http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,559062,00.html I am having a problem getting this site to allow me to copy the actual link, but here is the address.
During a briefing Thursday, U.S. health officials stated that "the virus has hit pregnant woman especially hard". The CDC has also stated that they are aware of 100 cases of pregnant woman in the U.S. that are or have been hospitalized for the virus, since late April. They also stated that out of those 100 woman, 28 have died. Dr. Manny Alvarez, head of maternal fetal medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, in Hackensack N.J. stated "First, pregnant woman have an immune system that is slow - it's like their immune system is on standby - and it's not as reactive as a non-pregnant person's. And because of that, viruses, especially flu viruses of any sort can create a very severe infection". She (Dr. Alvarez) goes on to explain the other reasons and risk factors in this article.
My first thought when I read this article was "oh my god". I know that this is bad stuff, but, I guess that I had not thought about pregnant woman, as far as being affected.
I have had 4 children and had never thought about how much our bodies change during this time. It is mentioned in this that the second challenge to woman is the fact that as the child grows, inside of the womb, the anatomy of a woman chest changes. In the article, Dr. Alvarez states "Their whole respiratory volume changes, so if they get a second infection, such as pneumonia after the flu, it makes it very challenging and problematic for doctors to get airflow back into the lungs".
All I can say is may our prayers be with all of the 28 families, and to those who are still fighting.
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