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

Original poster

Is anyone NOT having the flu jab this winter???

84 replies

MrsHuxtable · 06/10/2011 10:43

Just wondering. I had actually decided not to have the jab. I've never had it before. I know my immune system is supposed to be weakened by pregnancy but I never get more than a little cold each winter, if at all.

I also don't see myself really being at risk of catching it as I will be signed off sick for the remainder of my pregnancy and am not really in contact with any people apart from DH, who is also working from home 90% of the time. I don't use public transport and am not mixing with any crowds.

I don't know. I just feel funny about getting a jab while pregnant...

OP posts:
startail · 06/10/2011 16:20

I know my teenage DD, on the list for very mild asthma, will point blank refuse.ales her arm sore for a week every time.

startail · 06/10/2011 16:22

Makes her arm sore, I wish there was a jab for ipoditis

Sandra2011 · 06/10/2011 16:31

My surgery is starting vaccinations next week and I'm having one too.

I didn't have any 2 years ago in my first pregnancy as I was in my late pregnancy when swine flu arrived.

localcrackpot · 06/10/2011 17:24

I think I would have it if I were in better health at the moment. I had pneumonia in January, conceived in February and have been ill pretty much ever since, just so run down and awful. I think I took a few months to work up to the pneumonia, just getting more and more ill. I'm a teacher too, so I think I was picking up everything that passed. As it stands I desperately don't want to be exposed to any more bugs, even in vaccine form. Having maternity leave will - I hope - lessen my exposure to some too. I can't wait to give birth and get better, including some good antibiotics if necessary.

Tangle, I'm so very sorry for your loss.

If I really believed I could definitely fight off the sample-bugs in the vaccine I think I would have it. I'm just afraid I couldn't and would end up in a very, very bad way.

mumt1 · 06/10/2011 17:24

I want mine doing but so unsure if I qualify, I will be around 25 weeks at christmas, does that mean I'm eligable? I would like it as my partner works in a big factory with many people, I'm at college and my son is in nursery. So think the flu will hit us this year

ArthurPewty · 06/10/2011 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeggyCarter · 06/10/2011 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Minus273 · 06/10/2011 18:24

I am getting mine if my surgery ever get their fingers out and actually get their supplies delivered. They seem to be behind the rest of the area. I can bare breathe at the moment due to the pressure on my lungs, I really don't need flu to make that worse. Also a lady along the road ended up on ECMO due to contracting 'flu', it was touch and go for a while.

I speak as someone who hasn't had 'flu' for 22 years and I don't get the cold that often but I couldn't forgive myself if I my baby died because I didn't take the vaccine. I have already lost 3 babies and don't want to put a 4th at risk. I'd also rather have a sore arm for a week than 'flu', even though it was so long ago I can still remember how bad it felt and that was from day 5 of the infection as the first few days were lost to delerium.

BartletForAmerica · 06/10/2011 19:39

Like mixedberries, I do hope anyone does proper research before taking what justhayley as anything approaching reality. What she is saying is nonsense.

Another doctor here, had my flu jab in my first pregnancy, and will certainly have it this time. The flu, at the moment, does seem to be affecting young, healthy people and pregnant women tend to be particularly poorly with it. I plan on being alive for my baby, so am certainly going to get it done with this pregnancy.

roseum · 06/10/2011 22:37

localcrackpot, you might want to check with your surgery what goes into the flu jab you would be offered, it says on the nhs website that "The viruses are then killed (deactivated) and purified before being made into the vaccine". from here

Minus273 · 06/10/2011 22:41

The 'flu' vaccine is not a live vaccine. Live vaccines are not licenced for use in pregnancy.

OhMyGolly · 06/10/2011 22:47

So sorry for you loss Tangle, wish you every luck with your pregnancy. I'm not sure tbh, I don't think I would qualify anyway, I had asthma as a child and then another period of asthma like symptoms a couple of years ago.

I have never had the jab or the flu . But my Mum had it and I saw how ill she was with it.

kiki22 · 06/10/2011 22:48

i actually had to phone my surgery they told me that i would either get it at my next midwife appointment or the open day whichever came first they also told my gran today that if your going to the nurse for any reason she will do it for you during your appointment

OhMyGolly · 06/10/2011 22:49

Oops just noticed the category, I'm not pregnant

milkyways · 06/10/2011 22:53

I had mine today. When I had DD back in November 2007, I got sick the day after I bought her home with a terrible cough and fever. OP, I know you aren't mixing with people right now, but what about when you go into hospital to have your baby? It will just take one person to sneeze into their hand and touch one door handle that you touch, and this could potentially infect you.

FlipFantasia · 06/10/2011 23:09

I'm 15+6 and I had my jab today - took about 30 secs, didn't feel a thing and have had no reaction (I've had a mild reaction of the sore arm variety to flu jabs in the past). Flu - seasonal and swine - is so dangerous in pregnancy. If you get it the best case scenario is that you potentially feel like death (I've had flu only once in my life and honestly thought I was going to die). The worst case scenario is that you, or your baby, or both of you, die. There's no herd immunity from flu, so it's not like refusing childhood vaccines knowing that your children are unlikely to get measles etc because every other child in their class is vaccinated.

I also had the swine flu vaccine two years ago when pregnant with my first child and was glad I had when my DH came down with it.

Tangle so sorry to hear your story Sad - wishing you all the best for the remainder of this pregnancy.

MrsDobalina · 06/10/2011 23:18

Tangle I am so so sorry for your loss and my thoughts are with you for this pregnancy.

I got swine flu at 34 weeks last year which triggered premature labour resulting in a sick baby in intensive care who I was forbidden to see let alone cuddle for a week because I was incarcerated in isolation in a ward downstairs. Frankly I consider myself lucky, I'm so aware of how much worse it could have been.

I had no problem with getting the jab, in fact it was booked for the day I went into labour, I'd just put it off because I'd been busy at work. To say I felt like a fool was putting it mildly.

WishIwereAtTheWiesnProst · 07/10/2011 03:47

I'm not having it this pg, and didn't have it with dd despite being bullied by doc to do it then either

pregnantmimi · 07/10/2011 11:03

Im in two minds about it I really am I guess if I dont get flu I will think its good I didnt have jab but if I do and it makes me really ill will regret it I dont know so love to read all these posts to get views while I decide what Im doing all I had recently was a cold and it made me bed bound for 2 days and that was just a simple cold so that scared me a bit as normally I get a cold and it doesn t stop be getting dressed etc. The only thing putting me off having it done is medicines going into my body that might harm baby I know its supposed to be safe but I worry about it I have been so careful not taking any medicines and not having anything that could hurt the baby. I really dont know what to do too for the best

wigglesrock · 07/10/2011 11:11

I had it last year when I was pregnant, my sister had the flu last Christmas, she is a very healthy 34 year old, she ended up on a drip in A&E, totally floored her, she actually had to go home to my Mums to get looked after (a fate worse than death in our house). After seeing how debilatated she was, I was so glad I had it.

BartletForAmerica · 07/10/2011 11:16

pregnantmimi, the tiny and theoretical risk of the flu vaccine is far outweighed by the far more likely risk of getting the flu. The flu does seem to be worse in pregnant women, with a number of women who get it suffering the sad loss of their child (thank you to tangle for sharing her tragic story - my thoughts go out to you and your partner), or needing ventilation, or women dying.

I am a pregnant doctor and wild horses won't stop me from getting the flu vaccine this winter, having seen a number of sad cases the last couple of winters. I have no doubt in my mind that this is doing the right thing.

ITryToBeZenBut · 07/10/2011 13:26

I'm 23 weeks and had it on Monday. I felt tired for a few days as if fighting something but still well enough to work and fine now.

Each to their own - it's a personal decision. I like to avoid drugs etc and use natural remedies where I can but I've read the information available and also remember the effect it had on pregnant women last year (along the lines of the sad stories shared here) and my personal decision is that I'd rather be vaccinated.

There is also another argument that certainly motivated me in that if you're vulnerable and more likely to catch it, being vaccinated to minimise your chances of getting it helps protect other vulnerable groups in society who are too weakened to be vaccinated. I have a friend battling cancer - I would like to reduce my chances of getting it and becoming yet another person she might catch it from or spreading it further into the community. I won't be living in the house 24 hours a day and much as she tried to stay isolated, she still has to open the door to the postman/home shopping and head to hospital appointments etc.

I also do not want to take up a valuable ITU bed (I work in healthcare management and these beds are so very precious) when I could have done something to minimise that risk.

Plus, I'm already dreaming of christmas pudding and cake (my most favourite foods in the world) and want to be healthy enough to enjoy the treble helpings I plan to have to make up for the lack of booze this year Grin

As I said, it's a personal decision. Just sharing my perspective and things that have influenced my decision.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 07/10/2011 14:55

I had mine on Monday (at 34 weeks). I have taken nothing more than a couple of paracetamol this pg, am having/hoping to have a natural homebirth with IM incl a natural 3rd stage and have asked for oral vit k for my newborn rather than the jab. I wash nappies, make my own bread etc

BUT DD has had all her vaccinations and so have I.

The flu is awful and babies/mummys have died. I want to be around for my children. Each to their own but I believe that vaccinations are a good thing and are responsible for reducing early death in the world.

Kimmie30 · 07/10/2011 19:57

I am 36 weeks pregnant and haven't been offeres the flu jab or swine flu jab. No midwife has even mentioned it to me!!! I am a little miffed when i mentioned it to the doctor who told me if i needed it the surgery would have written. What annoys me the most is my whole family came down with flu/swine flu last year at christmas. My Mum and my daughter got it the worst. A month later my daughter started to become ill again with what was first thought to be a kidney infection then maybe an appendix before finally being rushed to Addenbrookes from our local hospital to find she had a rare brain infection which had travelled from her sinusis to brain. 3 major brain ops and time in intensive care on life support and she lives to tell the tale. Even back at school full time starting her GCSE year. They think what happened to her was a result of flu/swine flu. However no one can be certain at all. It just amazes me that no one in our family meets the criteria for the jab!!

Sorry to go on. Please don't be scared by whay i said. What happened to my daughter is a very very rare case. Xxx

Gooseysgirl · 07/10/2011 21:35

It is of course a personal decision but this is a no-brainer for me, am 19+5 and getting the jab done next week. Had the flu only once in my life (5 years ago) and don't ever want to get it again.. it was horrendous, was off work for two weeks with it so can't even begin to imagine what it would do to my baby, and am certainly not going to take the risk. Have had the jab every year since then and will continue to do so. Terribly sorry to hear of your loss Tangle.