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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Do i really need the flu jab?

65 replies

Emily25 · 28/11/2011 16:43

Hi,

Im nearly 24 weeks pregnant and have been advised to have the flu jab by my midwife. I still haven't booked it in, its not that i don't like injections, it's just that i don't really like putting things into my body when i don't really know the effects they have. I had full on flu 2 years ago, so surely my immunity to it should be fairly good? Can not having the flu jab harm my baby if i then get the flu??....im confused.

OP posts:
ImpYCelyn · 28/11/2011 16:47

The flu strain changes year to year, so it's unlikely that you'd be immune to this year's strain.

From what I've read the effect of flu on pregnant women can be devastating. Some women last year lost their babies as a result.

Personally having weighed up the risks it seemed far less risky to have the jab than to not have it.

nickelbabe · 28/11/2011 16:49

Bloody good question.
I've been told to ask my GP about it - but I'm 40+2 today, and I'm worried about it being too close to the end (when I was first advised about it, it was only about 4 weeks ago, and again, still worried too close to the end)

I think if i'd been 33 weeks or below, I would have got it - mainly because we're now entering the flu season.

my advise is: if you tend to get coughs, colds and illnesses in the winter, then yes, get the jab - your immune system is a lot lower when you're PG (so that your body doesn't reject the foreign body that's growing in there)

nickelbabe · 28/11/2011 16:49

advice

nickelbabe · 28/11/2011 16:50

oh, and it's not a live vaccine, so it can't harm your baby (and I've been told that it will protect the baby for up to 6 months)

naturalbaby · 28/11/2011 16:50

i was reluctant to get it with my last pregnancy and avoided it till i got a really bad cold and saw a gp at 36weeks, who promptly sent me across the hall to get the jab.

i'm not sure of the effects of flu on the baby but i know a gp who does a lot of research who assured me it was the right thing to do.

Crosshair · 28/11/2011 17:10

I had mine after doing some research. The deaths last year from flu definitely gave me something to think about.

Good luck with your decision!

Flisspaps · 28/11/2011 17:29

I am 21+5, and have decided not to have the flu jab. Part of my reluctance is due to the inclusion of the H1N1 vaccine which I refused in my first pregnancy. That's my decision though, and I would advise any pregnant woman to make the decision for herself. It's not for me to say if you, or anyone else, needs it - I can only speak for myself and my child :)

xkatyx · 28/11/2011 19:25

This was me last year!! I got myself in a right state over it realt I did.

After a couple of weeks I decided I would have it I was 34 weeks, I'm glad I did it was a massive relief!
But not site if it was linked seriously doubt it was to be honest .. But my ayers broke next day so unfortunately my baby wasn't covered.

But I am pregnant again and glad I Sony have to make the choice again as I still within the year mark!!

Make your own choice and don't let anyone tell you what you should do.

VintageNancy · 28/11/2011 20:00

I made the decision to have it as I know a previously fit and healthy man who nearly died from swine flu last year. So for me it was an easy decision. But it's a personal choice entirely.

madmomma · 28/11/2011 20:07

I'm 36 wks and saw my lovely consultant today. He strenuously advises all pregnant women to have the jab, because the risk of complications from swine flu as a pregnant woman are 50 x higher than for non-pregnant women. I'm very cautious with jabs, medicines etc, but I'm definitely having this one, and I'd advise you to do the same.

Pekka · 28/11/2011 20:26

I had my flu shot at 19 weeks. My MW advised me to have it. I was worried after hearing about the narcoleptic cases last year. Then I decided that the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth from flu is worse.

mosschops30 · 28/11/2011 20:31

Please get it, i work in ITU, last year we lost one pg woman, managed to save another but she missed a lot of her babies first couple of months, so yes the effects can be devastating.

Pg women have been offered the flu jab for over 2 years now, its not a new thing. I had it when pg with dc3.

This year i have paid privately to have my dcs vaccinated.

MrsRV · 28/11/2011 20:32

I really don't know whether to have it or not... Is there anyone who has decided not to have it, and what are your reasons?

mosschops30 · 28/11/2011 20:33

And yes, most ITU admissions for swine flu were either pg women or healthy adults

whatstheetiquette · 28/11/2011 20:38

I am not pregnant, but I have had this season's flu. It is really really nasty. I felt absolutely awful for around 8 days, then improved but actually felt quite crappy and ill for a further 4-5 weeks. Bear in mind that I am "young" and "healthy". My young and healthy brother (30) suffered equally as badly, if not worse, actually.

A diabetic relative had flu this season as well and he literally thought that he was going to die and in a bit of a haze, started telling my mum to give away his stuff to my brother!

Anyway, yes, I would have the jab if I was pregnant. And I am the kind of person who worries about jabs.

mousebacon · 28/11/2011 20:42

Would you have it in the first trimester? I had the jab at 9 weeks pg in jan of this year but sadly lost that baby. I'm usually a vaccination person but (even though I know it didn't) I can't shake the feeling the jab had an effect.

I'm a primary teacher and know I'm at greater risk but have been putting off getting the jab.

This is such a precious, long fought for pregnancy and I just can't bear for anything to go wrong. Aaaggh!!

madmomma · 28/11/2011 21:36

Oh mouse that's an awful decision to have to make. I'm really sorry for your loss.x How many weeks are you?

yummicheddars · 28/11/2011 21:37

nickelbabe if you have the jab asap before the baby is born, ur baby will also be born with the immunity to the flu for this winter. Please I had it a few weeks ago, I'm only 19 weeks but was so happy to have it done, at first I was very unsure but I went for it because I realised that it wud help my baby against it when its born. And what a good job I did, as I was bombarded by ppl who had the flu a week later! I just got a bit of a cold :) one of the best decisions

mosschops30 · 28/11/2011 21:42

yummi the flu jab takes 21 days for full immunity so you obviously just had a good immune system Smile

Greenleafytrees · 28/11/2011 21:48

I had the swine flu jab when 5-6 weeks pregnant with DD2 2 years ago. Like yours, she is a desperately fought for baby (fertility issues). It was a no-brainer for me: the doctor insisted I should have it as she had seen first hand the effect of swine flu on pg women. The real clincher for me though was a bout of flu I had in Jan 2009. I was fevered for a week to 10 days, and was totally out if it. Even though I was mid-cycle at the time (was ttc so paying close attention), I started to bleed like a period. Apparently this can happen with a high fever (says so in the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler). I know that if I had been pregnant then there would have been a good chance I would have lost the baby. For me I felt that having the jab would protect the baby. You have to do what you think is right though, it's different for everyone.

DD2 doesn't appear to have had any adverse effects from me having had the jab by the way, despite me having it at such an early stage. I had seasonal jab this pregnancy but not until 26 weeks or thereabouts.

Catsycat · 28/11/2011 21:51

I had the jab a few weeks ago. I must have been about 7 or 8 weeks pg, I am now 14 weeks.

mouse, I'm really sorry to hear of your loss, but I doubt the jab had an impact. I lost a baby at 10 weeks in June, and I know how it is to be looking for a reason for the loss :( .

I also had the jab in my last pg, I must have been about 7 or 8 months then. DD2 is absolutely fine.

When pg with DD2, I did have a nasty cold which turned into a chest infection. I was coughing up blood and had to have a chest xray, then was put on steroid inhalers for the rest of my pg, and for a few weeks after delivery. I just think if that was how bad a cold could turn when pg, what could flu be like? I don't want to find out.

BabyGiraffes · 28/11/2011 21:55

I had the swine flu jab two years ago when I was 28ish wks. My older dd then got swine flu (confirmed) a few weeks later and was very very poorly with a constantly very high fever (near or over 40!) for nearly five days. I had some but not total immunity by that point (according to GP) and also got quite ill (thankfully without the fever) but nowhere near as ill as I would have been without the jab. Still pleased I had it and have had the flu jab every year since. With two young children and severe asthma I have too much to lose.

ANTagony · 28/11/2011 21:58

I had the jab last year at about 32 weeks after i had a bad asthma attack out of the blue. Another girl in my baby group didnt, got swine flu, gave birth very prematurely whilst in comma and didnt meet her little girl till she was three weeks old. The little girl and mum are well and lovely but she suffers terrible guilt for missing three weeks and has complex emotions that the inlaws, dad, aunties etc met her baby before her.

Could you call your midwife to talk it through?

DianaXXX · 28/11/2011 23:09

I'm not sure it's totally necessary however If your like me that gets sick all the time it's best to did mine at my Gp when I was 20 weeks pregnant

samwellsbutt · 28/11/2011 23:40

i wasnt going to but went with my son to get his mmr and the nurse said while your here have you had your flu jab. i had heard of 2 pregnant woman that had died and one that died after round this way so i went with it. felt like crap for a few days though which made me curse my decision, especially since i have never had flu.