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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Warning!! Flu Jab...

49 replies

argylesocks · 13/12/2010 16:38

I don't mean to freak anyone out and certainly not telling you what to do if you're debating getting a flu jab but I just thought I'd share what I just went through...

I was never offered the jab at my appointment (I'm 17 weeks) so I didnt ask and didnt get one.

Umm, I really wish I had now. I just got back from spending 4 days in hospital isolation with a really, really bad flu and it was the most miserable 4 days of my life (so far :)).

The doctors kept saying how serious it was for pregnant women and I was monitored pretty much round the clock by specialists who seemed unnervingly concerned. Not only was I feeling horrible like you would with the flu anyway, I couldnt breathe, they made me wear a mask, i was kept awake for 36 hours with tests. They made me have a chest xray.

Since my immune system was so low they kept me completely isolated in case i picked up anything else. My poor dp could only visit me for 2 hours a day and had to wear gloves and a mask.

I wouldnt even take a paracetamol before this since i got pregnant so having IV drips of antibiotics, anti-blood clotting meds, and all kinds of stuff was really really scary.

Thankfully, they've been monitoring the baby and everything seems OK but it was absolutely miserable and I so, so wish I was just offered the damn jab and didn't have to go through that.

They're not kidding when they say the flu is serious for pregnant women. I think it's more of a risk for the mother than the baby but I can tell you that it's no fun.

I know it could have been a whole lot worse, and the important thing is the baby is fine, but if all this could have been avoided with a vaccine... i'm going to remember that next time!

OP posts:

FindingAManger · 15/12/2010 12:33

I was undecided about it until I had breathing problems brought about by a very mild cold - it brought very clearly to my mind just how compromised my immune system was and how sick I could be if I got proper flu. I got the jab a couple of weeks ago - it wasn't 'offered' to me - but I just asked & I got it no problems.

Sorry to hear you have been so sick OP & hope you are on the mend now.

AuntieMaggie · 15/12/2010 12:41

Those that died after having the jab - did they have the jab last year or this year? I only ask as the normal flu jab is a yearly one so it may be that the vaccine had broken down in their system...

There was a lady on here who had SF last year and her baby was stillborn because of it - was the most heartbreaking thing I'd read especially as I don't think she was anywhere near as ill as you have been argylesocks so didn't think she had much reason to worry :(

lucielooo · 15/12/2010 12:43

I phoned up and asked for mine, and had it at 15 weeks (now 23 weeks) no side effects.

Glad to hear you are on the mend OP, and that baby is doing well. I can imagine it must have been a very scary time.

wigglesrock · 15/12/2010 13:24

Just had mine this morning, am 31 weeks, wasn't going to bother, but just went ahead and got it done. I had to ask midwife about it at 26 week appt, I had forgotten about it, but am in NI so just booked it, all my pregnant friends had it last year and my dds got the jab last year as they were under 5.

badkitty · 15/12/2010 13:58

I have just booked in for mine having read this thread, thank you for posting your experience as otherwise wouldn't have bothered - glad you are ok now OP>

lucybrad · 15/12/2010 14:30

i cant find a link saying that those that died had been vaccinated - can someone provide the link to this please.

tlise · 15/12/2010 15:12

I was told that it should be given after 15 weeks, she checked the leaflet that they get issued.

ledkrsbelly they will probably tell you to give it a few days anyway, unless you are struggling to breathe if you haven't a fever. Are you coughing up yukky green stuff? cos that can be sign of infection, but again can clear itself up :)

I didn't have any side effects after the jab, no red lump, no aches or pains. The only thing I did have was a bit sore where it had been, but thats usual anyway for any injection I think :)

mouffloncake · 15/12/2010 22:29

I was given the flu jab when I registered my pregnancy with my gp at 6 weeks. She offered, I hadnt even thought about it until that point.

Thank you for sharing with us, it sounds horrible :(

frustratedfairy · 16/12/2010 19:21

Woah, sounds so scary, I got mine as I work in a hospital and at the moment there are a lot of people in with swine flu complications. Really glad I had it now.

rocketleaf · 16/12/2010 20:19

Thats so scary OP, I am glad you are ok now. I have been wondering about this. Just had my 16 week MW appointment, I haven't been offered it and forgot to ask. I think I'll ring tomorrow and get it sorted so thanks for posting!

SproggingMerrilyOnHigh · 16/12/2010 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MeelooMouloo · 17/12/2010 00:14

I'm overdue by 10 days, is it still worth me getting the jab?
Not been offered it by GP or midwife during this pregnancy, does it depend on your NHS area?
Both DH & DS have heavy cold and high temp at the mo but don't think they have flu, so far me & DD have escaped but worrying now I've read this. Due to be induced Tuesday so enough to worry about without being ill as well.

Dandydog · 17/12/2010 08:50

OP. Glad you are ok.
I called my GP surgery at 37weeks to try and book in & they refused saying I didn't meet 'their criteria right now'. They wouldn't expand on what this meant. Does it depend on local incidence of flu/swine on whether or not pregnancy is included? Any ideas? I'd like to trust they know what they're talking about, but not sure whether to push again. I called both surgeries I can access to check & both said same.
Thanks in advance!

tigerbear · 17/12/2010 10:17

OP, thanks for posting. I wasn't going to bother getting it done (or at least thought, oh I'll just call doctor next week). This thread has made me call for an appointment now.
Glad you and baby are ok.

caz05 · 17/12/2010 10:24

Due to this thread I have called and booked myself in for the flu jab. Currently 14 weeks and have not been offered it during my midwife/GP visits but they where more then happy to book me in. Thanks

GlitteryBalls · 17/12/2010 10:39

So sorry to hear you went through such crap. I had a vomiting virus that was severe enough to be admitted at 28 weeks so I can kind of sympathise. I am very glad I had the flu jab. I had a call from my grandma the other day to check if I was ok as all three of my aunt's kids had swine flu and were really sick with it - they had been rounbd to visit me a few days before so if I hadn't had the jab....

I urge everyone to get it. What has really puzzled me is that not once was it ever mentioned by any MW or Dr I have seen in my pregnancy. However after doing my own research and reading DoH guidelines that clealry state that ALL pregnant women should get it this year, I phoned the surgery myself and they booked me in no problem. So it seems there is no barrier to getting it if you simply ask, but for some unknown reason noone thinks to offer it to you and you have to be very pro-active about it. x

LotteryWinnersOnAcid · 17/12/2010 10:44

Have also booked myself in for the jab after reading this. Am 34 weeks and keep contracting bloody colds, which impact my (already restricted) breathing due to the crap on my chest. Ugh. I dread to think what I'd be like with full-blown flu.

Thanks OP.

GlitteryBalls · 17/12/2010 10:45

And if any of you are having problems getting it, just show them this.

LotteryWinnersOnAcid · 17/12/2010 10:45

Also glad you and baby are doing well now.

VegasBride · 17/12/2010 11:13

Had mine on Tuesday @ nearly 38 weeks at ante natal clinic, live in NI and 3 pregnant women have been diagnosed. Heavily promoted here in hospital and GP's surgery, was reluctant at first but believe its a dead vaccine and can protect baby till 6 months. Heard something on the news that a woman was quite ill in Scotland i think after delivering and contracting swine flu. I had no side affects only a slightly sore arm

sundayb3st · 17/12/2010 11:16

Thank you for posting this! I'm really sorry that you had such an awful time and glad that both you and the baby are ok. I?m 27 weeks and have been thinking about having the jab for the last week. I talked to the midwife, the GP, a friend who is a doctor, read loads about it on the net. I finally decided to have the jab this morning. I still felt uneasy about it but then I came across your post and it made me feel so much better for having it.
I use the tube every day and there are always people sick at work. Also it looks like we are headed for a tough winter. These were the factors that made me have the jab. And now reading how bad the flu can get in pregnant women I?m glad that I made that decision. I just really hope that it is completely harmless to my little one.

Bubandbump · 17/12/2010 12:16

Me too! I had mine yesterday after reading your post. So I am very sorry that you have been suffering but thanks from all of us that won't have to go through that now.

rocketleaf · 17/12/2010 13:27

Had my jab this morning, thanks again for your story argyle, I hope the rest of your pregnancy is as smooth as butter!

Original poster

argylesocks · 17/12/2010 21:20

thanks everyone :)

i'm feeling much better and only slightly like i've been hit by a bus. Still struggling to breathe well and plain exhausted but so glad to be home and off work for two weeks!

OP posts:

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