Previously, I blogged about swine flu prevention tactics (before the vaccination was available). There has been a lot of confusion about the H1N1 vaccination. I am not going to blog about what I think; instead, I am going to provide information straight from Flu.gov so you can make an informed decision about whether or not this shot is for you.

Also, please check out this PDF from the FDA (pay close attention to sections 8.1, 8.3 & 8.4 if you are pregnant, nursing or considering this vaccine for your child).

1. Flu.gov recommends that pregnant women and others with health conditions (e.g. asthma, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease and heart disease) should get H1N1 flu shots as soon as they are available in their communities. However, please see the FDA PDF mentioned above.
2. Clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have shown that the new H1N1 vaccine is both safe and effective.  The FDA has licensed it.  There have been no safety shortcuts.
3. Top doctors and scientists believe the risk of the flu, especially for pregnant women, children, and people with underlying health conditions, is higher than any risk that might come from the H1N1 vaccine.
4. H1N1 is produced exactly the same way the seasonal flu vaccine is produced every year.  It is simply a new virus strain.  In fact, had H1N1 struck this country earlier than this spring, the H1N1 strain probably would have been included as part of this year’s seasonal flu shot.
5. CDC has stepped up surveillance efforts to track the H1N1 vaccine and any possible adverse events. Since it is so closely related to the seasonal flu vaccine, we do not expect to see serious side effects.  But we are taking all the necessary steps to promote and monitor safety.
6. The National Institutes of Health and the vaccine manufacturers have conducted more rigorous tests on the H1N1 vaccine than they do on other flu vaccines, and there have been no red flags from these clinical trials.

I was caffeine free for about 20 months (during my entire pregnancy and until I stopped breast feeding my son). It was difficult to give up caffeine, but I knew it would be best for my baby especially considering how much of an addict I was. I drank decaf every once in awhile, but it seemed like such a waste. I missed my jolt of energy and trust me, when you’re big and pregnant or dealing with an infant all day and night, caffeine is pretty much a necessity!

For approximately 600 days, I was caffeine free and actually considered staying that way. Then, I realized I was just being crazy with that type of non-sense thinking! I have to tell you, the feeling I got from my first cup of caffeinated coffee was complete euphoria. It didn’t take my body long to become dependent again! I guess this is what it is like to be a junkie?

Not many people warn a first time pregnant mom about the realities or miseries of pregnancy, instead only warm and fuzzy stories are shared.  I was completely naive about pregnancy and what my body was about to endure, so I wanted to make a top 10 list of the things I learned and/or experienced.

1.  It is very difficult to only gain the recommended 25 – 30 lbs.  I put on a whopping 57 lbs with my little guy and I walked several miles per day! Oddly enough, eating was the only thing that made me feel better during the first trimester.  I even woke up starving in the middle of the night and would have to eat.

2.  Morning sickness needs a new name.  I felt queasy all day long during the first trimester and threw up daily from week 7 to 14. Smells were the absolute worst for me (fabric softeners, colognes, perfumes, lotions, refrigerators, food cooking, and the grocery meat counter were just a few smells that triggered my gag reflex).  I learned that eating small frequent meals seemed to help ease my queasiness.  

3.  It’s not a pregnancy glow, it’s greasy skin! The only reason people said I was glowing was because of all the fattening, greasy food that was coming out of my pores.  In addition to the grease, I was continuously sweating because I was overheated.

4.  I think I am an elephant!  It’s amazing how much water my body retained!  I actually referred to my ankles as “cankles” since I couldn’t tell where my calves ended and ankles began. One friend actually referred to my feet as livestock. Some friend, huh?  The only thing that helped with my fluid retention was swimming (I actually felt human in a pool)!

5.  There is no such thing as sleep.  During the third trimester, I had the worst case of pregnancy insomnia. Besides, I was so enormous that it was impossible to get comfortable.  I found my recliner was the best choice for sleeping since it was easy to get out of for my frequent bathroom trips.  I do believe this was nature’s way of preparing me for being up with my newborn, but I needed my sleep…I was creating life which was no easy task!

6.  Just because it’s your first baby, doesn’t mean you’ll be in labor forever!  I wanted to make sure what I was experiencing was true labor, so I walked 3 miles while timing my contractions.  I finally left for the hospital when my contractions were 2 minutes apart and to my surprise, I was 6 1/2 cm dilated upon arrival.  By the time I was moved to a room (within an hour) and ready to get my epidural, I was almost 8 cm! 

7.  Practice breathing techniques so you can somewhat relax during labor.  As mentioned previously, my labor progressed so quickly that even my Dr. was baffled.  I took the easy way out with a one-day Lamaze class that was not hands-on (I didn’t want to spend multiple days sitting in a classroom and felt silly role playing with pillows).  I was given a CD to practice breathing and never used it.  I regret this because I found myself almost hyperventilating with my continuous contractions.  It took the anesthesiologist three attempts to get the epidural in my back because I could not sit still.

8.  Don’t assume you won’t have a cesarean section.  I never dreamed I’d end up with an emergency c-section so I didn’t pay attention to that chapter in my birthing class.  I wish I did because I would have had a better idea about what to expect with the procedure as well as recovery.

9.  Don’t expect to leave the hospital at your pre-pregnancy size after giving birth.  I still looked about 6 or 7 months pregnant when I left the hospital with my bundle of joy, so I was glad I packed maternity clothing to wear home.  Reality is, my body changed shapes during pregnancy and thanks to my c-section, I’ll probably never be my pre-pregnancy size again. My son is almost a year old and I am still carrying an extra 10 lbs (but could stand to lose more than that)!

10.  Breast feeding is not easy!  I understand why some women choose not to breast feed, it really takes a lot of time and energy. For the first 3 months, I felt like all I did was feed my son 24/7!  He was a frequent eater (every 90 minutes to 3 hours) and it was exhausting and painful at times.  I stuck with it for 10 1/2 months until he went on a nursing strike.  The bonding experience was truly amazing and I’m glad breast feeding is the route we took.

The excitement about becoming a mom and feeling the baby move were the highlights of my pregnancy. The majority of my pregnancy was completely miserable, but the end-result was so worthwhile! There is nothing like gazing into your baby’s eyes for the first time!  My son is such a blessing and I thank God for him every single day.