Dr Hilary Jones on gmtv hmmm now what do I do?

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Ok had decided I would go ahead and have the Swine Flu jab once my surgery got in touch, then while led in bed this morning on comes Hilary Jones saying if his wife was pregnant he would advise her not to have it! Only 2 weeks ago or so he was saying all pregnant woman should have it!!

So now what do I do? and yes I am the sort of person who prefers information in plain english so I can understand, im not a medical type of person with no medical background. All I care about is will my baby be OK if I had the jab. Im 30 weeks right now.

I know we are all in similar positions as each other not really knowing what to do but after this conflicting advise im totally confused!

Sorry I prob sound really thick now

[maybebaby23]

OH NO. I am 34 weeks and also decided to have the jab when im offered it. Had finally come to a decision and it took weeks of sleepless nights and stress. What exactly did he say? Did he give a reason why he would advise her not to have it?

Bloody hell.

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

exactly my point!

He said alot of pregnant woman have decided not to have it and the virus has not been as bad as was thought. But pregnant woman were several times more likely to be admitted into intensive care due to our immune systems. He said the level of pregnant woman that have died with swine flu is high but that those people who have died had underlying health conditions. He talked about the testing that had been done so far as to why only 46% of people offered the jab had taken it up.

But when asked by John before 7am are you saying if you wife was pregnant, you would tell her not to have it, he said yes he would say not to.

Now he talked medical talk too but like I said im a plain english simple kind of person and so the above is what I translated it is, am sure someone will come along and give medical stats etc etc.

Might be something on gmtv website about his comments.

[maybebaby23]

Thanks for that. I just checked the website and couldn't find anything, only that he was saying it was safe and pregnant women should have it, this was in october i think!!! Seems he has changed his mind now then. I HATE HATE HATE this i really do No idea what to do now

Thanks for posting this though, i missed GMTV thanks to peppa pig lol

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

thats why i feel confused i know it sounds silly but I trust him and thought yes Ill go with that then and now this! perhaps a youtube search give me a few mins ill see if i can find anything for you!

[Weegle]

I didn't see this, but...

I think it's irresponsible that people in the medical profession aren't all singing from the same hymn sheet and spouting the same opinion.

It's well known that pg women worry - they worry a lot about drugs on their babies (believe me - and that's coming from someone who's taken A LOT throughout a highly medicalised pregnancy). I think it's irresponsible to have all these different 'professional' opinions. It doesn't actually HELP pregnant women make informed choices.

FWIW I ummed and ahhed for a long time but went ahead and had the jab on Monday. But I think my decision was made easier by a) being in my third trimester and b) having an underlying condition.

[MillyMollyMoo]

Dr Hilary is a bit of a prick in my opinion, I know people who remember him from University days and lets just say he wasn't top of the class (remember Dr's don't get 1st, 2nd or 3rd class degree's just pass or fail so we'll never know how close to not being a Dr he was lol).
Anyway back to the point, absolutely no vaccination is contraindicated in pregnancy because it's unethical to do trials in pregnant women so the truth is none of them have a clue whether it's safe or not, you are the trials.
And for that reason I'm not having it.

[maybebaby23]

Ok thanks, will check back after the school run!

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

sorry maybebaby I cant find anything so far! Will keep my eye on gmtv site to see if they update with his comments today, they should do seeing as it contradicts his earlier comments!

[Bucharest]

Just google all the other bollix Dr Jones has come out with over the past couple of years, and then talk with your own GP/Midwife. They might not be famous and on the telly, but they might also talk more sense than that moron.

[lucy101]

I just watched it... and was amazed... I actually felt it was rather irresponsible (it certainly would be if someone didn't get the jab and then died).

His whole argument was really that swine flu wasn't - and he did say at only the moment though - turning into the pandemic everyone thought it would.

I didn't agree with a number of the comments he made actually. I am not actually sure he has done any more research and reading than many of us here - it felt very much like a personal decision - very upsetting for of you who haven't had it and just opens the debate up all over again.

I think looking back at the long swine flu thread on here and the number of doctors etc. who are now pro-vaccination (all the mumsnetters who's fathers, husbands, friends etc. are doctors, medical researchers etc.) is more helpful than a 1 minute soundbite on the TV from a celebrity GP!

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Lucy did you find a clip? I cant find one to show maybebaby?

Glad someone else watched the same thing I did!

[QueenOfFlamingEverything]

I didn't see it but I wouldn't take anything Hilary Jones says very seriously tbh. He seems to take his appearances on GMTV as an opportunity to spout off his own personal and unfounded opinions. He reckons breastfeeding past 12 months is 'bizarre unusual and unnecessary'!

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Ok i see everyone hates him then lol if he is as bad as everyone is saying then how is he still allowed to appear on tv giving medical advise?

Well still im confused because when i read all the other threads on here its confusing to me about statistics, types of the vaccine available etc.

I want someone to say you should have it because without the jab your baby could have x y and z kind of thing, or you should not have it because your baby might end up with x y and z.

[thedollshouse]

I didn't see the clip but from what you saying his comments echoed the conversations that I have had with medical professionals.

[preggersplayspop]

I haven't had the jab (39 weeks pg) but I wouldn't let Dr Hilary Jones sway my opinion either way as he does talk a lot of rubbish (eg Queenofflamingeverthing quote). I'm sure you carefully considered your decision at the time and made the right one for you. Please don't worry about it now.

[thedollshouse]

Nobody will say that iateallthecreameggsyummy. Medical opinion is so divided.

My sister works in a hospital and they are all at each others throats over it. Some of the consultants in her area are adament that it is safe and are really pushing the staff to go for it whereas other consultants are not convinced of its safety and are furious that others are trying to encourage staff members to have it.

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

ok ladies I shall discuss with my midwife im seeing her next week anyway.

I was certain I would have it, and told dh that last night when we talked about it so letting one man sway my decision isnt good. I think to be honest I took his advise as gospel because I dont understand all the tech talk out there about it. Its admittedly easier for me to go along with things sometimes! This is my first baby and so the first decision I have had to make that could impact on his life I admit im terrified I will make the wrong choice.

But I know im not alone!

[LilyBolero]

I think if you are pg and offered it then you should take it. I am 15 weeks pg, and will have the jab (should our surgery ever be given it - they have 23000 people on their books and were given, wait for it, 500 doses...very useful. Their comment - don't believe what you read in the media, GP surgeries are NOT being given loads of vaccines, it is a shambles).

My reasons for having it;

although it is a so called 'new' vaccine, it is really the tried and tested flu vaccine, with a dead version of the swine flu virus. It is no different to the flu virus jab given every year, as the vaccine is dead.

it's always a concern having any sort of vaccination or medicine when pg. But if you weigh up the risks, NOT having it is not a safe option, as you could end up dying from swine flu, and depending on what stage you are at, your baby could die too. So it's not 'one risky, one safe'. In my view it's safer to have the vaccine.

People have mentioned levels of mercury. But I have read that it is less than in a tuna sandwich.

[LilyBolero]

Should add, all the obs and gynae consultants in our area are unequivocal in their advice that the vaccine is the only safe thing to do.

[MillyMollyMoo]

LilyBolero, unless you are medically qualified I think it's very wrong that you are saying people "should" take it.
The fact is the vaccine has not and cannot be tested on pregnant women, my husbands mother was given the rubella vaccine during pregnancy because there was an outbreak at the time and he lost an eye as a result.
The facts are there is no research as to the impact on the fetus, none.

[MillyMollyMoo]

I can totally understand non pregnant people wanting the vaccine because the worse that will happen to them is that they will get a good dose of flu, but nobody can hand on heart tell you it will not affect your baby, they just can't.

[skihorse]

According to the Times article, so far there have been 10 women (pregnant or just post-partum) in the UK who have died from this.

One (the first) I know was quadraplegic.

I want to know about the other 9.

Were they healthy or did they have underlying health issues?

Why won't they fecking tell us?

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

I know its hard without all the info isnt it!

[shinybaubles]

Hi everyone I am also 33 weeks pregnant but in Belgium and here they are not giving the vaccine out they say it has not turned out to be as bad as expected and they are adopting a wait and see approach. Also my gynaecologist said she would not recommend it to pregnant women with no underlying health problems.
In fact all they are recommending here is washing of hands to be honest.
I know it's not the same in the UK but just thought someone might find it useful, the different approach that is.

[maybebaby23]

Thanks for trying to find a link for me iateallthecremeggsyummy.

I wish someone would tell me what to do. I wish i hadn't read the comment about the husbands mother having rubella vaccine and husband lost an eye because of it!! I know it was a different vaccine but still...

My surgery has just been given the vaccine and my midwife says i should get it. There isn't much time to mess around now im sure i'll be called up soon..what to do!!!!