obligatory swine flu vaccin

[FrenchmumOf3]

I have just found out that I'm 5 weeks pregnant. I live in france where they're vaccinating everyone at the moment, and for pregnant women it's pretty much obligatory. My husband is totally against the vaccin and so was I until I found out I was pregnant. Now I feel compromised. I feel it's really early to have such a vaccin when the foetus is so young - obviously I'm worried about miscarriage. I have three other kids so my chances are probably quite high of getting it. I don't know what to do and feel very alone in my decision. Any advise?

Feel for you, It's such a hard decision for everyone.

This is my humble opinion....

I think what you have to take into consideration is your health.

Are you asthmatic, diabetic, over weight or any other health problems?

Do you eat a healthy diet, do you smoke?

If all of the above is good and the fact that you ARE so early on in PG, I honestly wouldn't risk the vaccine to such an early foetus.

Take lots of immune boosting supplements and foods and make sure the whole family are healthy so that even if you do end up with it, you will all be absolutely fine.

I don't know about france but we don't test for it here and anyone who has more than a runny nose is being diagnosed with swine flu !

We don't know enough and I have a feeling that because the powers that be have agreed with WHO to mass vaccinate, that frightening tactics are the order of the day to get us all running to the doctor, otherwise, it wouldn't work.

Good luck with what ever you do but try to keep an open mind about both the flu and the vaccine and the risk TO YOU PERSONALLY. x

I should say, Im 34+3 weeks PG too and heading into the worst flu season (dec/jan) and am not being vaccinated.

Im healthy, still worried but not enough to join the guinea pigs.

Thanks for that lovely reply,it is comforting to hear that. Yes, we're altogether very healthy in our lifestyle which is a bonus. We also live in a very underpopulated area which gives me hope. My husband's theory is that they've made all these vaccins and now have to justify it so are scaring everyone into getting it done. It's just reading that pregnant women are 3-4 times more likely to get it seriously makes you think. It's not me I'm worried about ,it's the little one!

Hi French mum, I also live in France. I'm not pregnant so not having to make the decision you are. Just wanted to say that I live in a small French village with a population of about 1000 people. At the moment swine flu is doing the rounds and the school has closed as over half the kids are off sick.

Swine flu has been confirmed in some people who went to the bother of testing because they were high risk so it seems fairly likely that that is what is going on with the rest of us.

Anyway just posting to say that everyone I know who is/has been sick has found swine flu to be a lot less bad that they expected it to be. The village doctor is telling everyone to stay and home and drink plenty plus advising vitamin C and cod liver oil for kids (he's an old fashioned fella).

My kids were ill for 3 days with a highish temperature but were eating again and playing on day 3.

I agree with your husband that we are being scared into getting vaccines. I am pretty careful with vaccines anyway, but I am very sceptical about the real need for this one.

No I'm sure you're right. Ok I feel more confident about things now. Thank you for your replies.