able to give it to you.

[FreeSpiritMama]

I'm also RH- and will have the shot after delivery but not at 28weeks

Immune system I dont think is affected by being RH-( let me know if you have info otherwise) my last pregnancy I was super healthy throughout. As far as strenthening it Vit C, Garlic ( use loads when you cook ), onions and of course excersise and fresh air and plenty of relaxation & sleep.

[KerriAZ]

I posted after my appt, but I don't know where it went!!

Anyway, my doctor said that the RH doesn't play a part in the immune system to the point where it matters... She said to take lots of C and drink lots of juices that contain vit C. I asked her about the echinacea and she said that it hasn't been proven or not proven to affect the baby, but SHE, personally, wouldn't take it during pregnancy. She said that the flu shot was a personal thing, but she wouldn't take it while pregnant due to the mercury in it, but that was just her. (I told her I wasn't getting it anyway, due to that and the fact that when I was working in a hotel and I took it, both yers I took it I have never been so sick witht the flu!! LOL)

And as far as the Rhogam shot, I had it with my DD at 28w and I plan to with this one as well... I am RH- and DH is RH+, so I don't want to take the chance! (DD is Rh- so I didn't have to have it after birthing...)

Anyway, that's what I was told last week!!

Kerri

[AdinaL]

There is a good post from Momtezuma Tuatara in the Vax board - on the thread "mypg friend got the flu shot" regarding the Rhogam shot.

Since we don't know what RH DH is, and this is myfirst pregnancy, and truthfully, I have no idea if I will ever be pregnant again, I have had no spotting, and the last blood test said no antibodies were present, I feel pretty comfortable not getting the shot till after birth.

My midwife orders it and brings it by the house on the day2 visit I believe. Funny thing is - we don't even need to have my midwife give it! Dh has done about 3 months worth of intramuscular shots on me, and we are pretty comfy with it. So all that has to happen is the midwife getting the drug...we can do the rest. Of all the silly things.

Good to know that boosting immune system doesn't affect RH stuff. I guess it wouldn't unless your blood had already mixed with baby's huh?

Garlic and vit c and zinc it is! Thanks Kerri!

[newbie_mary]

I'm RH neg. also, and my DH gave blood so he could find out his blood type (he's neg. as well). I see no need for me to get the shot.

My immune system seems to be extra boosted, though, because my allergies have been ATROCIOUS. I'm dying here without my antihistimines.

Mary

[nighten]

Originally Posted by aprilushka

Lots of Vit C (around 1000 mg total a day). It's good for the amniotic sack too.

I was told 1000 mg was way too much and contraindicated during pg -- not just first trimester?

I'm confused...and will ask my m/w about this on Wednesday

To the OP: I've been trying to find ways to boost mine too prior to flying to visit my SIL at Christmas -- her son is always sick and I've gotten some feedback on Zicam and alcohol-gels for your hands, too.

I'll try to remember to post here what my m/w says about the Vit C and Zinc after my visit this week.

But you're not alone in not wanting to get sick!

[AdinaL]

Vitamin C is water soluble - truthfully - if you take too much....and are staying hydrated - out it goes.

1000mg is what I have been taking daily. More if I feel funky. I usually don't go above 3000mg when I am not pg.

Keep drinking the water and away it should go if you have too much in your system.

Keep in mind that the RDA of 60mg/day is only enough to prevent scurvy! Not enough to keep you healthy!!!!!

I am seeing my OB on Wednesday, I can double check with him.

Again, do you research and make a choice that feels right for you!!!

[2+twins]

Sorry to bring this back to the Rh thing, but Adina you mentioned not knowing if your dh was Rh- or not. Isn't the + or - thing just whether or not your blood type is + or - (like A+ vs. A-)? I thought so but I'm never sure since I haven't had to deal with this issue (both dh & I are O+ so our kids will always be too). Anyway, seems simple enough to find out and (potentially) put your mind completely at ease if that's the case.

[aprilushka]

Originally Posted by nighten

I was told 1000 mg was way too much and contraindicated during pg -- not just first trimester?

I'm confused...and will ask my m/w about this on Wednesday

To the OP: I've been trying to find ways to boost mine too prior to flying to visit my SIL at Christmas -- her son is always sick and I've gotten some feedback on Zicam and alcohol-gels for your hands, too.

I'll try to remember to post here what my m/w says about the Vit C and Zinc after my visit this week.

But you're not alone in not wanting to get sick!

I asked my mw and she said 10,000mg was when it is dangerous. Up to 3000 is fine.

[nighten]

I guess the confusion comes into play when it's on top of what I'm already taking in prenatal and food sources?

Thanks for the clarification -- will still chat with m/w on it Wed.

Thanks