Flu jab

[ozysanj]

As the winter is coming,flu season is coming as well.

I have seen my midwife today and she gave me a letter about fluJab and that it is recommended.I have never had one in my life and don't get flu much.Don't want to risk my baby of course but I,m not sure having a jab either.

Any ideas?Who will get one.?

 

[blink_baby]

my mums been telling me about this too.... saying it was in the newspaper how they recommend pregnant women to get the flu jab. id also b interest to hear if anyone else is getting it? x

 

[ggbaby2]

My ob said it's recommended and as my job offers it for free I will be getting it next week. I also read recently that last year something like 300 pregnant women died from the flu so that's another thing to motivate me.

 

[AveryATL]

I will be getting it for sure. There are cases where women have gotten the flu during pregnancy, and caused major problems with the baby. In addition, the baby gets some of the immunity from the mother when it is born from the flu shot.

There is a very small risk that people have complications from getting the vaccine, but it is much smaller than the risk of complications from getting the flu while pregnant.

And, they now have flu vaccinations without Mercury, or trace amounts (the equivalent of eating a couple of cans of tuna while pregnant), so IMO, there is no reason not to.

 

[pinkbubbles]

I got a text from my doctors surgery suggesting i book in 4 1! Ive never had the jab or the flue 4 that matter....but seen as theyve advised me ive booked in 4 1! If i didnt u just know that id get the flu! Lol xx

 

[pipsbabybean]

i was unsure tbh. had a letter from my doc advising it.
i asked my mates on fb and all said yes they had had it whilst pg and had no effect.
also with the swine flu last year id hate to risk it, be typical if i didnt have it, i wud get it.
i cant imagine anything worse than feeling poorly and baba being poorly to. im all booked in for it now

 

[helenas81]

I had a letter from my doc saying I cab have the flu jab. I asked on Facebook to pregnant ladies who have had it or would have it, started a big debate! But I've choose not to have it, if it was just flu then I would but the swine flu is combined and I'm not sure on that. My feelings are it's too new to know the long term affects on my baby

 

[lintu]

I had a letter from my doc saying I cab have the flu jab. I asked on Facebook to pregnant ladies who have had it or would have it, started a big debate! But I've choose not to have it, if it was just flu then I would but the swine flu is combined and I'm not sure on that. My feelings are it's too new to know the long term affects on my baby

I feel the same.

I used to have the jab every yr cos im asthmatic, but everytime i had it i was rough, so chose not to have it the last two yrs and luckily have been fine. Iv had my letter through but wont be having again, not only cos if it making me rough but they have always said "we dont vaccinate pregnant women" now all of a sudden its safe

I just dont feel the long term tests have been carried out, they may come out with two arms and two legs but then what if in the future it causes fertility issues or something along those lines

I guess you just never know, and theres no rule book as a mum you just have to do what you think is best and for me thats not having the jab

 

[swanxxsong]

I got mine a month ago, and saw the baby today and she's looking perfect.

My doctor highly suggested it, so I went for it. I have a pretty low immune system as it is, so they said it was best to prevent for my sake and especially the baby's.

ETA// But I definitely agree, it's a personal choice. I'm sure plenty of ladies here can give you insight from both sides, but in the end it'll be something you decide if you feel it's what you desire or not. Best wishes!

 

[twigpig]

I've had the flu jab a few times over the last few years as had some very poorly winters and this certainly helped me. I will be getting it and just received a letter from my gp today reminding me to book it in as I'm pregnant.

It might also be worth researching more, as I believe that the jab doesn't expose you to flue as a preventative in this case, so it's safe to receive.

 

[catcatcat]

Im having it. I had swine flu last yr in very early stages of pg i had a mc. Ive got 2 ltl ones who always bring things home in winter, ive got them on expensive vitamins to help protect them as they had swine flu over xmas last yr and it was awful. Im getting the jab x

 

[AveryATL]

The flu vaccination was first developed and used in the 1940's, so I think there has been plenty of time to test effects of the vaccine. The swine flu is nothing more than a variant of the same influenza virus that causes the 'normal' flu, so the vaccination is just targeted towards that virus. The flu vaccination has been altered each year to target that particular strain, so I think there is little to worry about with a vaccination for a new variant. I wouldn't let the newness be a reason for not getting the vaccination.

 

[Housewife83]

I had mine last week. Feel fine.

 

[mochapenguin]

I've never had it before, but went ahead and got one today at my 24 week appointment. The OB brought it up and said it's recommended, explained how as a pregnant woman my immune system is weaker so I'm more likely to get the flu, and if I do get it, I'm more likely to end up hospitalized from it than if I weren't pregnant. She said she wasn't aware of any research indicating that the baby gets any direct benefit from me having the shot, but she did encourage my husband to get one too as we don't want anyone to bring the flu home for the baby to catch since he'll be born right in the middle of the season.

I asked about complications/side effects, and she explained that they inject a dead virus, so it's very unlikely for anyone to get sick just from having the vaccine. She says she's known people who have gotten sick right after getting the shot, but is inclined to believe the timing is coincidence.

It didn't hurt much at all, and I haven't noticed any side effects at all so far.

 

[Julia323]

I probably won't be getting it, unless I'm given very very good (and backed up) reasons otherwise.

The flu vaccine changes each year varying on the strand that they presume will be most previlent that year. They have to "guess" in advance, albeit an educated guess, so that they are able to produce the vaccine and have it available before the flu season picks up. Many years they are wrong, and the vaccine isn't actually protecting you from that years common flu strain.

I will talk to my midwife about it. I'm not anti-vaccine, I just have my reservations.

 

[Angel0116]

I will not be getting the jab. I have never had it before and rarely get the flu. I have also known many people that get it and still get the flu every year. Rather I will just make sure to use common sense and wash my hands all the time!!

 

[Amethyste]

I am def getting it. Had a terrible cold a during the summer and i really don't want to have to deal with that again !!! .

 

[AveryATL]

She said she wasn't aware of any research indicating that the baby gets any direct benefit from me having the shot..

There is now some research that indicates this, but it is pretty new.

The study was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. I don't have access to the actual article, but here is a link to a summary of the research from Yale's School of Medicine Website:

https://www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW033722

 

[mochapenguin]

She said she wasn't aware of any research indicating that the baby gets any direct benefit from me having the shot..

There is now some research that indicates this, but it is pretty new.

The study was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. I don't have access to the actual article, but here is a link to a summary of the research from Yale's School of Medicine Website:

https://www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW033722

Interesting, thanks for sharing! I was pretty curious about this and wanted to do some research.

 

[Julia323]

I am def getting it. Had a terrible cold a during the summer and i really don't want to have to deal with that again !!! .

A cold has nothing to do with the flu... they're very different viruses and the flu shot will have no bearing in wether or not you get a cold.