hi ppl!!!
has anyone had stomach flu during their pregnancy? unfortunately... i have caught it from somewhere!!
been having loose motions(excuse me :-D )... and fever (though now the fever is gone... though my doctor was very supportive and said it doesn' t affect the baby very much... is there cause for worry? has anyone heard of listeriosis? well.. i read a lot about it... and this stomach flu has got me paranoid that it might be listeriosis.

the really sad part is i am surviving on dry biscuits and plain rice and salt for the last 2 days :-( so much for diet plans....

anyone have any suggestions to make it better? or atleast manage it better?
thanks for your support!
love
ira ira replied. Hi Megs, ramya and daisy!

thank you so much... for your concern and support.. it feels nice to be able to share feelings and worries.. and receiving so much support!
yep! i am much much better now... a bit of stomach aches still lingering... but like megs wrote in her mail.... i' ll wait 10 days and see... mostly it' ll gradually go away.... at least i don' t have any fever any more. and am back on my normal diet... well.. almost :-)

and .. i am feeling the baby now and then... so i know it must be fine... also i have an Ultrasound on 17th of april.. so it' ll put my mind at rest!

BTW.. this is supposed to be the BIG U/s where they can tell the sex of the baby... we have pretty much decided that we don' t want to know if it' s a boy or a girl... but... i am still curious.. what if we just find out by looking at the U/s -) it' s a big temptation :-)

anyone else feeling baby?
hope we all do very soon.....
love! and take good care of yourselves!
ira ramya replied. Hi Ira

How are you feeling now?
Hope you are doing good...
I too really donno abt stomach flu..but I hope it is not very harmful to the baby...
dont worry and take good rest..
waiting for your mail that u are doing good :)

take care
luv
ramya
daisy replied. Hi! Ira,
Dont worry at all. I really dont knw anything abt stomach virus. But, take care and you will b fine soon. and as Meghna is saying it doesnt reach baby, so thats good.
get well soon and send us all email saying u r super-fine now. :-) Meghnah replied. Hello ira,
Fikar not,U' ll bcum allrite soon.Dont worry its not any listeriosis.(This article I read on net)--Coz listeriosis symptoms r flu-like symptoms, including fever and muscle aches. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea may accompany the flu-like symptoms, or may occur on their own. The symptoms of Listeria poisoning (listeriosis) include:

* Flu-like fever and muscle aches
* Upset stomach or diarrhea
* Stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or convulsions
* Flu-like symptoms in pregnant women .

Stomach flu is diffrent 4m listeriosis.(Again article 4m net)Pregnant women are just as susceptible to becoming infected with the stomach flu (the medical term is viral gastroenteritis)Stomach flu is often called \" intestinal flu.\" It' s an illness caused by a virus, and it can produce different symptoms in different people. Some people develop a sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion similar to a common cold. This may be what' s called \" upper respiratory flu.\"

Pregnancy and Stomach Flu:
Pregnant women are just as susceptible to becoming infected with the stomach flu (the medical term is viral gastroenteritis) as non-pregnant women.

Understanding Pregnancy and Stomach Flu

The cause of stomach flu is an infection with a stomach flu virus . Technically, the term \" stomach flu\" is not correct. This is because the so-called stomach flu is not caused by the influenza virus, nor does it infect the stomach. Instead, stomach flu viruses infect the small intestine.

The cause of stomach flu is not bacteria (such as Salmonella or Escherichia coli), parasites (such as Giardia), medications, or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar.

Pregnancy and Symptoms of Stomach Flu
Similar to stomach flu in non-pregnant women, symptoms of stomach flu in pregnant women can include:


* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Watery diarrhea
* Abdominal cramping (\" stomach ache\" )
* Abdominal pain
* Dehydration.


Other stomach flu symptoms can include:


* Fever
* Chills
* Headache
* Muscle aches
* General sense of tiredness.


Stomach flu symptoms in pregnant women can last anywhere from 1 to 10 days, depending on which virus a woman is infected with. Stomach flu symptoms can be mild to severe.

Does Stomach Flu Affect the Baby?(NOW READ THIS CAREFULLY--They say nothing to worry for the baby..Be kool now)

The stomach flu virus does not have any impact on the baby because it stays within the digestive tract. The biggest concern for women with the stomach flu during pregnancy is the risk of severe dehydration, which can affect the baby.

Preventing Dehydration
There is no medicine that will kill stomach flu viruses (antibiotics are not effective against viral infections). Therefore, stomach flu treatment goals in pregnant women are focused on providing supportive care while the body fights the infection. Supportive care refers to treating symptoms, such as dehydration, that can occur as a result of the stomach flu. Preventing dehydration is especially important for pregnant women, because severe dehydration can affect the baby.

Dehydration is the loss of fluids from the body. Important salts or minerals, known as electrolytes, can also be lost with the fluids. Dehydration can be caused by:


* Diarrhea
* Vomiting
* Excessive urination
* Excessive sweating
* Not drinking enough fluids because of nausea, difficulty swallowing, or loss of appetite.



In stomach flu, the combination of diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration.

The symptoms of dehydration are:


* Excessive thirst
* Dry mouth
* Little or no urine (or dark-yellow urine)
* Decreased tears
* Severe weakness or lethargy
* Dizziness or lightheadedness.


Stomach Flu Treatment Suggestions for Pregnant Women
While not stomach flu cures, there are some suggestions that can help a pregnant woman reduce stomach flu symptoms as her body fights the infection. These suggestions include the following:


* Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids are the most effective stomach flu treatment for preventing dehydration in pregnant women. By drinking fluids, such as oral rehydration fluids (ORF), juice, or water, pregnant women can reduce their chance of becoming dehydrated. Sports drinks do not replace the nutrients and minerals lost during this illness. Special fluids used for oral rehydration can be found in most pharmacies or grocery stores and can be purchased without a prescription.

* If diarrhea or vomiting is severe, you should visit your doctor. In severe cases requiring a visit to the emergency room or hospitalization, stomach flu treatment may involve replacing body fluids directly through the veins using an intravenous (IV) line.

* Allow your gastrointestinal tract to settle by not eating for a few hours.

* Sip small amounts of clear liquids or suck on ice chips if vomiting is still a problem.

* Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like toast, broth, apples, bananas, and rice.

* Avoid dairy products and caffeine.

* Get plenty of rest.

now the Cause of Stomach Flu: An Overview
The cause of stomach flu (the medical term is viral gastroenteritis) is an infection with a stomach flu virus. Technically, the term \" stomach flu\" is not correct. This is because the so-called stomach flu is not caused by the influenza virus and it does not infect the stomach. Instead, each type of stomach flu virus causes stomach flu symptoms by damaging the cells in the lining of the small intestine. As a result, fluids leak from the cells into the intestine and produce watery diarrhea.
sOME MORE remedies--
Another common symptom of stomach flu is diarrhea. If you develop diarrhea, don' t eat or drink anything for four hours. Then start with sips of water and work up gradually, over several hours, to small amounts of Seven-Up, ginger ale, Jell-O, or bouillon. Again, you can also try saltines or dry toast. But don' t eat other solid foods for 24 to 48 hours. These foods will just stimulate the diarrhea. Sometimes dairy products may also stimulate diarrhea after the initial flu, and therefore, it may be wise to stay away from dairy products for a few weeks.

After the first 24 to 48 hours, gradually resume eating solid foods.

# Stomach flu can have different symptoms, but the common ones are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
# Only your body can cure this condition, but you can help it do the job by getting plenty of rest.
# For nausea and vomiting, stop eating for two to four hours, then gradually introduce small amounts of water and other fluids. Avoid most solid foods for 24 hours.
# For diarrhea, don' t eat or drink for four hours then gradually increase your intake of fluids. Avoid most solid foods for 24 to 48 hours.

Hope this article helps u lil bit..

see here its mentioned properly u need 2 drinky plenty of water,n need to take rest.So take rest.N dont worry lot..Very soon u' ll bcum allrite..
take care...
lotsa luv.
megs