Flu vaccination

[JenniferR]

Hi there
I just had my first appointment letter through from the hospital. It mentioned that I should organise to get the flu vaccination as soon as possible.
Does anyone know whether the vaccination is okay for pregnant women? I'm not sure whether it is a good thing to get it or not. Has anyone had it while pregnant and if so was it okay?
Could it harm the developing fetus etc? I work at a university and have lots of contact with students and most years I catch something so think I should get the vaccination but obviously not if it will cause any harm.
Any advise much appreciated. Thank you :)

I think this is now advised as it contains the swine flu vaccine.

I myself am uncertain as to whether I will or not to be honest, I am due on the 28th of October, so I haven't got a great deal of time left to decide. I had decided on having swine flu jab, but it wasn't being offered anymore, so had resided myself to the fact I wasn't having it.
I am going to talk to my midwife at my next appointment, as I am a bit concerned, as I know the swine flu jab only a certain one was offered to pregnant women, and I don't know if that is what is included in the seasonal flu jab. And also as far as I am aware the flu jab isn't offered to pregnant women usually, and I am worried there might have been a reason for this not being offered in the past.
Or I might just be over thinking.

That wasn't any help to you at all was it sorry.

I spoke to my GP SIL the other day about this, as I'm dithering about it myself. I asked her if the new combined vaccine was more likely to make me feel sick as a cat afterwards and she thinks not. The regular flu jab (which is modified every year, I think, in response to current needs - am I right?) is given to pregnant women who are in risk groups, like asthma. So it's fine for the rest of us! And as you're aware, the swine flu jab was given to thousands of pregnant women last year. I'm not aware of any problems with them or their newborn babies. SIL said that this year, epidemiologists were concerned that the swine flu might be mutating with seasonal flu, and it was thought that a combined vaccine might be helpful. Also, it's more cost-effective putting it all in one.

(Reason why I'm dithering is merely because I am phobic and don't want to be stuck! But I think it's perfectly safe.)

I never thought about that, of course if you fall in the at risk category for any reason, you will be given the flu jab if pregnant. See all it takes is a bit of rational thinking, or someone to point me in that direction thank you reshapewhilstdamp, or SIL.

Think I will book myself in, yuck hate needles.

Be braver than I am being!

I do think I'll have to get it done - am due at end of Dec, so well within the flu season, and we just don't know how it's going to pan out this year. I'm not aware of any bad anecdotal evidence of pregnant women who had the jab in the UK and something went wrong that was linked to the vaccine, but god knows, there are enough anecdotal stories of pregnant women who caught swine flu and suffered horrible consequences.

Our GP surgery is doing a clinic in mid-Oct, I guess I'll go then.

I totally forgot about the swine flu fiasco pandemic!

FWIW I had the swine flu jab and both me and 4mo DD are fine. No experience with regular flu, sorry, but thought I'd put in my 2p

And Reshape, I'm the biggest needlewuss going, but with all the blood tests when you're pregnant I soon got over it. Ish... Couldn't look when DD had her vaccinations!

My GP surgery are doing Saturday morning clinics, but they start the saturday after the baby is due, so think I better make a seperate appointment.

DTL, I'm fine with blood tests! It's the Other Type I can't stomach, don't ask me why.