Babies born to mothers who contracted the swine flu virus faced a much greater risk of being stillborn, according to a new study. Baby deaths among women infected with the 2009 strain of the virus were five times higher than normal. There was also a greater risk of premature births when compared to mothers who had not caught the virus. Health workers say the findings reinforce the message that all pregnant women should get immunised against flu. The study was carried out by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at the Oxford University and it examined the cases of every pregnant woman in the UK who was admitted to hospital while suffering from flu. In 256 mothers infected with the H1N1 flu virus between September 2009 and January 2010, seven of the babies were stillborn and three died shortly after birth. The research was led by Dr Marian Knight who said getting vaccinated against flu was the best protection. The vaccine can be given safely during any stage of pregnancy. It has been seen that mothers who have had the vaccine while pregnant pass some protection to their babies, which may last for the first few months of their lives.
