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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

I'M SORRY

214 replies

xkatyx · 19/12/2010 15:34

this thread has proberly been done to death, i really do appologise.

I'm freaking out about the flu/swine flu jab.

I know it is only my choice but i feel alone with it and would like to just talk to anyone who is struggeling with the same choice.

OP posts:
piedleger · 20/12/2010 15:44

Good to read everyone's opinions on here. I'm 32 weeks with my second and have been putting off having the jab as I've never had flu and I am worried about any possible effect it could have on my unborn baby's development. Further to that my dh had swine flu last year and neither my one year old dd nor I got it (neither of us immunised) despite all sleeping in the same room throughout, so until now I've felt pretty happy about my decision not to have the jab.

However all those of you who have suffered with flu and have said how awful you've felt or those who have had the jab and have no major side-effects to report in themselves or their babies have changed my mind and I'm booked into get the jab tomorrow morning.

To have or not to have has been a real dilemma to me (and many others it seems), but I suppose that there is plenty of evidence supporting the additional complications a pregnant woman can go through with flu, even for those with no previous health issues, and whilst I've not seen anything that definitively states there will no effect on the baby (maybe you wouldn't know for years anyway!), I've also not picked up on any reports of birth defects etc linked to the flu jab so the evidence is definitely weighted in favour of the jab currently - for me at least.

timepasses · 20/12/2010 15:45

I also had the jab last year when I was 32 weeks pg. I was scared about the side effects but all was fine. I had a sore arm for a few days and ds is now 10 months old and wonderful. I would have the jab again.

StephA · 20/12/2010 15:54

I had mine a couple of weeks ago - I am 39 weeks pg now - and was a little more tired for a couple of days after it, but no other side effects. Deciding to have it was not an issue for me - I asked the GP if there were any risks to bb and I believed her answer that it was fine. I believe everything else they tel me (prescribing drugs, etc) so why not that this was ok? Pg women are at high risk of terrible complications and even death from swine flu - why would anybody risk that?

bounty007 · 20/12/2010 16:21

read this article if you are still undecided:
todays paper Sad
i had the jab last year when pg. already had a DS and felt that me dying of swine flu and leaving him without a mum was not an option...

BearCrimble · 20/12/2010 16:55

I had the jab last year at 17 weeks. Baby and I are fine. So glad I had it as live in inner London and there were lots of cases near me.

nonsense1 · 20/12/2010 16:56

Is anyone worried about the mercury and other potentially harmful ingredients in the new 2010 vaccine? I am 12 weeks pregnant and so confused about whether to have the jab or not.

I have tried to find out more information on the internet but for everything I read that argues for it I read something that scares me.

I read there is mercury in the vaccine which has been linked to autism (although not proven) and there is squalene in it which has been linked to bad effects from the ANthrax vaccine used in the Gulf War....amongst other things.

Are the government just trying to get rid of all the excess they bought last year or do you think there is a genuine risk from Swine Flu (i.e. a greater risk than getting any other sort of illness when pregnant). Is this hype because its a new 'condition' or is the threat to us pregnant types very real??? How on earth are we supposed to know?

The dilemma is giving me such a headache that I thought I was coming down with something already but I think it is just the anxiety of it being on the news all the time and not knowing what to do!

Anyone got any good advice?

nannyl · 20/12/2010 17:00

thats so sad Sad

knowing that we are TTC at the moment, i got the flu jab back in October so i have had the vaccine but didnt have to risk having it while pregnant. (even if the risk is tiny id rather avoid it if possible)

exhaustednurse · 20/12/2010 17:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

CuppaTeaJanice · 20/12/2010 17:42

nannyl I'm doing that too - booked in for my jab on thursday.

Strangely, ttc doesn't make me 'eligible' for the jab, even though I'd much rather have it before getting pregnant. My mild asthma does though, even though I only get it in the summer and haven't needed my inhaler for years Confused.

I'm just hoping I won't feel too rough on Christmas Day. At least I'll be able to dose up on proper medicine if I do though!!

nonsense1 this is a new batch of vaccines afaik - not using up last years, which was for swine flu only, not this years triple vax.

ILovePonyo · 20/12/2010 17:47

xkatyx Thank you for posting this, I was not sure about getting flu jab (am 33wks pg) but this has helped me to make my mind up and book in with my doctor for this thursday!

I was feeling pretty alone about making the decision too so all the advice here has been really useful :)

goingforfour · 20/12/2010 17:47

Hi, I was looking for a thread like this last night. I am only 8 weeks which has made it harder as the nurse didn't want to vaccinate me until after 12 weeks, however it does appear there is no real reason for this and although there is an unknown risk at having the vaccination at this stage in pregnancy, I decided it was still better than risking getting the flu which can cause miscarriage as well as make you very very ill. The government advice is to have it as soon as possible whatever stage of pregnancy. I went this afternoon- it is so hard to keep thinking about it and looking up the risks etc. so once I had made up my mind I just booked an appointment and went. I think having other children who depend on me also helped me decide. In some ways it is a no brainer to go but everyone has to make up their own mind.

bubbleymummy · 20/12/2010 17:51

Try to remember that you only hear about the bad cases. Many are completely asymptomatic or mild. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get the vaccine if you feel that it is the right decision for you but try not to base your decision on all the scary news stories. There were around 420 deaths last year from swine flu - there are usually thousands from seasonal flu. Pregnant women were a small percentage of those cases so yes, while you may statistically be more at risk than others, it is still a very small risk. Good luck to all of you trying to make this decision.

first1 · 20/12/2010 17:54

I'm not pregnant now, but was last winter.
I had the swine flu jab and seasonal jabs seperately as they were last year when I was 15weeks pregnant. I was sceptical but MW, GP and consultant really urged me to have it. I consented on the condition that I could have an extra scan to ensure baby was ok...Well she is 7months now and thriving! The only side effect I got was a headache. So based on my experience, I'd say go for it. I definitely will next time round too. Smile Smile

jumpinghoops · 20/12/2010 17:58

I had the jab last year at 20 weeks pregnant. No side effects. Baby now a happy healthy 6 month old.

clareanna · 20/12/2010 18:00

hi - I just had my jab today after initally ignoring the Gp letter in Oct. Blush

am now 32 weeks. It didn't hurt and whilst I was worried about possible risks to my unborn baby the case this is in the papers at the moment (and which is near to where I live) made me go and get it.

I asked the nurse about under 5s and currently unlike the swine flu breakout they are not routinely offering the flu jab to all under 5s, they are following normal protocol and offering it to at risk groups (so if your under 5 has a pre-existing condition like asthma they will have it as a matter of course)

nonsense they make a new vaccine every year, because it has to protect against the specific flu strains that are likely to be prevalent each flu season.
you're right, there is no proven link to autism from mercury in flu jabs,and there is no evidence to suggest they are unsafe. however I believe there are mercury free options available, you may have to pay privately for them though

CuppaTeaJanice · 20/12/2010 18:13

Mumsnet HQ have just posted there will be a live webchat about the Swine Flu vaccine tomorrow 1-2, with a prof of immunology.

It's at the top of the 'Active Threads' list.

sonsmum · 20/12/2010 18:14

i had the jab last november, no side effects apart form sore arm.
DD arrived in march....fit and healthy, no ill effects.
I was in a dilemma whether to get it or not.
I would not have had it in the 1st trimester, but would in the 2nd or .

horseradish · 20/12/2010 18:25

i had it last winter too at about 14 weeks and after much deliberation. no side effects, just a sore arm for a bit. Baby (born March) is perfect and gorgeous. It didn't stop me getting colds and coughs all winter and feeling rough. was really glad i wasn't getting anything more severe b/c i had had the jabs (reg flu and swine flu). would do it again in an instant.

nannyl · 20/12/2010 18:28

cuppatea same here i couldnt have it for TTC...

But I could have it cause when i was 15 years old i had mild asthms!... I have moved house recently and that hadnt moved across of my notes...

anyway my GP went through my old notes file, (it wasnt on the computer system) but once she found it wrote to me saying I could have it for that reason.

I didnt care why I was allowed it, but i made sure i had it before being pg!

KaraStarbuckThrace · 20/12/2010 19:28

Thanks for the heads up Janice.

I've not come across the mercury/autism link but mercury is a highly toxic metal. It has definitely been linked to foetal anormalities, and this is what would make me nervous even if the levels in the vaccine are miniscual!

Crikey are we all just scaring each other here Blush

My mum rang and asked me if I was getting the flu vaccine...

fifitot · 20/12/2010 19:30

I had it last year when pregnant. I had a bit of a sore arm. I had my baby in June. No problems.

dippywhentired · 20/12/2010 19:30

Hi, I also had the jab last year when I was pregnant with my DD (now 8 months). Had a sore arm for a couple of days and felt a bit achy like I was coming down with something the day after the jab. Had an early night and felt fine. My DD is fine too.

BelieveInLife · 20/12/2010 19:32

It is a difficult decision.

In my first pregnancy, swine flu was at its peak and some family members had it. The vaccine was just coming out as I was due and I decided not to have it as I believed it was too untested and I didn't want to risk it.

This pregnancy I have caught anything and everything that's going and been ill with colds, coughs and tummy bugs so I decided to have the jab as my body is obviously struggling with its immunity. I believe the jab is now more tested, ie. people are able to post here and say "I had it and the baby was born and was fine"....I know that doesn't help if there's going to be any long terms effects but it's better than the situation I was in before.

One thing I learnt from becoming a Mum, is that there are constant decisions on what to do for the best for your child. Everything from vaccinations to choosing the right car seat. However, in my opinion, as mother's, we have to do what we can at this point in time to protect our babies.

As I see it, right now, the risk of me catching flu and getting very sick from it is high. That could not only put this baby at risk but also jeopardise the care of my new born. Therefore right now the best choice for me is to have the vaccination.

msupa · 20/12/2010 19:37

26 weeks pregnant. Had the vaccine. No side effects. V pleased.

Nonsense1 - mercury is not associated with autism, it's in fact not associated with anything. It's a preservant. There was a hoo-hhah in the US about nmercury many years ago and the government did decide to stop using it, but not because it's harmful, but b/c people were so wound up - they wouldn't vaccinate, and it's better for the country to have a healthy vaccinated population. It didn't matter either way which preservant to use, as the storing condidions were good, so they changed it. However, they still use it in many countries, especially in those where storage conditions are bad, b/c it is not harmful! (Know a bit abouit the matter, as recently run an investigative journalism school focusing on science and health, so learned a lot).

BelieveInLife · 20/12/2010 19:43

There is no mercury in the new vaccine.