The UK government has re-issued a set of swine flu guidelines for mothers-to-be and children under 5 years old. This comes after a pregnant women died shortly after giving birth.

However, the National Childbirth Trust and the Royal College of General Practitioners commented that women delay pregnancy is a form of "scaremongering" and a "disproportionate reaction" respectively.

The governments reaction comes after a pregnant women dies in a London hospital and a six month baby died, both after contracting the swine flu virus.

Department of Health

The Department of Health have suggested that mothers-to-be and babies can suffer complications after contracting the swine flu virus due to a suppressed immune system, including:

• Pneumonia
• Breathing difficulties
• Dehydration

Expecting others have also been warned to practice good hygiene including washing their hands with soap and water and avoid crowded places as much as possible.

Swine flu deaths

At the time of writing 29 people had died in the UK after contracting swine flu - 26 in England and three in Scotland.

The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus in the winter of 2009 in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000.