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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Flu jab

17 replies

pinkdaisy · 24/01/2011 11:47

Hi,
I know it is recommended to have one when pregnant, but am worried about the effect on the baby. Is this totally safe?! Am just worried about how tested it has been, after all years ago they said the Thalidomide drug was safe for pregnant women to take. Any thoughts on whether to have it or not. Am booked in to have it on Thursday but am really umming and arring over it!
Thanks
Lisa x

OP posts:

wigglesrock · 24/01/2011 11:52

If it helps I got mine at 33 weeks. The combined jab is not a "live" vaccine. My healthy sister had the flu over Christmas, no way would I want to go through that and be pregnant.

bonnymiffy · 24/01/2011 12:01

I got mine at 16 weeks, having read the webchat with Professor Salisbury on here, which put my mind at rest. Have a read, it's here

Original poster

pinkdaisy · 24/01/2011 12:03

I worry because I am soo early on in the pregnancy that the baby is not properly formed, if I was in the secon or third trimester I would definitely have it, but am really in two minds!

OP posts:

Deliaskis · 24/01/2011 12:17

Read the webchat, it's good info on there. I did a lot of reading around this as was quite resistant at first (I work in healthcare and had lots of sceptics as well as lots of supporters all giving me 'helpful advice'!), but what it boiled down to, when I looked at the actual research available, was that there is a known definite risk to not having it (i.e. getting flu and you and/or baby becoming very ill or dying, sorry to be so blunt) but there is only an unknown risk to having it (there is no long-term data for this). There is no known risk to having it, IYSWIM. So I had it, with the view that I was avoiding a 'definite' risk, by taking a an unknown risk that might turn out to be no risk at all.

swannny · 24/01/2011 12:19

Midwife told me to get mine. Totally safe for baby apparently and Baby get's immunised as well (or so they say). I had mine last week and I had bad side effects, but the didn't last more than 48 hours. So if you work, I suggest you get it done on a Friday as I had the following day off.

Original poster

pinkdaisy · 24/01/2011 12:31

Thank you for all your helpful advice and input.
Do you think I should wait until I am past the first trimester?! Lx

OP posts:

Deliaskis · 24/01/2011 12:39

How far on are you? If you wait too long the flu season might be over??

I was early 3rd trimester when I had mine so didn't look too carefully into specific 1st trimester concerns?

JBrd · 24/01/2011 12:47

I think the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
I got mine a few weeks ago, recommended by both GP and midwife, neither of them had any concerns regarding the baby.

swannny · 24/01/2011 12:48

Speak to your midwife hun. I think that's the best thing :)

duckmum · 24/01/2011 15:55

I ended up with flu in this pregnancy, v unwell in hospital for quite a few days and altogether bump and I were pretty lucky. Normally have flu jab every year but got flu before got jab this time...Hindsight means next time I will be the first person knocking on the door to get my jab done!

camdancer · 24/01/2011 16:43

I'm another one who ended up with flu this pregnancy. Apart from being very unwell with flu, pneumonia and pleurisy, I have had to take paracetamol, ibuprofen, ventolin, clenil, 2 courses of amoxicillin and codeine. I've also had a chest x-ray and a vq scan (radioactive isotopes injected as they looked at my lungs). Luckily I did manage to keep out of hospital as they didn't want me near all those other germs. Some of the treatments are considered safe in pregnancy. Others I'll be worrying about their very real, evidence based side effects for years to come.

I know it is hard to inject something unknown into your body to avoid something that may never happen. But if it does happen you'll be kicking yourself.

duckmum · 24/01/2011 16:57

Camdancer :( hope you are feeling better now

I know what you mean about the treatments, managed not to have vq scan and Ibuprofen but everything else on the list plus Tamiflu and a few other antibiotics and nebulisers. I also started to go into prem labour which with more drugs got stopped (very very lucky). I realised and have come to terms with that the alternative of not having certain treatments was not an option and to be honest some of it is still a bit hazy. Still yes the nagging worry is in the back of the mind but so far so good.

Steph1982 · 24/01/2011 17:22

I got mine done at 6 weeks!! I was like you and worried about baby.. but she did some research infront of me.. AND asked the GP.. all ok :)

clarkland · 24/01/2011 18:10

I had mine at 29 weeks! Advised by the midwife as she said that swine flu is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and seems to be affecting alot of pregnant women this year! I had no side effects, not even a sore arm. The very real risks from getting the flu outweigh any unknown risks from the Jab! It's not a live vaccine and pregnant women in high risks groups and babies in high risk groups have been having flu jabs for years. It's higher profile this year because they are offering it to ALL pregnant women. I can understand your fears and I did a lot of umming and ahhing but my midwife put my mind at rest.

LittleOne76 · 24/01/2011 18:35

After reading as much as I could and talking to the GP I decided to get a jab at 6 weeks too. Was concerned about potential risks given so early on in first trimester but when looking at everything, on balance, I decided that I was more comfortable getting the jab vs not getting it. I remember coming back to London from a month spent in Asia...got the train into work and it sounded like everyone was sick - coughing/sniffling/sneezing. Felt like I wouldn't stand a chance unless I locked myself in at home for the next few months so that gave me the kickstart to start looking at it.

I reckon talk to your GP/MW and go through any questions you have. Ultimately your call but to do it comfortably you need to feel like you can weigh up risk of getting it vs not getting it properly.

Apart from a slightly tender arm for about a day afterwards I haven't had any other side effects..

camdancer · 24/01/2011 19:12

Duckmum, I'm feeling much better now. Hope you are as well. It sounds like you really went through the mill also.

Before all this, I didn't really believe in the flu. I thought it was just a really bad cold that I could handle with a few quiet days. How wrong I was. Next year I'm going pay for the jab because, as a SAHM, I just can't be that ill while looking after preschoolers again.

wetwelly · 24/01/2011 20:17

For what it's worth - I'm 8 weeks pregnant and I've decided not to get the jab. I work in healthcare and have decided that in terms of risk to pregnant women, it is women in second and third trimesters (but particularly 3rd) that are suffering the very real consequences of flu. On our high profile ITU we haven't yet had anyone under 18 weeks admitted. Biomechanically, the lungs need to be compressed to a certain point before it becomes difficult to clear them which is when problems start. By the time I get to 12 weeks, this flu season will be over. I'm getting my jab early in the season next winter..

Just another viewpoint..

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