Pregnancy and the Swine Flu
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Since September, six percent of confirmed deaths from the H1N1 flu (aka the Swine Flu) have been pregnant women. Of people infected with this potentially fatal virus, pregnant women are four times more likely to be hospitalized than the general population, according to the Center for Disease Control.
The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be made available by mid-October, and one of the first “high-risk” groups to have the vaccine available to them will be pregnant women. However, only 15 percent of pregnant women get vaccinated against the seasonal flu each year, which means we can probably expect an equally low number of pregnant women to get the H1N1 vaccine.
Because so many pregnant women stay away from vaccines for fear of potential risks to themselves or their unborn baby, we wanted to find out what these risks are, if any. We spoke with high-risk maternal fetal medicine doctor Dr. Charles Hux, the resident multiples doctor on TLC’s long running show, A Baby Story, about the new vaccine, and it’s possible side effects.
What is the H1N1 vaccination, and how does it combat swine flu?
The H1N1 vaccination contains killed virus. When a person is injected with this vaccine, your body will produce antibodies, which will provide protection from getting the virus.
Is it safe?
The swine flu vaccine is perfectly safe for both the mother and her unborn baby.
Are there any side effects?
The side effects from the H1N1 vaccine are similar to those from the seasonal flu vaccine. Side effects that you may experience should be mild and include soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Certain people may experience muscle aches, headache, low grade fever and nausea. These symptoms should disappear in 1 – 2 days. If a woman is worried about exposure to thimerosal, a preservative used in the H1N1 vaccine, a preservative-free vaccine is available for pregnant women.
If I’m pregnant, do I have to get a vaccine?
The CDC recommends that all pregnant women get the seasonal flu vaccine as well as the H1N1 vaccine. It is very important for all pregnant women to have both of these vaccines to avoid any serious complications from possibly getting the flu this season.
Do pregnant women need both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine?
Pregnant women are recommended to receive both the seasonal flu vaccine as well as the H1N1 vaccine. Both vaccines can be given on the same day but should be given in different locations, such as one in the left arm and one in the right arm.
Where can I get the vaccine?
The H1N1 vaccine is available from your local hospital, certain pharmacies and public health care locations.
About Dr. Charles Hux:
Dr. Charles Hux attended Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. He received a master’s degree in genetics from Rutgers University. He maintains a private practice and is primarily affiliated with Monmouth Medical Center. His articles have appeared in American Journal of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Prenatal Diagnosis, New England Journal of Medicine and Genetics. He is the author of the new book, Nine Healthy Months.
Website: http://huxmd.yourmd.com/
What a great gift idea for a mom-to-be. Pregnancy Countdown Hand Painted Magnetic Chalkboard $28.00 
Comment by Colleen on Sep 28 2009 10:14:47:
What evidence can you provide to substantiate the claim that the vaccine is “perfectly safe for both the mother and her unborn baby?” This is a ridiculous claim without showing us any tests or research!!!
Comment by Nicki on Sep 28 2009 10:24:46:
I agree with the comment from Colleen. This is a NEW vaccine for the H1N1 virus. Therefore, there is not sufficient research on its affects to pregnant women and their babies. Our bodies were designed to fight illnesses. If you are a relatively healthy person, there is no need for vaccines of any kind. They do more harm than good.
Comment by Swine Flu In India on Sep 30 2009 10:20:47:
Pregnant women are four times more likely to be hospitalized due to the swine flu.They need to be very careful and even at the slightest chance of getting sick they should stay home and try to recover. And if they have flu symptoms they need to get tested for
swine flu immediately.
Comment by Dr. Hux on Oct 05 2009 01:05:45:
Colleen, I understand your concerns and wanted to address them. Pregnant women need to understand that the H1N1 vaccine is really just a strain change to the existing seasonal flu vaccine we already have. The same compnaies that make the seasonal flu vaccine are making the H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine has shown to be safe for many years to the general public as well as pregnant women. The benefit of getting the vaccine far outweighs the risk of getting the H1N1 strain of flu especially when pregnant. New data showed that of 100 pregnant women that had been hospitalized through late Ausust with H1N1, 28 of those women died from complications of the virus. These are very scary statistics. Obviously, no one can force you to have the vaccine, but it is highly recommended.
Comment by Sandra on Oct 05 2009 01:22:18:
The swine flu vax is absolutely not safe. You would have to put me in jail to get it to me or my children.
The swine flu is actually milder than the seasonal flu!
Please check out this UNBIASED information: http://drtenpenny.com/the_truth_about_the_flu_Shot.aspx
Also, I implore you to become a fan of VINE (Vaccine Information Network) here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Vaccination-Information-Network-VINE/69667273997?ref=nf
Very eye opening. I drop to my knees and thank God every day that my older three children have survived what these doctors pushed on me, and I thank God every day that I’ve protected my fourth from these poisons. We’ve never gotten the unnecessary flu shots – ever – and never would. But being pregnant? There would be NO WAY I would play Russian Roulette with my life and my unborn baby’s life with an untested and completely unnecessary vaccine.
Comment by Kittee on Oct 05 2009 01:56:56:
Where are the thimerosal free vaccines going to be located? My OB Doctor had no clue! I’m 6.5 months pregnant and they want me to get both H1N1 and the seasonal flu shots but they aren’t providing mercury free ones!
Comment by Jill on Oct 08 2009 04:56:15:
I do not know what everyone is flipping out over. I’m almost 4 months pregnant and I’ve already had the regular seasonal flu shot. My baby is fine. I’ve had the flu once when I was a child and never had a flu shot before. It’s really not a big deal. People are so concerned with what doctors are putting into their bodies, but they dont realize that 85% of the things they consume on a daily basis, when pregnant, are more dangerous than a flu shot.
Comment by Sandra on Oct 08 2009 01:35:21:
Hey Jill… I rode in cars without carseats when I was growing up, and I’m fine. I was in an abusive relationship, but I’m fine. So does that mean no carseats and hitting women is okay?
You can’t use the argument “I did it and I’m okay, and my baby’s okay” for several reasons. One, you could be the lucky one, statistically speaking. Nowhere do we say the H1N1 kills everyone, or harms EVERYONE. But we are discussing whether or not we want to play Russian Roulette with our lives for a completely, totally, unequivicably no-doubt-about-it unnecessary vaccine that has been proven to cause death, paralysis, and many other side effects, all to “prevent” a bad cold (because that’s all the swine flu is).
Two, you have NO IDEA if your baby is going to be okay. Period.
I pray for your health and safety, and your baby’s, but using an argument like “my mom did it and she’s okay” makes you lose credibility in discussions. There are lots of things we used to do, but now that we KNOW BETTER, now that studies are being done and information is being discovered, we stop doing them or change the way we do them.
Comment by Susan on Oct 13 2009 02:13:11:
To Dr.Hux,
Do you know if there is a blood test that will tell you if you have already had the swine flu. My daughter is 2 months pregnant and is wavering on the swine flu shot. She had the regular flu shot already. She had what seemed to be the swine flu last spring (May) but never got tested for it. There is no reason to risk the shot if she’s already had the flu.
Comment by Kristy on Dec 02 2009 05:29:15:
Although my husband and I weighed the issue back and forth with a lot of consideration, in the long run we decided it would be safer for me to get the vaccine than not. I am a substitute teacher and susceptible to illness easily , so being pregnant adds to my lack of immunity and being surrounded by sick kids daily does not help. Financially and medically it was safer for me to get the vaccine than to take the risk.