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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

swine flue jab..do i or dont i?? !!

38 replies

mumt1 · 07/11/2011 15:43

Ok I'm so confused! I thought the injection against swine flu was really safe? But starting to think its not. Esepcially to pregnant women? I haven't gt an amazing immune system as it is! And I had a cold a month ago which seemed to last long time after my 2 year old fought it off! I'm 16 weeks and just wondering if I should have it? I am scared of the side effects which can happen. But then again the swine flu is dying down anyway...isn't it? I'm so confused! I have always said I'll get it but now I've booked it for 2 days time I'm not so sure about it and the risk

OP posts:
kdiddy · 07/11/2011 15:49

I've had it - I have asthma anyway so I'm in an at risk group. From what I've read, your immune system is lower when you're pregnant anyway so you'd be more likely to catch it, plus it seemed to hit pregnant women harder last time round. I don't really want any more reasons to feel tired and run down! Also, I think it immunises the baby for a while after its born so it was a fairly easy decision for me.

Original poster
mumt1 · 07/11/2011 15:52

Did you have any side effects?

OP posts:
ghosteditor · 07/11/2011 16:02

OP, I'm pregnant (30 weeks) and had the flu jab about a month ago. You cannot catch 'flu from the jab as it does not contain an active vaccine. It also protects against several strains of flu, not just H1N1.

I suggest you read the NHS website for more information, and the facts.

HTH.

fannybaws · 07/11/2011 16:12

Please have it, I am a midwife and have seen the effect of swine flu on mums and babies.
I know it is natural to worry more when we are pregnant but if all pregnant women take it there will be fewer women getting serious complications and worse.

goodnightmoon · 07/11/2011 16:26

i had it, around 32 weeks, and no problems at all apart from a sore arm for a couple of days (normal). I get a flu shot every year though since having flu twice in the year after my son was born, and being totally incapacitated and unable to care for him properly. if you get flu - you will rue that you didn't get the jab!

banana87 · 07/11/2011 16:30

I've had it (at around 34 weeks). To me the risk of catching flu and something bad happening far outweighed any other considerations.

dreamc1 · 07/11/2011 16:42

Had the vaccine last week at 17 weeks pregnant. No probs with it.

Katiebeau · 07/11/2011 16:50

I had it at 40 weeks recently. Bruise on arm the only side effect. Swine flu can devastating in pregnant women (rare but none the less true) which is why they are pushing the seasonal vaccine at us, they never did before.

Nanny01 · 07/11/2011 16:54

I had the jab at 28 weeks and no side effects

thegingerone · 07/11/2011 17:19

Have it! Swine flu is horrid and potentially dangerous in preg. Your LO will also be immune for a few months after birth. As said above it is inactive so you can't catch flu form flu jab (when people feel a bit off for a few days it's just their immune system working and TBH most people just get a slightly tender arm..Get it in your non sleeping side!) I vaccinate Joe Public every year and hardly anyone ever feels rotton afterwards.(They keep coming back yr after yr!) The H1N1 element is included in ALL seasonal flu jabs. It hasn't gone away. The attention a few years ago was based on it's suddan appearance. Flu jabs are designed and produced in the Feb before the winter they're adminisitered so it has to be predicted which strains will be about (A bit like a weather forcast for viruses!) that yr the virus appeared unexpectedly so to speak.
I wouldn't personally dream of not having jab.

silversmith · 07/11/2011 17:27

I had the jab at about 33 weeks - hadn't had any vaccinations for years and was a bit nervous about it - but the fact that I know my immune system is lowered due to pregnancy, and the knowledge that real flu would be truly horrid for me, not to mention scared of what it might do to a nearly ready baby, made me think it was even more sensible to have it done.

Excellent nurse - hardly felt the jab, and the only effect was a bit of a bruise which came up a couple of days later.

Get vaccinated! You'll be protecting other people as well as yourself.

scarletfingernail · 07/11/2011 17:50

I assume you mean the normal flu jab which includes the swine flu vaccine this year, in which case I've had it.

I had it at 14 weeks and am now 16 weeks. No side-effects whatsoever.

Like you I wasn't sure what to do and really thought about it for a long time (from before I was even pg). I researched it and spoke to my midwife and I'm now completely convinced I've done the right thing.

Catching any type of flu, both swine and seasonal while pregnant is extremely dangerous to both mother and baby.

Yummymummyyobe1 · 07/11/2011 17:53

I have been unsure about getting it but have decided to go for it as it is the best way to protect bump.

YM1 xxx

HidingInTheUndergrowth · 07/11/2011 17:53

Real flu, as opposed to the bad cold so many people seem to think is flu, can be very dangerous for you and your baby. My dp who is generally fit and healthy had flu a couple of years ago and was seriously ill, he had a high fever, could not get out of bed abar could barely eat or drink for almost a week. He lost an awful lot of weight and at one point it got so bad I almost called an ambulance. Seeing him like that made me realise how bad flu can be and so did not hesitate to have the jab even if it meant some side effects as I realised these could not possibly be more dangerous to my baby than having flu.

As it was I had no side effects at all and barely any pain from the injection. Please do get the flu jab if your midwife and gp recommend it for you!

Toobluntforboss · 07/11/2011 17:57

I got it last year when I was 17 weeks - no side effects at all except for sore arm as has been mentioned and healthy baby boy delivered in May.

Rollersara · 07/11/2011 17:57

I had flu years ago, unable to leave the bed, horrible achy pain everywhere, fever to the point of hallucinations, didn't know what day it was, awful.

Had flu jab last week (25 weeks), slightly sore arm. Much better than having flu!

JumpinJellyBeansOnToast · 07/11/2011 18:00

I had it last year when pregnant, no side effects experienced. Too many young (including pregnant) patients have ended up on ITU with H1N1 since swine flu arrived in the UK to feel blasé about it.

MrsHollywood · 07/11/2011 18:07

Please have it - last year's flu outbreak saw some very sad stories making the headlines.

As others have said, your immune system IS lower during pregnancy (especially during the first trimester when your body is being told NOT to reject foreign bodies - hence your extra long cold) and the flu jab won't hurt you, but real flu really, really might.

I had the jab last year with absolutely no side effects at all. Please have it!!

MrsCog · 07/11/2011 18:30

I had it at about 18 weeks, no side effects, and I feel much safer knowing I'm not going to get flu!

NoobyNoob · 07/11/2011 18:47

Have it!!

thousandDenier · 07/11/2011 18:51

I'm having it this week

thousandDenier · 07/11/2011 18:52

Actually, WTF am I talking about brave? I've got to pass a human out of my chuff in a few months. A jab ain't gonna be no thang.

LoveInAColdClimate · 07/11/2011 18:58

Real flu (rather than a cold which a lot of people seem to think is interchangeable with flu Hmm) is really bloody awful and potentially v dangerous. Have the jab! I have had actual flu once and since then have had the jab every year (paying if necessary although can usually get it at work - free this year as pregnant). I was properly ill for at least a week (maybe weeks) and weak and rubbish for weeks afterwards. Get it!

Original poster
mumt1 · 07/11/2011 21:04

Thankyou everyone. Mind made up then. Ill brave the needle and have it done. Baby is way more important thn a bit of a pain in my arm x

OP posts:
missorinoco · 07/11/2011 21:07

Are you Rhesus negative? If so, for comparison it is much less uncomfortable than the antD injections. Also far less revolting than taking Tamiflu if you are exposed, and then you have to have the vaccination anyway cos you don't want Tamiflu again. {Speaks from bitter experience last year, not getting round to getting vaccinated in time is no consolation.}