7 weeks pregnant / Flu or cold

Posted by Teress (349 days ago)

Pregnant at 7 weeks but got the flu. Would it harm to the baby in the womb?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by cara (349 days ago)

no, but DO NOT take anything for the symptoms. THAT could harm the baby.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by !@#$%^&*() (349 days ago)

Drink tons of water and also fresh lemon juice (warm)...i hope you feel better soon.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Teress (349 days ago)

Thank you for your advice, cara & !@#$^&*(). Your name is very long. Very kind of you both!!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by lpatto (348 days ago)

Go see a dr and see that it is not cmv.Tell the dr you have had the flu and want to do a blood test to see if it is cmv.I too had the flu when i was pregnant and thought it would be ok but when my baby was born she was disabled due to the "flu"that i had earlier in my pregnancy.CMV does not harm the mother but can be a great danger to the unborn child.Sorry to scare you but after reading all these other replys i wanted to tell you my experience and tell you that it can be a danger if it is cmv which presents in flu like symptoms

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Teress (348 days ago)

I do not understand cmv. Would you explain that?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by lpatto (348 days ago)

Just google"cmv" or look at this link http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/cytomegalovirus.html

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by purefit (327 days ago)

how do you prevent against cmv?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Fluery (326 days ago)

Teress, not sue if it's CMV but you should definitely go see a doctor. Even if you just have the flu, you should be cared professionally to prevent any complications, which could be dangerous to both the mother and the fetus especially during the early stage of the pregnancy. That's why pregnant women should ALWAYS take flu shots during flu seasons but I find such common knowledge and guideline extremely scarce in Hong Kong. Although if you are going through the public system in HK, they do advice you to take flu shot. Good luck.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (326 days ago)

As others have said, see a doctor.

As for having the flu, some studies have suggested that it may possibly have some effect on the fetus. I don't want to worry you but for the sake of full disclosure I will say our daughter was born with a cleft palate. Apparently, the palate forms around week 13, right when my wife had this big flu/cold. Connection? Well there's no clear evidence in medicine but it is possible. It could also be something completely different. As birth defects go it wasn't really a big deal. She's totally fine now.

Anyway but there's not point worrying about it. Your body knows how to handle being sick and being pregnant at the same time. You're not the first! ;)

As others have said, try to avoid medication.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Teress (326 days ago)

Thank you for all your reply. I have talked to my doctor, and he has the same opinion that my body knows how to handle it. Many thanks.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by li'lbean (326 days ago)

Thanks, I have a sinus infection but haven't yet seen a doctor 'cos I don't like taking any medication and feel that's all they'll advise. Thanks Teress and axptguy38, I feel better about letting my body tackle the problem first.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (326 days ago)

"Thanks, I have a sinus infection but haven't yet seen a doctor 'cos I don't like taking any medication and feel that's all they'll advise."

A good doctor will do what's best for the patient(s), not just rush to give you medicine. So I would call anyway. Typically they set a temperature threshold under which you should just take it easy and do the usual stuff like drink lots of fluids.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (326 days ago)

if you are pregnant, they WILL NOT advise you to take medication.

down the road, it comes down to a balancing act... what's best for the mother vs what's best for the baby.

if it's something simple like a cold, obviously, you can live through that! when i was pregnant with #2 i was in EXCRUCIATING pain. i couldn't walk, roll over in bed or even make it to the bathroom without hubby practically carrying me. i had a walker for around the house and a wheelchair for going out. i used that wheelchair for the last 4 months of an 8 month pregnancy. i also had EXTREMELY high blood pressure and was on 2 types of tablets 6X per day. the drs DID give me meds. i couldn't have made it through without them. they weighed the fact that i was near tears most of the time from pain with the fact that by the time i was in the wheelchair, most of the vital organs etc were already developed. they also had to consider how dangerous it was to both the baby and me if my BP wasn't controlled with meds. it was LESS risky for me to have the meds than it was NOT to have them.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by li'lbean (325 days ago)

Sounds like you had a pretty bad time Cara. I just have a complete lack of trust for the doctors here, even the so-called 'good' ones, they are far too quick to dish out meds and spend too little time assessing the actual cause. Cynical, I know.

(I am based in Hong Kong)