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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Flu jab - What would you do?

34 replies

1Catherine1 · 09/10/2010 11:27

I booked to have my flu jab a week ago for today with the intention of doing plenty of research and thinking about whether I should get it or not. Unfortunately I completely forgot until about 15 minutes ago and my appointment is in less than an hour so I must decide quick.

I am a teacher and catch every bug that's going around every time. I have had swine flu, I got it last year and was bed bound for a week on all the medicines I could possible take. I know this flu jab is for more than just swine flu but I'm still concerned for my baby.

Are the possible side effects of the jab worse than the side effects of any flu I could get? I don't know and hate making uninformed decisions.

OP posts:
soppypreggyloon · 09/10/2010 11:55

I don't know either but am in the same germ ridden teaching boat!
I might hang on till I see how much flu is about iyswim. If there's lots going round I might jab but if not I might not. Swine flu has not been the disaster the daily mail predicted and I wasn't considered 'at risk' for first pregnancy flu jab.

I don't know what to do!!!

lilly13 · 09/10/2010 13:01

i decided not to. i asked my obstetritian and was told that unless i worked in a public place (eg, airport, school) and/or travelled to work by public transportation, he would not recommend having a flu shot done...

nagoo · 09/10/2010 13:02

If I was you I would.

Whitethorn · 09/10/2010 21:43

I had it yesterday and felt a bit woozy but am fine now. I am asthmatic and pregnant so felt that it was the right thing for me.

Its a tough one, but I rang my obs and he
was of the opinion I should have it

Passthehobnobs · 10/10/2010 09:41

My midwife gave me a leaflet about the swine flu jab at my 25 weeks appointment last week.

I'm a university lecturer, and I've had 4 colds in as many months, so I'm thinking I will have the jab as clearly my immune system is much lower when pregnant.

Personally I think the risk to my baby if I did get swine flu justify me having the vaccination to protect us both.

WalkTheDog · 10/10/2010 18:08

Seemingly there was research in USA and they found that babies had less colds etc for first 6 months if mums had flu (normal flu j not swine flu)jab - only quoting what read in scotsman, haven't seen article. It also said that all pg would be offered flu jab this year. Going to ask MW next week

Catspersonalbanker · 10/10/2010 19:19

I had mine on Tuesday, though only my sister as a trainee nurse prompted me. Am beginning to think antenatal round here is hit and miss.

Any way no side effects nearly a week on and I ususally get every kind of cold.

I work in an open plan office with others who are out and about in all weathers and lots have already had the back t school cold

perfectmummy · 10/10/2010 19:25

no way

anastasiak · 10/10/2010 20:36

I wouldn't and didn't after discussing it with various doctors and medical scientists. However, in a thread about this previously there were some very sad stories posted by MNers who had not had the jab and had lost their babies.
A sensible compromise might be to wait until you are out of the first trimester and then have it. If you are a teacher or a nurse or for some other reason have lots of exposure to potentially germy people you might want to reconsider - equally if you are asthmatic or have any other particular risk factors you might want to reconsider. Otherwise, I wouldn't have it.
Its not old enough for its safety to have been established, and just because there are people out there now who have apparently healthy babies who have had the jab doesn't mean that it is safe for everyone, or that those babies won't later show signs of having been affected by it.

nannyl · 10/10/2010 20:43

im planning on TTC in 2 or 3 months time.

i work in a school, with the children aged pre-reception (ie 3 - 4 years)

am going to see my GP on Tuesday to discuss having flu jab BEFORE i get pg, as i do NOT want it while i am pregnant

Samraves · 10/10/2010 21:06

I would have had it, but when I when to see my doctor, and told him that when I had previously had a flu jab I had symptoms which included a temperature, he said not to have it whilst pregnant. So, i think if you have had a flu jab before and no side effects you'd be ok, but if you got a temperature, then discuss with your doctor first!

Original poster
1Catherine1 · 11/10/2010 09:20

Thanks for the replies.

I chose to have it in the end. I decided that I didn't believe people would recommend something that was potentially dangerous to an unborn child. I was prepared for feeling slightly ill but apart from a red lump that came up 24 hours later I don't appear to have had any side effects.

There was some debate when I went into get the jab though when I told them I had already had Swine Flu last year. They decided though that it was still best to have it especially since I'm a teacher.

OP posts:
Mahraih · 11/10/2010 09:41

I think I'm going to have it. A friend had it (she's asthmatic) and seems to have had few side effects.

I'm getting very cold going atm, so not going to risk it.

GPs/midwives really need to make this a more open discussion however, I haven't been contacted at all about it.

JennyPiccolo · 11/10/2010 12:15

I didnt want flu when pregnant or when looking after a newborn so i got it.

Not rocket science, really.

lostfromoz · 11/10/2010 15:35

I made the decision to have it, given that it was the DH recommendation, and I'd read lots of articles in the news about how they'd decided to give it to pregnant women due to swine flu affecting them so badly. Then I called my GP surgery and they said they weren't offering it to pregnant women and that I should go to Boots. Don't mind so much paying the ten quid, but why say it's free when it's not, and make us go and have it without impartial medical guidance?

fayc84 · 11/10/2010 17:09

As I'm currently suffering from what feels like the worst cold ever and not resorting to my usual tactic of taking as many drugs as possible to combat it - I will be having the flu jab as soon as possible!! Feeling like this on top of the constant nausea and tiredness is horrible!

lostfromoz · 11/10/2010 17:43

Full sympathy fayc84! I had a hideous two-week cold during the first trimester and I don't think I've ever felt quite so bad. And all the midwives/GP would say was to eat more fruit and vegetables. Hope you feel better soon.

MrsGangly · 11/10/2010 18:02

I got both the vaccines last year when pregnant and would again.

nannyl · 12/10/2010 20:28

hello

i have just been to speak to my GP regarding having the flu jab before i plan to get pregnant. (am TTC in December)

The answer is No Sad. Unless you are already in an at risk group there is no funding for the flu jab until you become pregnant Angry

My personal decision is that i refuse to risk this while pregnant so therefor i wont have it.

I can of course get it privately if i choose.

I spoke to my lovely GP who told me this official government advise, but also told me that she herself would not have the jab while pregnant, and declined it the previous 2 winters when she has been pregnant, and she made her own personal choice not to risk it either.

She said that as i am a fit healthy 30 year old she would not worry about me being pregnant and not having the flu jab, even though the official government advice says i should.

So as a result of this discussion today i will not be having this jab either before or during my pregnancy.

Original poster
1Catherine1 · 12/10/2010 20:45

That's a shame that they won't give it you now. You are lucky to have such an honest GP, mine only does government guidelines speak but I suppose its to avoid any blame if the worse should happen.

OP posts:
nannyl · 12/10/2010 20:54

i love my GP Smile

i really wish i could have it now, but i did go along the lines of "i know you have to tell me X but...."
she knows that i know when she had her children (mentioned in previous appts) so we just sort of moved onto it from that point too... Smile

she made it quite clear that what I do is my choice, and she will support me in having it while pregnant if i want it, as it will be my right to have it then, but she didnt, wouldnt hasnt and wont have it herself !!!!

aly323 · 13/10/2010 05:13

I just had mine. My hospital got the "pregnant lady" version yesterday. Since I've already been sick twice this pregnancy, and I work very close with jail inmates (many of whom are homeless and/or sick) it seemed like the best thing for me. I've had the jab before without a problem. I had a great nurse. It didn't even hurt Smile.

japhrimel · 13/10/2010 16:25

I'm getting mine tomorrow. Guidelines (here, anyway) are that pregnant women should have it unless you already have had a swine flu vax.

I really don't want to risk flu when pregnant, given that complications when pregnant go all the way up to Mum or baby dying! And I had possible (but never confirmed) swine flu last year and I felt so ill even when not pregnant and able to take every remedy going.

StrangewaysHereICome · 13/10/2010 19:46

I will have it if/when I am offered it. Seeing the mw on Monday so will ask about it then. I didn't get swine flu last year and being pg now I really want to be protected.

bessie26 · 13/10/2010 20:38

I'm planning to have the jab - will speak to MW about it next time I see her.

I am a generally very healthy person who doesn't get ill (I have maybe one cold a year) with what I think of as a strong constitution, but when I had a flu-type virus in Feb (not swine flu, I had the swab to check) I was shocked at how awful I felt. Days of fever & chills, which I would never want to risk having while pg.

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