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

yanbu, but maybe she just said that, as she didn't want to go into private stuff.

I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have had a severe needle phobia since I had meningitis as a child, and worked hard to get to the point where I was able to have blood drawn for testing. I know how debilitating and limiting a needle phobia can be, and so will assume it is not a decision that she has taken lightly.

On the other hand, I'm am currently on my third day of injecting myself in the stomach to try and reduce the risk of another miscarriage, something that I will apparantly have to do for the whole pregnancy. It's a daily nightmare, but I'm going to try and stick with it.

'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.'

That really made me laugh brady Who'd have thought eh?

'So anyone turning down a free vaccination for it is a bit mad IMO'

They're not 'mad' Ido, they've got a phobia with very extreme, and very real, emotions attached to it. Connecting it to what you see as irrational decisions made by people with a mental health problem is piss poor.

Agent and co, I totally accept there is a phobia, and was praising those who had posted above me for having blood tests etc. despite the phobia. Not sure if you misunderstood. I don't consider myself phobic, but a canula was my greatest fear. Hope that is clearer.

I'm not mad. My phobia stems from hypersensitivity on account of being autistic. I get sedated for dentists appointments.

browneyesblue I hope it all goes well [brew

My post was aimed at butisthismyname.

And i think agents was at ido.

Browneyesbluee i wish you all the best.

But I wouldn't be able to do it. Its not about being string enough. Its about my blood pressure plummeting to such a dangerous level I can not keep conscious. There is nothing I can do to force myself when faiting is out of my hands.

agent gonna phone the NHS in the morning (do they have a central number, maybe nhs direct?) and tell them about this break through we have had on MN tonight.

Zigzag Ok "mad" was obviously the wrong word to choose, my apologies, I didn't mean it like it sounded, and didn't use it as a mental health connotation. Pertussis is becoming epidemic in Australia, and you really are sick and laid out for a long time. With a new baby it's the last thing you want to have to deal with, plus the risk of passing it on to your own baby. I have seen people with needle phobia and really feel for them- but there are strategies, to help deal with it.

My DS had a needle phobia. A proper full on needle phobia. The day they wanted to give him an MRI scan aged 8 to diagnose his brain tumour they spent 3 hours trying to put the cannula in the back of his hand for the contrast drug. They had to discharge him because of his distress and admit him the next day and give him valium orally so they could give him the intravenous drugs he needed.

But after that he was much better and let them inject him/cannulise him without too much difficulty although I knew he didn't like it and was being brave because he had to be. He spent 5 weeks in hospital and had a new cannula inserted every 48 hours and he cried every time.

So sorry but if my utterly terrified 8 year old who was suffering from a malignant brain tumour can overcome his total needle phobia then I can't see why an adult can't for a routine jab.

ido can you give me a strategy for not passing out when I know there is a needle meant for my in the room.
Cbt didn't work, hypnotherapy, actual therapy etc. None of it worked.
would love some one to tell me how to swtich off uncontrollably passing out.

Thanks :)

I suppose it's up to the individual to weigh up the risk / reward. The injections put me under an enormous amount of stress, but for me that is outweighed by the potential benefit (and, apparantly I'll get used to it in a few weeks )

If I felt that the injections were more damaging to my health, I'd maybe make a different decision.

browneyesblue - the things you do hey [bgrin] I hope the pregnancy goes well for you x

brown I would let dh inject me. But I would be passed out. Its definitely worth it. I just could saty upright long enough to do it.

buster they don't give valium to pregnant women. unfortunately just because one person can over co e a fear does not mea another can.

To all you 'just get over it' types. Please tell me how. Tell me what you can come up with that my gp, therapist, specialist, complimentary thearapists have missed.

Sorry over co e a fear does not mea another can.

Should read overcome a fear, does not mean another can

Phobias have different scales as well. You can possibly say your son has a 'worse' phobia than someone. Its hard to quantify so hard to say. If 'x' can get over it you can.

I don't know Brady to be honest- if all of that didn't work for you- some sort of sedative? Lying you slightly head down/feet up to keep your blood pressure up? Making sure you were very well hydrated? Or maybe some kind of vagal blocker (am not about to google what drug that would be) to stop that response you are having??

brady you could perhaps ask your GP to prescribe you valium before you are due any injections if your phobia is that bad. I know my GP has prescribed valium to friends who are utterly terrified of flying before a long haul flight.

x posts brady sorry

brady I have known many pregnant women receive Valium

I have never known a pg women to given valium. I would worry that would harm my baby.

I do have sedatives occasionally. But not when pg on advice from blood taker (can't spell phlebotomist), gp and mw.

My point is seek g a damp shot of someone isn't enough to tell someone they are selfish and foolish or to grow up and get on with it.

Do you people say that to people who have depression? Take a pill and crack on?

I am usually sedated for flying she bi absolutely must.

Thankfully my only 2 fears.

I also suffer with depression.

Drank too much wine.

My point is seeing a snap shot of someone isn't enough to tell someone they are selfish and foolish or to grow up and get on with it.

I have a friend who is so terrified of needles, she can't even hear the words needle or injection without freaking out. It severally impacts her life, she can't travel because she can't have needles for tropical diseases, she's not had the majority of her adult vaccinations, she's terrified of getting ill in case she needs a needle, she doesn't want kids because of blood tests and she still has nightmares/flashbacks about the last time she had to have a blood test.

The whooping cough vaccination is important, but phobias are not something to poo-poo and people who have them certainly aren't foolish are selfish. OP you come across as being very, very insensitive.