Quick poll - Pg ladies, how pg are you and will you be having the swine flu jab?

[laurawantsababy]

I am 25 weeks pg with dc2 and very confused.

After another death but with conflicting advice about the jab chosen for the UK what are we to do??

I would love you here everyones choice and thoughts on it to help me out.

Thanks

[bringonthetrumpets]

16 weeks and definitely NOT having the jab.

I don't think it's been researched enough, and to be fair, it's only the flu that the media has tagged a name to.

[hoops997]

I agree with trumpets, I'm also 16 weeks and will NOT be having the jab, there hasn't been enough research and to be honest I think the pandemic has been blown completely out of proportion by the lovely british media.......

[louii]

I am 24 weeks and will under no circumstance be availing of this jab.

Not up for subjecting my unborn child to medical testing which is basically what it is, would rather take my chances with swine flu.

[sally78]

I am 23 weeks and WILL be having the jab, as much to protect me and unborn baby, as to protect my 2 year old and husband.

I do keep thinking about CJD and Golf War syndrome......but on weighing things up.....Yes will be having the jab.

[sally78]

This is interesting www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3075107/Pregnant-women-to-to-be-offered-flu-jab-to-protect-babies.html

Intersting about not vaccinating in the 1st trimester, I assume this will be the same with Swine flu.....

[PanicMode]

I don't know - I'm 12 weeks pregnant with my fourth, but I also have a heart condition, which I guess could be a medical complication, so I need to take medical advice....it scares me either way, I feel as though it's a bit of a Hobson's choice

[QuietlyTTC]

11 weeks
I won't be having it

[keepcalmcarryon]

32 weeks, and not having it.

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

I'm 36 weeks and wont be having it.

[QuietlyTTC]

the mumsnet survey result was "48% ? of pregnant women who responded probably or definitely would not have the jab once it is available"

[funtimewincies]

33 weeks and won't be able to decide until I have some info on it.

[DorotheaPlentighoul]

10 weeks -- don't want to have it, probably won't but am keeping an open mind. TBH slightly worried about DP (asthma) and DS (age 2.2). We are all in one way or another "high risk", it seems.

[browntrout]

37 weeks - wont have it

[morethemerrier]

10 weeks pregnant with dc3, feels very like the MMR media frenzy of a few years ago damned if you do damned if you don't! As if we don't have enough decisions to make throughout pregnancy! Conflicting information, take todays headlines, the jab being imported has not been tested versus two more deaths of pregnant women, personally I will be upping my intake of vitamin c. My instincts are telling me to trust my bodies ability to cope if needed, but I have no underlying health issues. Very difficult for those vulnerable pregnant mums. You can only make the choice that feels right for you. Wishing all a happy, healthy pregnancy x

[Ohwhatacrapmasfear]

Am 27 weeks and also asthmatic. Not sure what the guidance is in this situation but as it stands, I won't be having it.

[whomovedmychocolate]

I'm not pregnant (but I am nosey) but can I ask, is it the idea of side effects or the idea that is simply won't work which is putting off those of you who have decided not to?

[ladyandthechocolate]

It's a really really tricky one. This vaccine is made in exactly the same way as the 'normal' flu vaccine which is used successfully and safely on thousands of pregnant women.
As I understand it, there are two vaccines - Pandemrix and Celvapan. Pandemrix is the contraversial one as it contains Thiomersal which is basically Mercury and the effect on the foetus is thought to be safe but is unknown. Celvapan does not contain Thiomersal.

Catching flu in pregnancy is also thought to be possibly harmful to the baby. The cytokines that are released when you have a fever have been shown to affect the foetus and in a few studies to cause emotional and development problems later in childhood. Then there's the potential for complications with you - pneumonia etc etc.

Personally I haven't decided! I'm technically at high risk as I work for the NHS in close patient contact and I'm currently 7 weeks preg with DC2.

[DorotheaPlentighoul]

ladyandthechocolate, are those studies about the cytokines good ones in your opinion? Really convincing, I mean?

And if Celvapan does not contain thiomersal, that makes it sound as if Celvapan is the one to go for ... or are there still worries around that too?

Sorry to pester, but you sound like a useful person to have on this thread

[QuietlyTTC]

I don't fancy any unknown side effects for myself or the foetus

I won't be having a regular flu jab either

You have to weigh up

• risk of harm from jab
• risk of harm from flu

[DarrellRivers]

16/40
yes

[ib]

16 weeks and won't be having it.

[Liskey]

I'm 27 weeks pregnant and have just been discussing this with DH. Dh view is he wants me to be safe and wants me to have the vaccine and I tend to think the risk of death is worse for me (and the baby) then other health risks.

However when I asked my MW about it 3 weeks ago she was saying my health authority would defintely not be offering it to pregnant women and seemed shocked that I was even asking!

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

wmmc, I decided against it because for me, the potential benefit doesn't outweigh the potential risk.

Swine flu is common, but generally mild. I know that pg women are 'high risk', but pg women are at risk of complication from any flu, yet are not routinely advised to have the seasonal flu vaccine.

I try not to take any medication during pregnancy anyway, so the thought of taking a new vaccine that hasn't even been tested on pg women concerns me greatly.

[ladyandthechocolate]

Hi Dorothea,

Didn't mean to scare anyone but just thought these things needed mentioning as I think so many people have just made a snap decision about not having the jab without considering the pros and cons.
The studies are all retrospective but have shown the babies born to mothers that had had flu were more likely to be schizophrenic or have neural tube defects (if caught in first trimester) or suffer from emotional and social problems and have a lower IQ (if caught at any stage in pregnancy).
The studies do seem credible and (for me) it has been studied enough times to make me concerned.
I believe Celvapan would be the one to go for (the official line is that pregnant women should avoid thiomersal).