b'VACCINATIONS DURING PREGNANCYThere are several excellent resources regarding vaccinations during pregnancy, specifically with regard to influenza (flu) and pertussis (whooping cough):Centers for Disease Control and the flu vaccine: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancyCenters for Disease Control and pertussis:www.cdc.gov/whoopingcoughSEAFOOD YOU CAN EAT ANYTIME: Akule Awa (milk fish) Moi Mullet Opelu Salmon (wild, not farmed or canned) Fish small enough to put in a frying pan whole Ika (squid, calamari and tako) Scallops ShrimpQ: Should I stop eating fish? Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant A: No. Remember, fish is a healthy part of your diet. Justwomen than in women who are not pregnant. make sure you are eating the right types of fish. Pregnant women with flu also have a greater chance for serious problems for their developing baby, including Q: Why is the mercury in fish harmful? premature labor and delivery.Getting a flu shot is the A: Mercury can be very harmful to the brain, and evenfirst and most important step in protecting against flu. small amounts can damage a brain that is justThe flu shot given during pregnancy has been shown starting to form and grow. Thats why young children,to protect both the mother and her baby for several unborn babies, and breastfed babies are at the mostmonths after birth from flu.risk.Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly Q: What if I have already been eating more thancontagious respiratory disease. Pertussis is known for advised? uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes A: Mercury leaves the body slowly. If you have eatenit hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone more than advised, do not eat any of the limited intakewith pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which fish for a few months. result in a whooping sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious and even deadly, for babies less than a year old. The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated.'