Childbirth While Battling Influenza A: My Experience

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was the poster child for natural, holistic health. It became very important to me that I watched what went into my body, and by default, my baby's body. There were very few times when I took even an over-the-counter drug during my pregnancy. I became skeptical of all drugs and wore myself out analyzing bottles of pain relievers.

Needless to say, I became a nervous wreck when flu season rolled around. The great debate began, should I be vaccinated or not? When I worked as a preschool teacher, I viewed flu shots as very necessary. Children that young aren't so great with hand washing, covering sneezes, and other basic hygienic habits. It seemed like not getting a flu shot would just be asking for trouble. But I was home full time at this point. Not being with a room full of preschoolers all day seemed to cut down on my risk. On the other hand, I would still be out and about in the world, at the grocery store, the gym, and countless other places.

I discussed the issue at length with my husband and my midwife. I spent hours on the Internet searching for "the answer." Finally, I decided against getting the flu shot. I have to admit, I felt pretty comfortable with my decision. That is until my husband fell ill when I was 38 weeks pregnant.

He started feeling under the weather on a Thursday. By Friday afternoon, he was coughing horribly and sleeping his life away. I brought the necessary supplies to his bedside and sequestered myself in another area of our house. I disinfected everything from television remotes to doorknobs, hoping against all hope, that I'd somehow remain healthy. My husband felt a little better Saturday but I still kept my distance. Little did I know the fun was just getting started.

Sunday morning my water broke and we headed off to the hospital. My husband was functioning but still had a horrible cough. Labor progressed on Sunday and I began to feel pretty lousy myself. Having not ever gone through labor before, I didn't think much of it. Everyone knows labor isn't a walk in the park. Sunday evening I began to spike a fever. It became worse overnight and by Monday morning my midwife began to look concerned and called the OB on staff for a consult. (Did I mention I was still in labor? I labored forever, more on that to come).

Midmorning on Monday, I had an invasive, extremely uncomfortable nasal test done to determine if I had Influenza or not. Words cannot express how awful it was to have your nose swabbed in the middle of a contraction. I would have given anything to be a little less holistic and natural at this point. An epidural would have suited me quite nicely. While we waited for the results of the flu test to come back, my husband crashed on the hide-a-bed. Everyone in the room starting putting the pieces together and realized that my sick husband probably had Influenza and he'd probably passed it on to me.

By noon, I was starting to cough and was just exhausted beyond words. Being in labor for over twenty-four hours, battling contractions, a fever, and this sickness was too much. I finally threw my natural ways out the window and got an epidural. The rest of labor passed quickly, my husband crashed on the hide-a-bed and me finally getting some rest as well, in between coughing spells, of course.

Just before it was time to push, the Influenza test results came back. Influenza A, surprise, surprise. The medical staff all had to wear facemasks to avoid catching the flu from me, or my husband. The NICU was called in because my baby was at risk from my fever and the influenza. Her heart rate had gotten faster over the lengthy course of my labor. By the way, I don't think anyone finds the pushing process easy, but having the flu made it nearly impossible. Between the coughing spells and the exhaustion, it was a miracle she wasn't delivered by c-section. I have my midwife to thank for that. She had a great deal of patience and faith. I really think an OB would have just gone straight to the c-section. I can't imagine recovering from abdominal surgery while I was coughing as often, and as hard, as I was.

Thankfully, my daughter was born safe and sound. She never had a fever and never caught the flu from my husband or I. My husband and I had to wear facemasks for the entire time we were in the hospital and we were unable to leave our hospital room at all. The threat of passing the flu onto other babies, or their parents, was just too great of a risk. Our daughter was unable to go into the newborn nursery for the same reasons. This was actually okay with her father and I, but it was another consequence of our being sick.

We weren't able to have visitors at the hospital or at home. The whole baby meet and greet didn't happen until she was almost two weeks old and that may have even been a bit premature. My husband started to feel better by the time we came home from the hospital. Unfortunately, I became ill later than he did so I became sicker when we came home. Having a brand new baby, and the flu, is a horrific combination. I truly think I blocked most of those first few weeks out.

The one aspect that is the hardest for me to deal with is that I didn't get to hold my little girl right after she was born. She had to be assessed by the NICU team and by the time she was cleared, I'd passed out from the exhaustion of the entire experience. I didn't get to hold her close and soak in the smell of her skin and delight in her features. I had to hold her as far away from my face as possible (even with the facemask). I couldn't smell her sweet new baby smell only the smell of my breath being recycled back at me due to the mask.

I deeply regret not having gotten a flu shot when I was pregnant. I thought I was making the best choice for my baby and I and I really feel like I couldn't have been more wrong. The story you just read was my worst nightmare. What should have been the most joyous day in my life was a horrible memory I really want to forget forever.

My second child was born in December of 2006. I was first in line for a flu shot, as were my husband and daughter. His birth was an incredible, magical experience. And now I can say from experience that labor and delivery, without having Influenza A, is far easier. It's still not a walk in the park, but at least it doesn't feel like your trudging through the woods, alone in the dark, with not a sign of the trail in sight.