To flu jab or not to flu jab...

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I'm only 6 weeks and feel pretty grim until about lunch time most days at the moment. I've had the flu jab 3 times before, the first couple of times was fine but the last time made me feel awful afterwards. It wasn't like a 'oh no it's given me the flu' feeling, it was more like really bad lethargy and generally feeling like crap. I'm not sure I could face feeling like that whilst already knackered and nauseous all the time, plus I can't really take time off work if it does make me feel awful again.
Problem is, flu season is upon us and I work in a clinic so I'm probably exposed to all sorts of bugs on a daily basis!!

[Awfulknitter]

I had the flu jab on Friday. According to the healthcare assisstant who gave it, the version I had was an inactive or 'killed' vaccine so it doesn't make you feel bad at all. Just as she said, I had no effects apart from a slightly sore spot on my arm.

So it might be worth checking what version you can get - my midwife described having flu while pregnant as pretty grim, so I'm keen to avoid it!

Now if only there were a vaccine that would let me eat pate and stinky cheese...

Hope the morning sickness gets better soon!

[Redhead79]

It's one of those risk/benefit things and no one can tell you what to do.
The flu jab cannot give you the flu, just like the meningitis jab cannot give you meningitis.... However lots of people do feel crap after. And it doesn't protect you agains all the strains of flu.... Weigh that up against having full on flu (while pregnant) when you can't get out of bed for days.....
I felt a bit bullied into having it as previously my arm has swelled up really badly, however this time it was fine, and working with the germy general public I though it was, on balance, a good idea.

[Oysterbabe]

Have the jab. Surely it's worth reducing the risk to you and your baby for the sake of maybe feeling a bit off for a few days?

[cth1982]

I think the benefits of having the jab outweigh the negatives - flu can be very dangerous when you are pregnant (your immune system is already compromised) - book it in for a Friday and have the weekend and a couple of days off to recover :)

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Thanks for the replies, I'm thinking Friday might be a good day to have it, then if it does make me feel like crap I at least have the weekend to recover....!
Jabs just worry me anyway, dd ended up in hospital after her mmr booster this year so I think they will always worry me now!

[Mummytoabeaut1]

I had the flu jab whilst I was pregnant it was the same season only I had mine done the day before Christmas Eve last year, I was as sick as a dog Xmas Eve and day. Although I don't regret having this done as I was about 11 weeks pregnant, I can see why some women choose not too. It is your choice completely, just remember everyone reacts differently whilst I didn't have a get reaction many women can be completely fine afterwards.

[SnozzberryPie]

I've had it already and had no side effects apart from a sore arm. In previous years I have felt a bit grotty afterwards but nothing from this year's vaccine, if that reassures you at all.

[Brummiegirl15]

Flu when you are pregnant is incredibly dangerous. The reason it doesn't get offered routinely to just anyone is because normal people should be able to fight it off.

Pregnant women are more vulnerable and it can make you very unwell, potentially even fatally.

Why take the risk?

I had mine done a couple of weeks ago, and no problems with it at all. Not even a sore arm.

If you are worried, perhaps book it as an evening appt so you can go home and go to bed

[Klaptrap]

I would have it, personally, for the reasons that Brummiegirl stated.

I had mine last week (at around 6 weeks) and, although I felt shit anyway (sick and knackered) it didn't make me feel any worse.

At the end of the day it obviously has to be your decision, but personally I would have it.

[lucy101101]

I did a lot of research on the flu vaccine when pregnant and decided to have it as it has a pretty good safety profile and has been given to pregnant women particularly in the US for a long time now. The risks of having flu during pregnancy (still birth etc.) were more worrying for me.

[Skiptonlass]

Take it.

Flu isn't to be trifled with - and it's much more dangerous when you're pregnant. Put simply, it can kill you.

We are very complacent about flu. The vaccine isn't live, it can't give you flu, just a bit of a sore arm (you get exactly the same reaction if you inject plain saline.)

Please take it - the risk:benefit ratio is a no brainer.

[TaliZorah]

I never had it. It seemed pointless to me, and yes I have had the flu before. I had swine flu.

I didn't have whooping cough either though so make of that what you will

[Oysterbabe]

In what way pointless.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Crikey, I didn't know flu could be that risky when pregnant! I think I'll be getting the jab.... Rang my drs and they said i can just drop in anytime :)

[Daffydil]

This years jan includes swine flu. Last time there was a swine flu outbreak otherwise healthy but pregnant women who got swine flu died. I'm not sure they know why pregnant women were particularly vulnerable, but they certainly seemed to be.

[FoggyMorn]

Have the jab :) flu is more dangerous when you are pregnant because you immune system is compromised (turned down a bit) to stop your body rejecting the baby.

It's not just risky for the mother, flu can cause miscarage and stillbirth too.

[Runningupthathill82]

I had the flu jab and whooping cough jab today. To me it's an absolute no-brainer.

Yes, the vaccinations might make you feel a bit crap (though I've had no symptoms thus far), but flu in pregnancy can have extremely serious outcomes.

My GP also told me that there's a current flu outbreak in my area. As someone who uses public transport, works in a very large organisation and has a DS in nursery it's more likely than not that I'd come into contact with someone infected.
Not worth the risk IMO.