Colds, snuffles and flu

[flapjack]

I have a highly unscientific theory that many women have some kind of cold or flu bug in the last 21 days before giving birth (thus maximising the antibodies available to baby in colostrum to the current bout of nasties.) Anyone want to help me prove it?
If you get the snuffles, cold, flu, or worse, please can you come and post the dates your symptoms started? Please? :

[Nymph]

I got a flu bug starting on 1/5. I was at 33 weeks at the time.

21 days would put me towards the end of January and I want this baby to hold out for February!!!

[BinahYeteirah]

Dd2 and I got a cold when we returned from our vacation. That was Jan. 9th; I was 36 weeks and 5 days. We are still sneezing and more snotty than usual (at 37 weeks and 5 days).

[Dea]

I got a cold early last week (which I am not yet over ) I would have been 34 weeks when I got it. (Jan 8 or 9)

[Writerbird]

I started getting that lovely post-nasal drip that always signals a cold for me on 1/3 - I know because I was opening my swap buddy's package and at first thought I was having a reaction to the lovely bath foam smell. Fortunately, it was a cold and not allergic to something I really wanted to use

By the evening of the fourth I was really sick. I was still a little sick on Sunday when I had to fly out for my last business trip, but it was all over but the gross solid phase by Tuesday the 8th.

But by your theory, that would make my boy here by the end of the month, and he needs nearly three more weeks of baking!

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

[Mama2-4]

Interesting theory Helen. I felt ill on 1/1 for about 2 days. Last week and this week all 3 of my kids have been ill, I am praying I do not get it! They have had fevers, congestion, etc and with the oldest it has lasted a week! I have felt a little run down, but not like them. I will be following this thread with interest!

[loraxc]

Not yet, but last time I had a TERRIBLE cold that had me coughing all night right at the end. I went into labor pretty much exactly when I was finally better.

[gingerbane]

The weekend of the 6th I had the flu (uncomfortable, achey, throwing up, etc.) This weekend, starting on the 11th I came down with a serious cold. It still hasn't gone away. I have a sore throat, congestion, stuffy nose, etc. It's horrible. My due date is Feb 15th though, and I expect to go until the 29th so I don't know about the 21 days thing. If that were the case though, I would be delighted. 21 more days would be fine with me.

[Dea]

So does the theory state 3 weeks from the start of a cold or the end of one? I really need to wait a little more than 3 weeks. I can't go into labour from jan 27-feb 3, can't can't can't. (my doula is out of town)
If it's from the start of a cold I will camp out in my bath tub with a lovely wine in hand and practice a lot of relaxing.

[LawrenceDoula]

I'm 35 weeks and have had a cold for the past 3 days. Runny nose, head ache, achey body, itchy throat. I do seem to be much better today though.

[dianna11]

Oh yikes! :

I just got over a nasty cold/flu/type thing last weekend, but I'm only a few days shy of 33 weeks!

I think I would be happy with 6 weeks from the time of cold/flu

... I think I will be subbing this thread.

[applecore]

:

[nausicaamom]

I can't quite remember when I got sick last - I think it was almost three weeks ago (I know my pressure was high and that was one of the reasons I told myself for the increase). But unless I go into spontaneous labor, I won't be of much use to your theory.

[Canita]

Got sick yesterday at 36 weeks and 3 days. : I got sick about the same time with my first pregnancy as well and couldn't shake it even through delivery! I'm hoping this one goes away soon, though...I'd love to breathe through my nose!!

[Carlito's_wife]

Haven't gotten sick as of yet.:

Will post if my luck runs out anytime soon.

[TrishWSU]

Hmm, I was going to come ask something along these longs...but I have cold sores, not a cold. Last week I had one on both corners of my mouth, which I have never had before {and my DP doesn't have one} and now tonight one is starting to pop up on my lip in a place where I have had one 2-3 times before. I was wondering if it's somehow connected to late pregnancy hormones or something. I'm 38w1d today.

[isra1986]

I had one last week, still getting over it, at 35 weeks.

[flapjack]

Well, it's partly based on the anecdotal research that in the winter DDCs, somewhere between 36 and 41 weeks you always get people complaining that they've got colds, saying they hope they don't go into labour this week because they can't even breathe, etc, etc (Honestly, go see for yourself). SO allegedly a virus passes through 7 people before it mutates enough that you can catch it again (colds and flu are both viral-based) and the incubation period for the cold virus is 2-3 days. Therefore, baby should be here in 21 days or under from the last bad cold of the pregnancy in order to benefit from antibodies to the infections around right now that are transmitted by colostrum.
Except that there seems to be a spate of people getting ill at 33-35 weeks as well, which is just unfair because it throws my results off But hey, what the heck, it passes the time. Unless you're one of the poor people getting ill twice, of course
Oh, and I'm on day three of a cold, day 12 of niggling pre-labour and all of this would take me straight to my EDD, which is NOT in any way, shape, size or form 42-week related. Which is a good reason for me to cling to this theory like glue. 42 is a bad number...

[Mama2-4]

Okay, well, as I typed last night all my kidos have been ill for the past 8 days...now I sit here at 4 am with killer heartburn and a sore throat! 3 weeks would put me to Feb. 6 which is just past my due date (2/2), the day before my DD's birthday (2/7) and my DH being away for work (he leaves 2/5 and gets home 2/11). Is the therory based on the day the symptoms started or the last day of the symptoms, or it doesn't matter!?!

[Jezzy]

I have a cold, runny nose, teary eyes a slight cough and a headache itchy face and I feel chilled.

Interesting research Helen.