PREGNANCY ADVICE

Following the death of a pregnant woman with Swine Flu (Influenza A/H1N1) there has been increasing concerns amongst pregnant women on island about the risks of swine flu.

The DHSS would like to provide the following information to help pregnant women and to allay their anxieties:

• The patient from Scotland who died of swine flu had other co-existing medical problems. People with underlying chronic health problems are prone to complications of flu such as pneumonia. There have been some deaths especially in the US due to swine flu in people with chronic health problems.
• The vast majority of patients who developed swine flu have made an uneventful recovery without suffering any complications.
• While it is known that pandemic influenza can be severe in pregnant women and can lead to premature delivery, the chances of this are very low.
• Antivirals: The current consensus of opinion from scientific experts is that if a pregnant woman develops swine flu, she should be treated with antivirals.

Advice to pregnant women – avoiding Swine Flu

• There is no cause for any immediate concern – the likelihood of picking up swine flu is very low.
• If you develop swine flu, the chance of suffering any complication is low.
• Follow general hygiene precautions such as frequent hand washing. If you have a cough or sneeze cover your nose and mouth and dispose of your tissues safely.
• Avoid close contact (defined as 1 metre distance) with anyone with flu symptoms.
• If you have had contact with a case of swine flu, the Public Health Directorate will contact you to provide you with tablets to prevent swine flu.
• If possible you should avoid providing direct care for family/friends who have swine flu and you should seek advice from your GP or Public Health if this is unavoidable.

• Work: The majority of pregnant women can continue to work as normal. Your workplace should have hygiene precautions in place to minimise the risk of transmission of swine flu. If your job involves providing health and personal care your employer should make arrangements for you to avoid working where there are known cases of swine flu. Advice can be obtained from your employer, occupational health service or from Public Health.

Advice to pregnant women – If you develop symptoms

• Please make sure you have a supply of paracetamol to control your fever and a thermometer to check your temperature.
• If you have returned from an affected area (which at present includes the UK) and develop flu symptoms, contact your GP by phone immediately.
• Antiviral drugs are most effective the earlier you take them but DO NOT take them unless advised by a Doctor or Nurse. While there is not much experience with using antiviral drugs in pregnancy, no serious side effects have been reported.
• Breastfeeding: If you are breastfeeding your baby and develop flu, continue to breast feed the baby. The breast milk offers protection to the baby from many infections. Do not stop breast feeding because you have been or are taking medicines for your flu.
• If in doubt seek advice from your GP or Midwife.

To view information from the Department of Health information pages on Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Swine Flu (Influenza A/H1N1), please visit their website

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