They Say: Don’t Conceive Until Swine Flu Threat Ends

As reported in the Guardian, The National Childbirth Trust in the UK has come under fire for suggesting that women put off pregnancy until after the swine flu threat has eased.

The NCT, Britain’s leading charity for parents, said delaying pregnancy could cut a woman’s risk of catching the virus or reduce its severity. “Expectant mothers are thought to be at greater risk from the virus because the immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy to ensure it does not reject the baby,” said Belinda Phipps, the trust’s chief executive.

However, the organisation has been widely criticised for by other medical organisations, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners, who have accused them of scaremongering.

Steve Field, chairman of the RCGP, says that he disagrees with the NCT.

“Although technically correct, its advice is a completely disproportionate reaction. I don’t believe it’s appropriate to give out this sort of message, because it adds to the sense of hysteria and panic that seems to be engulfing the nation.

“At its worse, the pandemic will hit 30% of the population, of whom 0.3% might die. The number of pregnant women in this group is tiny,” he added. “Anyway, pandemics last for two to three years. It is very difficult for people to plan around that, even if they want to.”

He has a good point – there is never a ‘right’ time to conceive and as women are delaying childbirth into their 30s already, they may be risking their fertility by following the NCT’s instructions.

Still, the UK government has taken the move of declaring pregnant women a high risk group for swine flu (along with people with long-term conditions, those over 65 and children under five).

Like our own RANZCOG, the RCGP is recommending pregnant women and parents with babies avoid crowds and unnecessary journeys on public transport.

Will you put off trying to conceive until the winter flu season has passed?