How Pregnancy Changes the Common Cold

In the last few weeks, I have been INUNDATED by people asking me whether or not I was going to get vaccinated for H1N1. And while I refuse to get into that answer here (because the debate that will undoubtedly ensue in the comments is NOT something I'm interested in getting into), the thing that's been weird for me is how because I'm 38 weeks pregnant, my opinion isn't just about ME anymore.

Meaning... Normally, I could just have my opinion, I could be ignorant or smart, but regardless, that opinion would only impact ME. Yea, I guess in the end it could impact the husband as well (depending if I got sick or not), but really, my opinions previously only impacted ME, MYSELF, and MY body. Now however, there's this kid to consider. And particularly now, with him still inhabiting MY body, he's a surprisingly bigger consideration than even *I* expected.

Because Friday night, my throat had a little lump in it. Not a lump like a bump or protrusion, just a lump like how it gets when you're MAYBE getting sick. And while normally that's something I'd just be ANNOYED by, because it would mean MASSIVE preventative measures to ENSURE I didn't actually GET sick, now instead it means getting extra rest and doing a lot of HOPING - because those MASSIVE preventative measures (ie. drugs like Cold FX and more) are no longer an option as they're harmful (or at least not proven NOT harmful) to Tiny B.

Or even last night, when my throat started getting SUPER scratchy, well it actually had me googling H1N1 symptoms. Which honestly, is a little embarrassing to even ADMIT that I'd get THAT paranoid THAT quickly, but with the pregnancy risks, and the supposed severe complications that could result, I don't feel like I can just IGNORE this shit like I normally would. I don't feel like I can just BLOW OFF the media frenzy. I don't feel like I can NOT pay at least SOME attention to my little cold symptoms. Because no matter what *I* think about this all, this is no longer just about ME. If what SEEMS like a little cold is actually something more, and I choose to IGNORE that, Tiny B could be the one to pay the price.

Which is why this morning, when I woke up with a stuffed-up nose to add to the scratchy throat, I called my OB's emergency line. And I didn't call it because I ACTUALLY thought I had H1N1, and I didn't call it because I ACTUALLY thought my throat/nose issues were an EMERGENCY, I called it because after 38 weeks of nothing but a perfectly BORING and HEALTHY pregnancy, I just couldn't bear the thought that my stubbornness could put this kid at risk - especially with so little time to go. So instead, I gave into being THAT woman who called her OB with a scratchy throat and stuffed-up nose, because being THAT woman was less important to me than NOT checking if I should be worried about Tiny B.

Thankfully, my OB's office agrees I just have a COLD and I need to rest up. Thankfully, they were also very good to me telling me the symptoms to watch for (fever, muscle aches/pains, nausea from "either" end), and to call back if they come on. But the big thing the call - and their REACTION to the call - did for me, is reassure me that while there ARE things to be worried about (so YES, it was good I called in), I also don't need to PANIC that they can't help Tiny B if things change (so YES, I can put him as my priority while still being me and just riding this damn cold out with some rest).