38 weeks,been invited for swine flu vac?

[currycrazy]

im 38wk1d and received a letter this morning asking if i would like to go and have the swine flu injection........i dont want it as i dont believe they can truely tell what long term effects there might be.I would possibly have it myself but really dont think id like to risk it being pregnant.
I dont really have long to go now anyway.

just wondering what other peoples view on this was,do you think im doing the right thing and what are you doing?

thanks

[girlsyearapart]

you are so near the end I'd hold off until after the baby is born.

I've had it but I'm not pregnant.

[EldonAve]

but the OP won't get it after the baby is born unless she is in another at risk group

long discussion thread here

[girlsyearapart]

Oh didn't realise you lose your right to it after the baby is born.. I got it because of my MS. Didn't even occur to me not to have it but if I were pregnant I might have thought a bit harder..

[sleepwhenidie]

Yes, the the SF risk is to you as a pg woman, hence the jab being offered, but after the baby is born, he/she falls into one of the highest risk categories too (while you will fall out) but until 6m will be too young to be offered the jab.

I don't know if this is your 1st baby but my thinking in having the jab quite late in pg was that January is supposed to be a peak period for it and I have 2 other DC's (who haven't been invited for jab yet)- DS will be starting reception in Jan and DD will be starting nursery - so are inevitably going to be picking up every bug going from their new circles of friends. I didn't want to risk vulnerable new baby catching SF. As a result of me having jab he/she will be vaccinated as well as me.

[Mama2b5]

i understand how you feel, i have decided not to get it, even though i have 4 other children who go to school and are around others! i feel i dont know the long term side effects and also they dont seem to report about pregnant women who do survive SF its alot of the negative but surely there are women who get through fine and baby comes through fine also!

I believe you should discus it with someone get all the info and make a calm and well informed choice!

Good luck and hope all goes well with birth x

[BexJ78]

I was in the same boat as you and decided not to have the jab. This is my first baby so i don't have any other dc's to think about. DH and i just felt that the vaccine for some reason did not sit quite right with us and for that reason, i would not have it. It said on the news yesterday that 12 pg women had died from SF, but gave no indication as to how many pg women have had SF...

good luck to you, whatever you decide!

[displayuntiltwelfthnight]

my sister was told by her mw it's not safe after a certain stage in pregnancy so she was advised to have it done before 30weeks

[houmousandcarrotsandwich]

I had Swine Flu vacc last week at 38 weeks.

I decided to go for it because I felt my baby is fully developed now just gaining some weight before coming out.

Also I thought if I had some reaction, it should be safe to induce baby at this late stage.

I thought that it wouldn't be good if I caught swine flu with a newborn.

This is just my opinion and understand that others are understandbly cautious.

By the way, I have had NO reaction at all. Arm felt like it had been punched a few hours later and that was it!

[somanyboyssolittletime]

I think the vaccine gives the baby immunity for 6 months after birth too, whereas if you don't have it, they can't give it to a baby until they are 6 months old.

Another consideration in a very difficult decision! (I had it at 30 weeks FWIW)