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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

23 replies

Noodles81 · 12/11/2011 19:49

Hi ladies,

I'm due 9th Feb and was just reading about the flu jab. Shall i have it done? Is it safe? Is it REALLY necessary?

Anyone had it already?

OP posts:

HappyCamel · 12/11/2011 19:55

Yes, it's a good idea. DH had flu last year, two weeks off work, the real deal. I was 6 months pg and didn't get it. My friend did and gave birth at 35 weeks, the consultant said her temperature was high and triggered labour. I can't imagine anything worse than labouring with flu.

It's safe and protects you and your baby.

natashakaplinkyplop · 12/11/2011 20:05

I had a flu jab last winter when I was pregnant, and i've just paid to have one done for this winter.

Minus273 · 12/11/2011 20:05

I had mine at 32 weeks just a slightly sore arm. True 'flu' is really awful I don't want to think how bad it would be when pregnant. The common cod feels worse when pregnant IMO. Pregnant women are at greater risk of the complications from 'flu' there were a couple of women near me who ended up in ITU last year. Not worth the risk not to have it IMO.

HidingInTheUndergrowth · 12/11/2011 20:07

It is very safe and really important for you and your baby that you have it. Real flu is not like having a bit of a cold, it is a very unpleasant thing in a healthy person with a great immune system, in someone with a low immune system such as the elderly or pregnant it can be very serious.

The jab is fine, you will barely feel it and I had no side effects at all.

Tangle · 12/11/2011 20:07

I can't imagine anything worse than labouring with flu.

I didn't have the jab 09/10. I caught swine flu. I was 36 weeks pregnancy. I developed complications. DD2 died in utero after my vital signs went hay-wire (blood pressure of 60/30 isn't conducive to supporting a baby in the womb). Labouring with flu whilst knowing you're trying to birth a baby who's already died is pretty pants.

That said, I was extremely unlucky to wind up in that situation - many pregnant women had flu and came through with no ill effects for either themselves or their babies. Whether or not to have the jab is up to you. All I'd suggest is that if you're researching on the web, try and make sure that the information you are reviewing is pertinent to the country you live in and the current season's jab. For instance, there's a huge amount of info re. the Pandemrix jab (generated in a hurry when swine flu first appeared for winter 2009) which made many very cautious - including me. Pregnant women are now being offered the seasonal flu jab, this years mix including swine flu, and Pandemrix is no longer likely to be offered or available so the concerns relating to it are, to a large degree, irrelevant.

For me, in this pregnancy, I'd rather change the variables a bit so I had the jab a couple of weeks back (now 7 1/2 months). Baby still moving masses and my sore arm only lasted a couple of days. Knowing my luck I'll just catch a version that wasn't included, but at least I've done something different!

Original poster

Noodles81 · 12/11/2011 20:09

I've just hear so many conflicting arguments. Women saying it was the worst thing ever, vomiting and feeling awful for weeks. Some saying their GP told them they would never have it done or recommend it to their own families and that it's not needed. Just drink plenty of water and fruit and veg and stay healthy.

I'm so confused!!!

OP posts:

Minus273 · 12/11/2011 20:14

If its any help noodles, I'm a HCP and had it done. My friend a GP also did. Try the NHS choices website, I'm sure it has up to date info.

Original poster

Noodles81 · 12/11/2011 20:23

Thank you all. I am generally good and don't catch things and if i do i shake it off but you just never know plus i work with kids...

I think if there is GENUINELY nothing negative or side effects or long term effects of having it done they why not. There's nothing to lose and it can only protect right?

No evidence of miscarriage or complications if you have it is there?

Excuse my naivety but what does HCP mean?!

OP posts:

Minus273 · 12/11/2011 20:27

Health care professional.

The most likely side effects of the jag are sore arm, maybe a bit achey, slightly raised temperature (but not as high as if you actually had flu). Personally my arm was only sore if I knocked it and even then only for a couple of days. A few of my colleagues had an achey arm for 3/4 days.

Tangle · 12/11/2011 20:42

You've hit on the crux of the problem - there isn't enough evidence to say that there are absolutely no negative consequences or side effects, and in particular, no long term effects. Trying to do that research for the seasonal flu jab (generically) is always going to be incredibly hard as trying to eliminate other factors to isolate any impact a few years down the line is nigh on impossible (never mind 5 years, 10 years or more). To get that data for the current season's concoction is impossible due to the time scales involved.

To me, it depends which risk you want to take:

If you have the jab then you are definitely introducing something into your body while pregnant, but the seasonal flu jab has been given to high risk pregnant women for many years with no obvious common or serious side effects for either mothers or babies.
If you don't have the jab you will may well not catch flu anyway, and if you do you are unlikely to develop serious complications (although you may be pretty miserable for a couple of weeks) but if you are unlucky then the outcome could be catastrophic (for both your baby and yourself).

Neither option is risk free. Neither option comes with a guarantee. Welcome to parenting!

Crosshair · 12/11/2011 20:59

I had it at 31 weeks, sore arm but felt fine.

chiasma · 12/11/2011 22:58

As long as you get the injection, it is safe and usually recommended for pregnant women. Do not get the nasal mist, as it contains live virus.

chocolateyclur · 12/11/2011 23:22

Had mine today. Sore arm, but has to be better than last year when I had pig flu.

notcitrus · 12/11/2011 23:30

Had mine a few weeks ago (due mid Feb) - the NHS are recommending it this year for all pregnant women. It protects against the expected strains of seasonal flu including 'swine flu'.

I had a small sore spot on my arm for a few days but that was it. It only contains dead virus so can't give you flu itself, and it's the same swine flu strain that was used last year, so actually it's better tested than most flu virus vacs as they have to change the virus content each year.
And getting flu is known to be dangerous.

I would highly recommend it!

brettgirl2 · 13/11/2011 08:37

It was the bit about protecting the baby in its first weeks of life that swung it for me. DD is always bringing some lurgy or another back from nursery. I had no side effects at all, not even a twinge in my arm! Ultimately if you google there are horror stories about everything, its usually more sensible to follow the advice from doctors.

MrsCog · 13/11/2011 09:59

I had mine, I read a lot of very sad stories about women who lost their babies and ended up very unwell themselves (Intensive care unwell), just from catching flu whilst pregnant. Not worth the risk of not having it IMO. All doctors I've spoken to/read about say it's a must.

PieMistress · 13/11/2011 10:10

Does it matter what gestation you are at when you have it ie/ is it recommended to wait until after 12 weeks or does it not matter?

Minus273 · 13/11/2011 11:24

Gestation doesn't matter. It's usually given whenever it's 'flu' jag time.

PieMistress · 13/11/2011 12:53

Ok, I sometimes wonder if it's safer to do these things after 12 weeks or not.

iggi999 · 13/11/2011 13:51

As someone who has had recurrent miscarriages I am very uncertain about this. There is not hard eveidence but plently of anecdotal, googlable stuff about women miscarrying after the vaccine - which of course could be a coincidence. I will probably still get it done, but it's certainly not an easy decision for me to make.

HelenHen · 13/11/2011 14:47

I'm kinda of the opinion that I don't know what they're injecting into me so I don't want it. I don't really trust stuff like that. When we were at the gp, hubby blurted out 'can she have the flu jab' and I was kinda put on the spot and had to say 'can I not?' :o

babycarmen · 13/11/2011 15:49

Im due 6th feb and had mine on Thursday, not even as much as a sore arm :)

TooImmature2BDumbledore · 13/11/2011 16:05

Had mine yesterday - have been counting kicks today as just turned 20 weeks and have felt heaps. The doctor said pregnant women had been found to be doubly at risk from the flu last year and he would recommend it.

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