Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

ANOTHER Swine Flu vaccine question - Have it now or wait until September...

11 replies

Tamashii · 31/01/2011 11:23

Just got BFP a week ago and I know GP or MW will offer the SF vaccine as one of the first things after confirming PG.

Thing is, I am extremely concerned about having a vaccination while PG, especially during the 1st trimester. On the other hand, I already have DS age 2 and would like to protect my family from Swine Flu as much as possible so by me having it, I would hopefully be doing so... I have heard some awful stories both for and against the vaccination so am totally confused.

Anyway, trying to avoid too much waffling, I think I would like to wait until later in PG but am looking for advice or experiences from those who have been through this already.

TIA

OP posts:

HLSalter · 31/01/2011 11:41

Congratulations

I had the same concerns that you had and due to previously having a mc didn't want to do anything to jeopardise this pregnancy. So I brought it up at my booking appointment and my midwife assured me that it was perfectly fine for me to have the jab.

I had my flu/swine flu jab (apparently it's all combined in one jab now) at 12 weeks despit already having flu a few weeks earlier.

I've been absolutely fine since having it. I had swine flu a couple of years ago and can honestly say I have never felt so exhausted and ill. So my advice would be to have it.

Original poster

Tamashii · 31/01/2011 11:46

Thanks for that. I am reading WAY too much information on how it could be bad but it could also save your life... I think I am again on the side of having the vaccination but not this early... I hope I am given the option of waiting a bit.

Thanks for your reply. Why did swine flu have to happen.

OP posts:

HLSalter · 31/01/2011 12:06

I probably would have waited a little bit longer as I literally just recovered from flu. But then I read all the horror stories about GP's not having enough vaccines and that freaked me out so I went and got it done ASAP.

sh77 · 31/01/2011 12:09

I thought preg women were not allowed anyway to have it in 1st tri. Also, make sure the vaccine you are given does not contain any mercury derivative.

Laura05 · 31/01/2011 13:23

I had my combination flu jabs at 12weeks would have had it earlier but couldn't fit appointment in. I was told by midwife and gp 2 have it and that you can have it at any stage in your pregnancy. I was originally worried about getting it but after all the stories I got freaked out! I'm not a fan of needles at all but it didn't hurt at all and I had no symptoms at all after it. I would definately recommend it!

Original poster

Tamashii · 31/01/2011 13:53

Yes, I know sh77 I thought that too but we are being offered it at any stage.

I had early MC last year and it has really put me off messing about with my body at all but then the thought of catching flu or swine flu and anything going wrong is really freaking me out. I am also aware that I am due in October and the "flu season" will be well and truly underway by then so hopefully having the vaccine during PG will maybe help cover the LO too...

Laura05 Thanks. I am glad you had no problems at all. I am sure it will be the same here - it just seems to be making the decision but if I get it I think I will just have to forget about it afterwards and not read or google any more! :)

OP posts:

humph123 · 31/01/2011 14:02

I was fretting a bit but I wanted to go swimming, last thing I wanted was swine flu. I asked my midwife what she thought - she said one of her patients was in intensive care with swine flu so that kind of made up my mind. then i got a call from the surgery saying they were offering the seasonal flu jab to all preganant ladies. I dont think they would be encouraging you to have it if there was any danger to you or the baby. The jab itself was fine, I felt ok apart from a slight achey arm.

Original poster

Tamashii · 31/01/2011 20:15

Thanks Humph the thought of ending up in intensive care or worse is so terrifying. I have caught the cold just now and I am only about 6 weeks - I feel so ill and drained with just a little cold so I daren't imagine how I would cope with flu.

Thanks for all your replies.

OP posts:

nickstermum · 31/01/2011 20:33

tamashii the SF is not a live virus. Hence you can have it now within first trimester.

I have had it at 10 weeks and no issue. Baby fine at 12. I felt shite for 2 days afterwards, but then so did my DH and DS (we had a family outing for the jab!!)

I was spurred on after reading about a lady on here who lost her baby at 35+ weeks due to SF. :(

CrawlingInMySkin · 31/01/2011 20:38

Tamashii I am having it next week. I have 2 DC and cant risk leaving them without a mum, I thought about it again and there was loads of fuss over MMR and all vaccinations offered yet even after years of them being given I have yet to come across conclusive proof that they are harmfull so I am going ahead. If I catch swine flu and die it ie likely my baby will too which I think is more risk to my baby than the vac. As the vac has shown no risk, but swine flu has I will have it.

Jose123 · 01/02/2011 12:11

I had the SF jab recently at about 16 wks, had some side effects for 2 days but otherwise fine. (I had the jab the previous year too when I wasn't pregnant and had no side effects then.) I have had a miscarriage before (unrelated to vaccines) so wanted to check the risk; both my doctor and midwife convinced me the vaccine would be no harm for the baby. Also, I felt the risk of contracting swine flu whilst pregnant was far greater than the risk of not having the vaccine. My reasoning, if you do miscarry you can try again. If you die, you can't. So many young mothers and pregnant women have been fatal victims of SF...

Flip