[HuskerMommy]

CDC: Nearly 1 in 3 Pregnant Women Who've Contracted H1N1 Have Died in U.S. - Infectious Disease - FOXNews.com

Okay, this literally scares the crap out of me. This is one reason why the media disturbs me...is it the secondary infection killing these women?...do they have any underlying medical conditions?...did they take an antiviral? I'm so confused, ...scared, and wonders if I should even step outside. Thoughts anyone?

[HJ-M22]

Ugh, I am already terrified of the H1N1. Can I just go into a bubble until March?

[HuskerMommy]

That's what I'm thinking...I honestly don't want to go anywhere. It's so hard to tell though, especially with Foxnews reporting...they do like to sensationalize everything. I just wish we knew more on the women who were dying.

[HJ-M22]

I know, I would like to see exactly WHY this women died. Did they develop pneumonia? Did they wait to be treated? Etc, etc, etc. I don't know why they have to terrify the already scared.

[szczepanski]

It is the secondary infection, it says it in the article.

Which makes me wonder, how long are these women waiting to seek treatment after they start getting symptoms?

Here is an article that talks more about a study done on those pregnant women who have died:

They add: "CDC recommendations for pregnant patients are that antiviral drugs be started as soon as possible after the onset of influenza symptoms. The benefit is expected to be greatest if started within 48 h of onset...However, many pregnant women in our series were not treated with either of these drugs at the time of their presentation with influenza-like illness. Furthermore, none of those who died were treated within 48 h of illness onset."

Pregnant Women With H1n1 Flu Should Start Antiviral Treatment As Soon As Possible, While Those Who Are Well Should Be Vaccinated

[HuskerMommy]

Okay, I skimmed the article when I first read this, so I missed that one. So, I feel a little bit more relieved. Still, Tamiflu is a cat. c drug, but if it's my life...I'll take it. Sounds selfish, but I'm just too dang young to die, and I have a hubby and a son to take care of. So, if you get Tamiflu right away, you'll probably recover just fine....I sure hope so.

[szczepanski]

And don't forget...when they make a big deal about more pregnant women being hospitalized, it is because well...they are more likely to be hospitalized. More precautionary than anything else.

[HJ-M22]

Originally Posted by HuskerMommy

Okay, I skimmed the article when I first read this, so I missed that one. So, I feel a little bit more relieved. Still, Tamiflu is a cat. c drug, but if it's my life...I'll take it. Sounds selfish, but I'm just too dang young to die, and I have a hubby and a son to take care of. So, if you get Tamiflu right away, you'll probably recover just fine....I sure hope so.

I agree! As a matter of fact as soon as I hear from DH or my son's school there have been ANY cases I plan to call my OB! I had asthma as a child, I have not had an attack since I was probably like 8, but when I do get the flu it tends to really knock me on my butt and I get pretty wheezy. So not taking ANY chances. I wonder if those women thought they could tough it out? Or thought it would pass and they would be ok? I am still scared. But that is probably one reason why I take anxiety meds - I tend to worry about EVERYTHING. lol

[HuskerMommy]

I hear ya...I was diagnosed with asthma, but have had it under control since I was 22. However, when I get sick...I really get sick. I had influenza A two years ago, and I was sick for two weeks, lost my voice for four months. It was awful. I've also had my anxiety under control...however since I've been pregnant it's returned with a vengeance...and the continuing news with the H1N1 is NOT helping.

[Psalm139]

This makes me continue to wonder if the risk of taking something like Tamiflu is greater than the risk of taking the vaccine itself.

[happymom2Logan]

I wont read stuff like that , will make me worry more about getting sick

[Daphne's Mommy]

Thank you for posting that article.

[Anne Gables]

i hate to be anal, but is there any way to change the topic heading to say that "one in three pregnant women who contract H1N1 die of it" rather than that 1 in 3 pregnant women die of H1N1? I assume most people assume the first, but for anyone just skimming the topics, it sounds as though 33% of us are going to contract swine flu and die from it. Or maybe I am the only one who read it that way.

[MsSilverSpec]

From what I've been hearing, they say we are more at risk for hospitalization and such because of all the changes that take place when we get pregnant. The baby ends up pushing on our lungs, which makes it harder to breathe which can cause pneumonia. Our immune systems are weaker which means we can contract this and other infections more easily.

I don't look into this so much because it would drive me crazy with worry. Let's just take our vitamins, eat healthy, and enjoy our pregnancies!

[My Sweet Six]

This is very misleading. It's not 1 in 3 pregnant women who have contracted H1N1 have died. It's 1 in 3 pregnant women who have contracted H1N1 that have been HOSPITALIZED have died.

28% of women hospitalized is way different than 28% of all pregnant women who have contracted H1N1.

[dapgal]

This is very scary stuff. My OB friend in PA said that 50% of her pregnant patients that get H1N1 end up being hospitalized. Ugh I hate that we are having to deal with this. And we can't even do anything yet until the vaccine comes out and taking the vaccine is scary enough in itself. Man I HATE this!!! I hope that one day we can look back on this and laugh at how we worked ourselves up over nothing.

[AmandaLynn84]

Originally Posted by My Sweet Six

This is very misleading. It's not 1 in 3 pregnant women who have contracted H1N1 have died. It's 1 in 3 pregnant women who have contracted H1N1 that have been HOSPITALIZED have died.

28% of women hospitalized is way different than 28% of all pregnant women who have contracted H1N1.

This. I wonder what the percentage of nonpregnant people who have been hospitalized with H1N1 that have died is?

[loving_mommy]

I didn't even know about that. I did just have a class on the subject for my daycare and it was stated that the H1N1 going around right now is not the is fairly mild. I also know of one pregnant woman in town here that had it and is doing great now. She stayed home for 7 days and then was able to go back to work.

The other thing they told us at the meeting is that it's the riskiest ages are under 5 and over 65, over 65 being the most likely to be affected.

The data keeps changing almost daily, so they said to just check the MDH websites to catch up.

I wouldn't worry. I'm sure you and your child will stay very healthy

[Alicia W.]

Did you read the link in that first article? About the vaccine?

It stated that the vaccine should last through the flu season til march or april..... ugh! That will get us through the pregnancy, but what about those first few weeks when the baby is so new and getting sick is very dangerous still?!?!?! there is just no good news with this whole thing.

I am getting the seasonal flu shot tomorrow most likely (thimerosal free) but still wondering about the h1n1 which wont be available to me until around Oct. 20th. I have to decide if it is something I am willing to get knowing I most likely won't be able to get my hands on the thimerosal free for that one.

And I had planned to get family (dh and ds) vaccinated for both as well, but now it really bothers me that I have to give my son potentially 4 shots! 2 seasonal, and 2 h1n1..... especially since he does have an egg allergy though most likely not severe enough to cause a problem (since according the pedi the two vaccines he last had also had egg and he never had a reaction)

I know I don't want to take tamiflu either.....

[My Sweet Six]

While reading this article, I clicked on the link for the following article:

Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot - But it May Be a Hassle

With swine flu, what doctors call the 2009 H1N1 strain, pregnant women seem at particular risk for complications. Pregnant women make up 6 percent of H1N1-confirmed deaths even though they account for only 1 percent of the population, according to the CDC. They're at least four times as likely to be hospitalized as other flu sufferers.