Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

GP suggested Flu vaccination, not sure if I want it...

12 replies

tattyteddy · 30/09/2010 10:01

Hello ladies

I was at the GP's office on Monday about Thrush! Whilst i was there she mentioned that I should have a flu vaccination, the NHS have added pregant women to the list of people they offer it to.

GP advised pregnant women can have increased chance of complications from flu e.g. pre term labour, miscarriage etc.

I'm not I want the jab but i don't want the complications either. Just want to do the right thing for the lo.

Have other people been offered flu jab, what are you thinking of doing?

xxxxxxxxxxxx

OP posts:
Wigeon · 30/09/2010 20:24

Afraid I have a very simple attitude to this sort of thing - if it's being recommended by the NHS, which only recommends things on advice from highly qualified scientists, then why would I presume that I know more about the risks / benefits than they do? And why wouldn't my doctor have my best interests in mind? They are advising that the benefits of getting the jab outweigh the risks of having the jab, and so I would go for it.

I've heard that it's a national policy that pregnant women are being offered the flu jab this year by the way.

Tinwe · 30/09/2010 20:31

Hi. For what it's worth I don't intend to have it. The less I expose baby to the better. I still remember the MMR vaccine fears and thalidomide etc. I understand the previous poster's viewpoint too however.

Wigeon · 30/09/2010 20:35

But if you choose not to have the vaccine you are still exposing the baby to a potential risk - you are simply swapping the (possible and unproven) risk from the vaccine with the risk posed to your baby by you getting seasonal or swine flu - and pregnant women are much more likely to have serious complications from both types of flu. So there are risks associated with both choices.

Dylthan · 30/09/2010 20:39

Research has moved aloooong way since thalidomide.

rudbekia · 30/09/2010 20:46

In this situation there will always be risks. I take the attitude that they are not tested on pregnant women so, therefore, they can't be 100% sure they're 'safe'. Equally, if as a pregnant woman you do get swine flu then you can't be 100% sure what will happen. Seasonal flu is not the issue here - it seems swine flu is. If I were you I'd consider the swine flu vaccine in isloation (as, previously, pregnant women have not been required to have the flu vaccine unless they fell into a 'high risk' group). As always with these things, damned if you do, damned if you don't Confused

BagofHolly · 30/09/2010 22:00

Absolutely what Wigeon said, with bells on. Have you ever had the flu? I have had it twice and thought I was going to DIE. DIE. And the thought of being that ill, and pregnant, and not able to take anything for it, or worse, having to take all sorts of things to stabilise my condition, gives me the willies.

Tinwe why have you mentioned MMR and thalidomide??? MMR was never an issue in pregnancy, not even that utter cock Andrew Wakefield tried to say that, and anyway he's been so discredited that he's been struck off, and as Dylthan said, science has moved on enormously since thalidomide!

I'm pregnant and will be having the vaccine as soon as my surgery has stock!

Sidge · 30/09/2010 22:09

You're mainly being offered the seasonal flu vac as it contains a swine flu component.

If your surgery still has some you could just ask for Pandemrix (swine flu vaccine) should you want it without having the trivalent seasonal flu vaccine.

The flu jab is a 'dead' vaccine, it can't give you flu. It can cause an immune response which presents as a temperature and a headache and possibly a sore arm. It won't protect against other viral or bacterial illnesses.

Original poster
tattyteddy · 01/10/2010 13:24

Thanks for replying ladies, I kept checking this thread and thought nobody had replied!

I think I'll have a chat with my midwife and get her opinion, if she thinks I should I might go the jab.

I did have the flu about three years ago and felt very rough and ended up having an ear infection etc.

xxxxxxxx

OP posts:
1Catherine1 · 01/10/2010 13:40

I had an appointment with the midwife today and she never mentioned it. I had swine flu last year so the swine flu element shouldn't particularly concern me since I've had it already. I'm not really sure though and to be honest I'm feeling a little undecided about everything since I'm just having one of those days.

yellowflowers · 01/10/2010 13:44

I've made appt with docs to ask for it - if it's nhs advice then I believe it.

FindingMyMojo · 01/10/2010 13:44

there's another flu thread currently in 'Pregnancy" with some good debate - thread title starts "Times Online ..."

yellowflowers · 01/10/2010 13:45

Should have added I especially don't want to get flu when I have a new baby so will be good to be immunised against it for post pregnancy too.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page