Swine flu and pregnant women: Advice, prevention and management

British Journal of Midwifery, Vol. 19, Iss. 2, 01 Feb 2011, pp 76 - 80 

 

Since mid-December 2010, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of severe H1N1A, or 'swine flu'. Maternity units across the UK have also seen a rapid rise in the number of hospital and intensive care unit admissions due to H1N1A infection among pregnant women. Hospitalization, critical illness and mortality rates in pregnant women with H1N1A infection are significantly higher than those of non-pregnant women of the same age. For this reason, key public health messages, including respiratory and hand hygiene, should be emphasized. Midwives and doctors should also promote influenza vaccine uptake among all pregnant women who have not previously been vaccinated against H1N1A. All those who care for pregnant women should also seek vaccination themselves.

http://www.britishjournalofmidwifery.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.html?uid=81698;article=BJM_19_2_76