Swine flu jab in pregnancy - should you have it? Advice please!

[ooosabeauta]

Just a bit desperate for advice about whether to have the swine flu jab. Am 10 and a half weeks along, but very nervous about causing any problems because I've had bad luck with pregnancy in the last year. The vaccine being offered is Pandemrix, and I've got to book the appt. in next couple of days if I want it (the surgery is on Saturday and just got the letter inviting me).

Any advice/experience/hunches/theories would be much appreciated, please!

I can't offer any advice but I had the jab before Christmas when I was 20 weeks. All is fine with my pregnancy so far. I am not convinced that I really needed this jab as have not met anyone before or since who has had swine flu, but I decided at the time that all I could do was go with Government advice - which was to have the jab.

That's helpful, thanks passionberry. Kind of the boat I'm in - not sure if I really need it or not but prob will because they've said that I should. Thank you.

I replied on your other thread. Just wanted to add though that a lot of the people who chose to have the jab did so in the height of flu season. It's coming into spring now and there are very few cases around so you're in a different position.

Thank you bubbleymummy, and sorry for only just seeing this- I did the other thread then hid it by accident and still don't know where to find it!

That's interesting to hear. Haven't booked myself in yet so really need to tmw if I'm getting it...

I'm 11 weeks pregnant but got a call from my GP at 10 and a half weeks (last Sunday) and he asked me whether i wanted the flu jab, he said to me that as swine flu was on the decline at the moment "my advice would be not to have the jab."

Oh that is exactly what I wanted to hear asampras, thank you! I spoke to my doctor on the phone yesterday who said I should definitely have it, so I booked the appt. for this morning, but then spoke to my mum who said "please don't!" and so I've just come back from going along to the surgery to say that I've changed my mind. Felt really bad about it because even the receptionist was saying that 'the advice' is that all preg. women should, but I've got my 12 week scan on Tuesday and just had this terrible fear that the jab could do something and it would all go horribly wrong. Anyway, in short, thank you!

my Mum's a nurse and said she wouldn't if she was me, but she doesn't have any reason why not to have it has left me feelign a bit confused as previously I thought I might decide to have it. That said, neither the GP I saw nor the midwife have even mentioned swine flu/ vaccination to me yet

I read in the Metro this morning that a recent study had shown a connection between flu during pregnancy and an increased incidence of schizophrenia in the infant. The study was done on monkeys, but it was claimed it had implications for humans too. I can't remember the source, and make no claims for its accuracy. However...I'm 12 weeks pregnant and this may have decided me to have it.

Hiya - I am not a fan, i really believe its all hype. Loads of interesting articles on this parenting site wp.me/pFWj1-zy

I have some american friends who have told me that it is standard for pregnant women there to ALL get the latest flu jab. They are shocked when I tell them we don't do that here. They went on to give me a list of side effects from having flu while preggers.

Weird eh, cos I don't know anyone who has has a flu jab in the uk while pregnant before the swine flu epidemic.

My doctor told me to wait until the 2nd trimester, by which point the flu season was pretty much over. However there is some evidence that the baby will inherit your immunity for the first few months of his/her life, until their own immune system bulds up, and since my baby will be born just before autumn starts, I thought that would be a benefit. However I am in the US and the general concensus over here is if you're pregnant you really must have it. It's really 6 of one, half a dozen of the other - go with your instincts. And enjoy your pregnancy!

Difficult as a very close friend has had a pregnant friend and her unborn baby die due to swine flu

Contracted flu in August died in December after being in a coma, went into labour and lost the baby some point fairly early on after contracting swine flu.

Dammed if you, dammed if you don't?

I am having this exact dilema atm. I'm very early pregnant. Haven't been to the docs yet but I got a letter this morning inviting me for the swine flu jab and the normal flu jab if I haven't had it (I have asthma so I get flu jab anyway, although I didn't bother last year).