Guidance on Swine Flu (H1N1v) for pregnant mothers – a joint statement from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives
Introduction
The Swine Flu (novel Influenza – H1N1) pandemic Phase 6 alert was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2009. This meant that the flu virus was spreading rapidly both within and between countries.
In the UK, the Secretary of State for Health announced in July 2009 that the spread of flu in the United Kingdom had reached a level at which initial containment activities should now be replaced by a treatment response. The Chief Medical Officer sent information to doctors and health authorities, asking them to ensure that those suspected of having H1N1v will be treated immediately.
The WHO (on 2 July 2009) advised that pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from the virus and need to be monitored if they fall ill.
Experience so far shows that the H1N1v virus tends to affect the younger population, ie. those below the age of 60 years, and that the majority of people who suffer from it tend to experience mild flu symptoms. However, it can cause severe and complicated illness, and occasionally death, in people who have underlying health problems such as severe respiratory disease.
A few cases of severe illnesses among pregnant women and infants have been reported in the UK and from other countries. These have mostly affected women with pre-existing health problems. In previous pandemics, and in reports from some countries in this pandemic, there is evidence that pregnancy can increase the risk for influenza complications for the mother and the fetus.
Pregnant women are therefore included in the list of High Risk groups so that antiviral treatment can be provided as soon as their infection is diagnosed.
This document provides an updated guidance for pregnant women and mothers who have recently had their babies, in the light of the changing pattern of the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in the UK.
Prevention
Good personal and household hygiene measures are key to preventing the spread of the virus. Frequent handwashing or cleaning with a disinfecting hand rub is highly effective in preventing the spread of the virus on hands contaminated by droplets from the nose and throat. Parents should also ensure that they wash their babies’ hands.
Tissues should be used to cover the mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, and all used tissues should be disposed of promptly (as described in the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it!’ campaign) if these have been near the nose or mouth.
Work surfaces, children’s play areas, toys and changing mats should be cleaned frequently. Parents are also advised to limit the sharing of children’s toys, and to wash or wipe toys after use. Small non-electrical and battery operated plastic toys wash well in a 30 – 40oc washing machine cycle if enclosed in a fleecy ‘babygrow’ garment, among the normal laundry.
Treatment
Most of those people who have H1N1 flu, including pregnant women, will have mild symptoms, typical of seasonal (winter) flu. Common symptoms include a high temperature, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, body aches, tiredness, and occasionally diarrhoea and vomiting. In rare cases, the disease may rapidly progress to pneumonia.
The most important step to take in pregnancy is to treat fever (high temperature). This can be controlled by taking paracetamol which is known to be safe in pregnancy. The use of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen is not recommended in pregnancy.
Some women are prescribed low dose aspirin for specific conditions in pregnancy. If you have been prescribed with this, you should carry on with this medication unless advised by your doctor or obstetrician.
Women should consult their doctors or midwives for further advice and should avoid taking several over-the-counter medicines each day, since most popular flu medicines contain paracetamol, and their additive effect may lead to taking too much of this medicine.
If you are ill, or think you have flu, you will be advised to:
Stay at home Contact the national flu line service (Call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513 for the latest advice on flu and its treatment.
If you have an assessment for flu (which will usually be done online or via the telephone), you will be asked if you are pregnant. If you have flu, you will receive an authorisation which a friend or carer can use to collect a course of antiviral medicine for you.
Follow self-care advice, including:
Drink plenty of fluids Take the antiviral medicine as prescribed Take medicines such as paracetamol if required
If your symptoms get worse after having your assessment or treatment, you should contact your GP directly.
To reduce risk of infection:
Wash or clean your hands frequently (particularly after contact with people who are ill) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue while sneezing or coughing Dispose of used tissues promptly and carefully – bag and bin them Wash hard surfaces (eg. worktops, bathroom areas, play mats, changing mats, door knobs) with a domestic cleaner regularly Avoid unnecessary travel Avoid crowds where possible Ensure your children follow this advice.
These measures can greatly reduce the risk of spreading the infection. However, the pandemic virus is highly infectious and many people will be infected, so the measures do not completely prevent the spread of flu.
The use of antivirals during pregnancy
The strategy for minimising the spread and effect of H1N1v is to treat people as soon as possible after they develop flu symptoms. It is important that you get an assessment and arrange for your ‘Flu Friend’ to collect your medicine as soon as you begin to feel ill.
Antiviral drugs are not a cure, but can shorten the illness and reduce the risk of complications, especially if the course is begun within 48 hours of symptoms developing. The H1N1 virus is known to be susceptible to two antivirals: oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®).
In the United Kingdom, pregnant women with flu symptoms will usually be given a course of Relenza. This medicine is inhaled, using a disk-shaped inhaler. It is recommended for pregnant women because it easily reaches the throat and lungs, where it is needed, and does not reach significant levels in the blood or placenta. This has the theoretical advantage of not affecting the pregnancy or the growing baby. However, if a doctor or midwifery specialist thinks that a different medicine is needed (for instance, for unusually severe flu), Tamiflu will be provided instead.
Any medicine can occasionally cause side effects. The most common one with Relenza is wheezing when the medicine is inhaled. Women who have asthma should keep their ‘reliever’ inhaler handy in case they need to take some treatment for this. All women should speak to their GP or midwife if symptoms persist or are severe. The antiviral medicine will be provided up to seven days after the onset of the illness, but you should make every effort to collect them within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) examined all of the accumulated evidence, since licensing some years ago, on the use of antiviral medicines in pregnancy, breastfeeding and in children under the age of one. They advised that the medicines are effective, and that there is no evidence of harm from their use, either for the pregnancy, the developing fetus or for babies below 12 months of age.
Pregnant women are reminded that the antiviral medicines used to treat H1N1 are highly purified and powerful drugs, available by prescription only. Women should not be tempted to buy and use drugs from the internet or mail-order sources. The effectiveness, purity and safety of these drugs cannot be guaranteed and many drugs purchased from these sources are not of the required strength to be effective.
According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, some counterfeit drugs have been manufactured using poisons, or chemicals which affect the normal immune response, and are potentially very harmful. The UK has the largest stockpile of antivirals in the world and pregnant women will be given priority treatment. They should therefore NOT obtain Relenza or Tamiflu from unknown suppliers.
Vaccines
At present, because the H1N1 virus is a new influenza strain and in the process of rapid development, there are no vaccines available yet. Scientists from around the world are working hard to develop a vaccine. It is anticipated that the first batches of vaccine may be available by late autumn of 2009.
The UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) currently recommends immunisation against seasonal influenza for pregnant women with any condition known to cause increased risk from influenza, regardless of trimester. Women should make sure that they take up this vaccine as soon as it is offered.
Maternity services during a flu pandemic
The Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians (RCOG) and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have been closely involved in pandemic flu planning. Maternity services are expected to run as near normally as possible during a pandemic and there will be extra measures to ensure that service disruption is kept to a minimum.
In the event of a large pandemic, the whole health service will be mobilised, not just obstetricians, midwives and health visitors, but also GPs, community nurses, the ambulance and emergency services. A system is also in place for recently retired obstetricians, midwives and final-year medical trainees to boost services and support specialist health professionals. Women should stay in close contact with their local maternity services so that updated information can be relayed to them.
The RCOG and RCM recommend that pregnant women have a Flu Friend to call upon should they become too ill or require further assistance. This person will collect antiviral medicines and may help to act as the woman’s contact with the GP or maternity services.
Antenatal clinics
Women without flu symptoms are advised to attend their usual antenatal appointments unless different arrangements have been made by their local maternity service. The progress of the pregnancy is monitored at these sessions and information on pregnancy care is provided. Low risk women may be monitored differently, eg. by a telephone consultation with their midwife, to avoid the need to travel to a hospital or clinic.
The availability of antenatal clinics and classes may be compromised during a pandemic because of staff shortages. Antenatal screening may be postponed or modified, eg. Down’s syndrome screening with nuchal translucency scans may be replaced by blood tests if there is a shortage of ultrasonographers. Local maternity services are examining ways to ensure minimal disruption of clinical services and will provide up-to-date information on their services regularly, in most cases via their hospital or Trust websites.
Birth in hospital
Careful planning needs to take place and some procedures such as a planned induction of labour or an elective caesarean section may be rescheduled at short notice. Some women may also be assigned to another hospital for the birth if their maternity unit of choice is under severe pressure due to flu cases or staff shortages. Women will be sent home from hospital as soon as possible, to reduce their exposure to infection.
Women will be informed by their maternity service should such contingency plans be put in place and need not worry about contacting other maternity units. Most maternity units will work closely together to ensure continuity of service as far as possible.
Birth at home
Staff shortages, or illness of a family member may mean that planned home births cannot be offered during a pandemic. If this is the case, mothers may need to have a hospital birth, which may mean a change to family arrangements. Women planning a home birth should discuss their options with their midwife.
Postnatal care and support
During a pandemic, women are advised to limit the number of visitors they receive at home in the first two months after the birth, to prevent themselves or their baby catching the disease from someone with the flu. If a member of the family has H1N1, they should keep apart from the mother and baby, in a different room if possible.
Similarly, midwives may not be available for home visits during a pandemic. Alternative arrangements will be made and women should check with their local maternity services on the availability.
If your baby is found to have the H1N1v flu and requires further treatment, it may be cared for in a neonatal unit. Or, if you have H1N1v and your baby is well, it may be expedient to have your baby cared for away from you for a short space of time, until you recover. The need for a mother and baby to be separated will be rare, and you will be encouraged to be in close contact with your baby as far as possible.
Caring for the infant
To prevent mother-to-baby transmission of the flu, mothers are reminded about the need for good personal hygiene. Hands must be washed and kept clean at all times when in contact with infants. Clothes which may be contaminated from used tissues or runny noses, should be changed and washed. Mothers should also take special care over their baby’s hygiene, and keep surroundings, cots and other equipment clean. Provided these basic steps are taken, mothers and fathers are encouraged to have frequent skin-to-skin contact with their babies.
How do I know if my baby has H1N1v flu?
The symptoms in newborns will be similar to the ordinary flu and includes fever, cough, cold and the loss of appetite. In addition, your baby will be tired and irritable and will need help during feeding. If you spot that your child has a high temperature or is having difficulty breathing (short rapid breaths) and a repetitive cough, contact your GP immediately for further advice.
Breastfeeding
Women who are breastfeeding will usually be given Tamiflu if they need an antiviral medicine. This is because there is no longer a risk to the placenta or developing baby. It also is safe for women to breastfeed while using Relenza. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed as they would normally.
If a mother is too ill to breastfeed, or the baby is too ill to suckle, then expressed milk should be used. The risk for swine flu influenza transmission through breast milk is unknown, but good nutrition, with breast milk where possible, is important for recovery from flu and other infections.
Information resources
If pregnant women fall ill and suspect they may have the H1N1 flu, they should make sure that they get a phone or on-line assessment immediately. Reliable information information is available from the following sources:
Department of Health
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/Swineflu/index.htm
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Children/Maternity/Maternalandinfantnutrition/DH_099965 NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/AlertsEmergencies/Pages/Pandemicflualert.asp DirectGov http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831 Relenza http://www.relenza.com/
RCOG/RCM 9 July 2009
