Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

I just got a phone call from the hospital I delivered at that one of the nurses on the maternity floor has the flu. So they are calling everyone who was there this past week and telling them to get Tamiflu. Now they didn't say whether it was the reg flu or the swine flu. I am going to the hospital tomorrow to get the Tamiflu. They didn't mention anything about the baby though. I will have to ask when I go tomorrow and then I am going to call the pediatrician. My pregnancy is still kicking me in the a$$ and my son is one week old....

Message edited 10/31/2009 10:33:43 PM.

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

That is horrible! I am sorry! I would be furious right now!

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

I am pretty pi$$ed. More worried about the baby more then anything. I received the reg. flu shot on Sept 21st and DS wasn't born until Oct 24th. They say it helps to protect the baby if I got the shot while pregnant. But I never got the swine flu shot because my doctor never got it in. Now I don't know what to do....

Message edited 10/31/2009 10:52:29 PM.

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

Can you call your OB's emergency line? The ped? Are you BFing? The issue here was that you and DS were exposed. I believe you can take Tamiflu while BFing, but if you have no symptoms, you might want to wait. I think you should call both emergency lines to see what the OB and the ped say. Good luck!

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

I am going to call the hospital back and see what the deal is. DS is too young for any treatment now. If I don't get any info, I will have to wait until the morning when I go to the hospital and get my Tamiflu. I don't know when I was exposed. I have been home since Wednesday.

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

If you have been home since Wednesday I would think in a day or two you would be in the clear for sure right? Probably now. Sending you that is the case. Is the reason they want you to take Tamiflu b/c if you are BF it will offer protection to your DS? If not, if you are no longer pg why is it so dangerous that you have to take it preventatively this many days later?

What hospital is this?

Sending you lots of

ETA: The more I think about this the angrier it makes me - this nurse should have been vaccinated against the swine flu. I am someone who is completely against mandatory vaccinations and don't b/v in them mysef BUT if you are in a position where you are working with high risk patients (newborns and pg woman) 1/2 of which (newborns) can't protect themselves you should be required to get the shot. The healthcare mandate is over now b/c there is a shortage so they don't have to get it - But, the whole thing was so stupid and so overinclusive the way it was designed - if they just restricted it to those who are in immediate contact with high risk patients they would have enough AND, it would make sense and be fair. I just don't understand.

Message edited 10/31/2009 11:57:08 PM.

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

I hope you and the baby do not come down with it

I wouldn't be angry through. Even if this person did get the vaccination, we all know it does not offer 100% protection. You are contagious before you even know you have it so it is possible that this worker did nothing wrong.

In any case, I hope your little one does not come down with anything and I would definitely call your pediatrician to get their advice

Re: Exposed to the flu at my hospital...

Went to the pharmacy at the hospital yesterday and was told that it was precautionary for me to get and take the Tamiflu. The nurse on the floor has the regular flu. Not swine flu. I got my flu shot when I was 34 weeks pregnant. And it protects the baby too. I am keeping an eye on him....