Tragedy: Beit Shemesh Mother of 10 Dies of Swine Flu

PinkFridge

Mon, Sep 14 2009, 9:43 pm

anonymom wrote:

I wonder if 11 pregnancies in 15 years could possibly have put this woman into the category of "underlying medical condition." Or does just being pregnant alone cause the risk? For example, would a robust 25 year old, pregnant for the first time have the same risk of dying?

Maybe yes, maybe no.
I developed a medical condition post partum after my last baby. No way to predict it, B"H all had gone well all along till then. I don't think people should let this scare them. It's perfectly normal to wonder WHY did this happen, could this happen to me. I have a child on immunosuppressants and frankly I'm scared but knowing we're making reasonable hishtadlus, I can sleep at night.

Annie

Mon, Sep 14 2009, 11:16 pm

My understanding from my OB is that by virtue of being pregnant we're at higher risk b/c we're effectively immunosupressed and our body fights invaders less well. We are immunosupressed for a good reason -- to keep us from rejecting the baby growing inside of us, but it has other consequences.

As a pregnant mom, I too am freaked out by swine flu in general and this case in particular. We have to daven well and often, listen to our doctors and practice basic infection control measures. There's not much else to do.