28 July, 2009

Swine Flu and Pregnancy

Softalind Pure Alcohol Hand Wash
Hrmmm...So that's now seven people from my floor (that I know of) at work who have been sent home with Flu-like symptoms (5 of them yesterday)...so the odds aren't looking terribly good for me to escape totally unscathed (especially as to get here I have to brave the germ-friendly, humid conditions on the Jubilee Line)...in an attempt to combat the danger of infection I have got hold of some alcohol-based hand gel (the same sort of stuff they use in the hospital to keep MRSA at bay) and popped it on my desk, then, whenever I get up and go to the water machine, or pop to the loo (or in fact any opportunity to pick up surface bound agents by touch), I have a little squirt...and I'm not alone, the minute I bought it in, a procession of people started to appear at my desk...(which is a really good thing, as if lots of peoples hands are germ free then I am better off too)...

I can't help but wonder if perhaps the government (or someone) ought to be putting these gel dispensers at the entrance and exit to the tube though, just to try and halt the spread a little bit...all of this is making me start to worry, and for two very good reasons - firstly, I'm aware that this behaviour is becomming increasingly OCD-like (for example I've stopped holding on to the handle on the escalator and I'm opening doors where possible with my elbows or forearm instead of my hands), and secondly (and this is the most worrying) there is some talk that visitors will be banned from hospitals (completely) as the majority of people who have ended up dying from the disease had underlying medical problems...which, if Flyingpops finds herself staying in for a couple of days, could be a rather lonely experience when the baby arrives... :(

4 comments:

Kev Brown said...

The first person in our small little team was off work yesterday with swine flu, so I'm sure it'll head my way as well very soon!

-MR X- said...

my sister is just getting over it at 8 1/2 months pregnant. Mother and baby both fine as far as I'm aware. My mum's also had it, she had it worse and was in bed for a few days but, she was out and about today ;-)

-MR X- said...

pssst - its not too late to consider a home birth ;-)

Flyingpops said...

hmm - not so keen on the home birth thing, just want the reassurance that the doctors are on hand if something does go wrong...i've been convinced i'll need an emergency c section since early days!

although, we live so close to the hospital, I suppose we could consider it!