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ezza2303 · Aug 18, 2008, 08:00 PM

I'm 34 almost 35 weeks pregnant. I've come down with the flu I have a fever and head ak and a cough to go with it can any of this affect my unborn baby?

DoulaLC · Aug 19, 2008, 04:36 AM

There can be more concern for you than baby at this point. Good idea to be sure your doctor or midwife knows you have the flu as they may suggest certain medications for you to take. Some are preferred over others... Tylenol is usually one that is fine for fever and achiness, and they may want to prescribe something as well.
Obviously be sure you are taking in plenty of fluids and resting as much as possible and let your doctor/midwife know if you continue to run a high temp, have any trouble breathing, or anything else that causes you concern.

J_9 · Aug 19, 2008, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

There can be more concern for you than baby at this point.

I slightly beg to differ here. Fever can cause the fetal heart rate to become tachycardic with minimal variability. She needs to control this fever with Tylenol and by all means go see your dotcor.

DoulaLC · Aug 19, 2008, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by J_9

I slightly beg to differ here. Fever can cause the fetal heart rate to become tachycardic with minimal variability. She needs to control this fever with Tylenol and by all means go see your dotcor.

True... the Tylenol should be used and letting her doctor know if she runs a fever, especially if the Tylenol doesn't bring it down.

The concern for mothers with pregnancy and flu, especially in the last trimester, is that you tend to see more issues with pneumonia and other breathing difficulties in the mother. If mom takes care of herself, and watches for any concerns, there is less likelihood of any problems for baby.

The flu itself is not the concern for baby, as it is for mom, it is the problems that mom may have, that can cause concerns for baby as well.

Just wanted to add... the coughing is not an issue for baby, but it can cause chest and back pain for mom. Pain in the chest, back, or shoulder should be brought to the doctor's attention as it could be just from a good deal of coughing, but it can also be concerns with possible pneumonia.

J_9 · Aug 19, 2008, 05:59 AM

I definitely agree with you there, there is much less lung space so far in pregnancy that pneumonia can become an issue. And no, the flu in and of itself is not a concern for baby, but some of the symptoms can be.

Fever, one of the symptoms of the flu, can cause the baby's heart rate to raise to a dangerous level and not beat as well as it should. And can cause complications in labor.

Dehydration, a symptom of the flu usually caused by the fever, can cause preterm labor and can also distress the baby.

As Doula and I have both said, Tylenol and lots of fluids are necessary to get you and baby over the flu. Unfortunately the flu is a virus and must run its course there are no medications that cure the flu, but plenty that alleviate the symptoms.

Your doctor or your nurse is the person you should be addressing these questions to at this point. You would not want to go into labor just yet due to flu symptoms.