to think "not liking needles" is not a good reason for a pregnant woman to turn down whooping cough vaccine?

[stormforce10]

There may be other reasons I'm not aware of to turn it down but for the lady I met at baby and bumps group today to be turning it down for this reason seems foolish and selfish.

I've seen a small child with whooping cough abroad. Its very distressing and I'd do anything reasonable to protect children from it.

So AIBU to think that turning it down just because you don't like needles or injections is wrong? I'm so glad DS (18 weeks) has now had the full course of early vaccines which included whooping cough

I find it pretty lame, considering you have to have blood tests during pregnancy.

I think you're right there may be other reasons that she didn't feel like explaining to a lady she met at a baby and bumps group.

yabu

I dislike needles so much that I have fainted the last few times. Its an actual phobia. But I would say 'i don't like needles'.

And shock horror, I didn't have the swine flu jab when pregnany in winter 2010/2011.

When you kids are adults and you have been perfect, pop back and tell me I am foolish and selfish.

Yes. Of course, there may have been other reasons she didn't want to share. But if it really was because she doesn't like injections then that is a terrible reason to refuse a jab. Pregnancy unfortunately involves lots of jabs and blood tests and you just have to close your eyes and put up with it.

But have you not had other needles through the pregnancy - blood tests, etc?

Brady I'm far far from perfect

Purely from interest how did you cope with the blood tests when you were pregnant? A phobia that strong must make things very difficult for you and does give a different prespective - I've never heard of anyone actually fainting from needle phobia it must be awful for you

I coped by passing out. Alot.

At my gestational diabetes test it took three attempts to have it taken at the beginning and 4 attempts at the end.

My blood pressure dips so much the blood almost stops flowing out of my arm.

The needle wasn't reason for the swine flu jab, I had my own reasons for that. But everyone likes to tell you why you are wrong. So yes saying 'i am afraid of needles' is easier as general nurses don't want to faff with someone if they don't have to.

Op since you are not perfect, don't go round calling people selfish and foolish.

Do you have an phobias storm?

I'm guessing not, because if you did you wouldn't be minimising something other people find traumatic.

If you have a proper spider phobia, think of having one crawling on your face.

Or maybe if you really can't fly, being made to go up for something you only consider a risk.

Thankfully I don't have a needle phobia, but just saying 'get over it/you're being lame' doesn't fully describe the terror a phobia can produce.

And WTF has this other mums private choices got to do with you?

Trust me no one wants a pregnant woman laid out with blood pressure that has dropped dangerously low.

I have a needle phobia. I don't know why, but putting something in is far worse than taking something out. When I was expecting last time, I had all the blood tests but refused all pain relief. Not because I wanted a natural birth but because by the time the pain was greater than the phobia it was too late.

as far as i know, no pregnant woman is obligated to consent to any tests being carried out so she may well be refusing all tests involving needles. it's really none of anyone's business and she shouldn't have to explain further than she wants to.

flamin that was me when ds was born in early 2011.

I went from 0cm to 8 in forty mins and he tried to come down so had to be manually dilated (hurts like hell) and push for 6 mins. Didn't even get chance tp refuse pain relief.

Hmmm. My greatest fear of pregnancy was having a canula fitted. This was an odd pregnancy fear apparently.
And guess what? I had one. Three times. Badly fitted once (fluid going under skin but not in vein), badly fitted again (blood squirting out as I walked into labour room) etc.
As parents, we put our kids first, as the lady who had all her pregnancy tests despite passing out shows. So yes, sounds a bit odd to say the least OP!

I had about a milion injections when I was small as I had over 30 operations. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was sooo terrified of the blood tests I nearly passed out and had to go to my GP to have them done. By the time I had dd2 ( third child) I was still nervous but got on with it because I had to. When she was born with a congenital genetic condition, I was asked to give some blood to help her. I didn't flinch. FFS, you should do anything to look after your child. I had whooping cough at six weeks old and my mum says it was the worst thing ever, YANBU -the stupid whinging woman is. Sorry

Mind your beeswax.

and I had three epidurals, all of which I was terrified of, but, hey you get over it

Fair enough, I'm happy to be critisised as I say I'm far from perfect. I've done lots of foolish and/or selfish things in my life and wouldn't' object to anyone calling me that in relation to those particular issues because I was! Obviously I didn't think I was at the time but time brings clarity to things

Luckily for me I don't suffer from a phobia which may be why I find it harder to understand.

I think I feel very strongly about this particular issue because I've seen first hand what a horrible disease it is. Imagine seeing a small child coughing so badly their ribs are broken :(

It was actually the birth of my first that made my fear worse.

An epidural (that they recommended ) took 5 attempts to get in.

I'm sorry I am well on my high horse here . When I had all the horrible jabs when I was little, they were with massive great thick needles and they hurt like hell. That's all I remembered. Nowadays, it's so different. there is no need to be afraid of injections or blood tests. What would such people do if they were dying and needed injections or drugs given with needles to keep them alive??? say 'no ta, i don;t like it, I'll die instead'??? I know what needle phobia is and I got over it. Still don't enjoy it ( the dentist is a problem but I do it...) Honestly, i think that people who have this phobia have no real idea of what being jabbed and hurt as small child, alone, in the middle of the night in a hospital bed, is actually like.

But having a phobia isn't being foolish storm, and that's the difference.

Saying they've made the choice not to have the jabs shows how lacking in sympathy and compassion your OP is.

Cbh said 'As parents, we put our kids first' and that goes for mums with a needle phobia as well, but it means the terror they feel at thinking about having a jab is so strong it's able to overcome the 'wanting to do the best for your DC' feelings most have.

The last paragraph in your last post makes it sound as though you're saying the mums are choosing for this to happen to their children rather than have a tiny bit of pain with a jab.

You know that's not right don't you?

But you do realise its an actual phobia yes?

You sound like a twat. do we tell people with anxiety to 'just get over it'?

I had meningitis and nearly died at 17. I had fluid removed from my spine several times. I have 4 doctors then fuck up an epidural.

Not quite the same as a few bad jabs.

Sorry just read it was more than a few bad jabs. But you clearly don't have an actual phobia.

*there is no need to be afraid of injections or blood tests.8

Oh shit glad you told me. Thats stopped my phobia in its tracks. right there.

Fooking hell doctors have spent years trying to figure out how to cure phobias. Turns out you just need some self righteous twit on the internet to tell there is no need.

Can you do the same for people with claustrophobia? there is no real reason to be scared of inclosed spaces after all.

Babies aside, whooping cough is so disgusting, and makes you sick for months (isn't it the 100 day cough??) that even as an adult you wouldn't want it. So anyone turning down a free vaccination for it is a bit mad IMO.

I think I feel very strongly about this particular issue because I've seen first hand what a horrible disease it is.

As I said before I almost died when I had meningitis. However I still think the choice to vaccinate its a parents choice. I would discuss it with them, but i wouldn't call them foolish or selfish.

I am very pro vaccine, except swine flu for pg women. But that another thread.