Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Flu vaccine

13 replies

LittleBean2025 · 13/09/2025 09:02

Hi mums 😊 I’m currently 31 weeks pregnant and my midwife mentioned the flu vaccine. I wanted to ask if any of you had it during pregnancy, how you felt afterwards, and if you found it safe. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences 💕

OP posts:

applegingermint · 13/09/2025 09:05

I had it when pregnant. It’s an extremely safe vaccines.

The southern hemisphere has just had a really bad flu season so potentially we are in for another bad one as well. I had flu A last year and it was horrible - I was in bed unwell for a week. I wouldn’t fancy it in my third trimester.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 13/09/2025 09:10

If it wasn't safe, they wouldn't recommend it to a pregnant woman.

Actual flu, if you ever have it, is debilitating.

StacieBenson · 13/09/2025 09:12

I had all the recommended vaccines and felt fine, with the exception of RSV where I felt like a truck had run me over for 24 hours afterwards. Flu was very mild in comparison. (I would still rather have the vaccine than a full blown case of RSV though!)

BallerinaRadio · 13/09/2025 09:12

How on earth can someone ascertain that they found the vaccine safe?

Listen to the health professionals offering you it

Isobel201 · 13/09/2025 09:24

I've never been pregnant, but I have it every year since having to take medication that lowers my immune system, and never had any problems with the flu jab. Maybe a little soreness in the arm, but that's about it.

ResusciAnnie · 13/09/2025 09:25

Yes most people will have had it when they were pregnant. Then your kids will probably have it when they’re toddlers (through GP) and every year at school from then on. All good!

Ditto people have whooping cough vax and I had 2 Covid vaccines while pregnant too. :)

mammabing · 13/09/2025 09:29

I had flu, COVID and whooping cough vaccines all in the space of 3 days while pregnant. Other than a rather punctured arm I was absolutely fine

Fitzcarraldo353 · 13/09/2025 09:30

I have it every year as I had flu when I was 29 and was SO sick with it. Had it in both of my pregnancies too (along with the whooping cough one). Kids also have had it every year it's been offered to them (nasal spray). Flu vaccine is incredibly safe.

Moveoverdarlin · 13/09/2025 09:30

Had it whilst pregnant 3 times. All fine.

mummybearSW19 · 13/09/2025 09:48

If I was pregnant now, I would have the flu vaccine and definitely the whooping cough vaccine. These vaccines are very safe.

I didn’t have the flu vaccine in my first pregnancy as I was moving around between countries and just missed flu season in both.

So when I had my second pregnancy, I didn’t have the flu vaccine because I’ve never had it before and didn’t want to treat the pregnancy differently

I was also moving around countries and came back to the UK at the end of flu season so decided it was a risk I would take….

not entirely sure why now but clearly must have made sense at the time. I think it was flawed logic in hindsight.

I have kids in secondary school and primary school now and they have never had the flu vaccine. I have never had the flu vaccine. Their dad used to have it every year via his employer.

The kids didn’t have the Covid vaccine either. Their dad and I both had the Covid vaccine twice.

Of course we made these decisions from a place of privilege - ie good health, sick pay, able to isolate if needed.

However, the kids have had all other usual vaccines plus chicken pox. it was a normal childhood vaccine in the other country we spent time in so first child had it and then (so I could treat them the same) we paid for the second child to have it in the UK

do what is right for you but I wouldn’t want to be sick with flu whilst pregnant nor with a newborn. I would not want to risk newborn catching flu. If I was your friend I would strongly urge you to have it for these reasons.

aveenobambino · 13/09/2025 09:57

I have seen pregnant women critically unwell from the flu, on ventilators and worse. Believe me when you put them off to sleep because they’re struggling to breathe because of flu the fear in their eyes is something that stays with you. Haunts me, actually.

Onthebusses · 13/09/2025 11:41

DisplayPurposesOnly · 13/09/2025 09:10

If it wasn't safe, they wouldn't recommend it to a pregnant woman.

Actual flu, if you ever have it, is debilitating.

Yes that never happens. Women's health is taken very seriously and we've never been recommending anything that has been harmful to us and as soon as something is shown to be harmful it is immediately stopped and the pharmaceutical company who sold it took full responsibility and handed themselves in to be jailed.

Mouthfulofquiz · 13/09/2025 11:47

Yes I had it during all pregnancies

Flip