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Pregnancy

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

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:
DianaXXX · 29/11/2011 01:18

I didn't feel no side affects after mine ( at all) !!!
But each organisms are unique so each to there own Blush

mousebacon · 29/11/2011 07:37

Thank you for the advice ladies. I'm 12+3 today and all looks good on my scans. Normally I'd just have had the jab no question but it's proving to be a really difficult decision this time.

user59457812 · 29/11/2011 09:54

Emily25 and MrsRV, I'm going to risk getting flamed here I think, but I decided not to have it. I would absolutely stress it's an individual decision and I really agonised over it, and I would never advise anyone else what to do. In my mind it's all about balance of risk and only you can know how you feel.

To try and make the decision I looked at the data and other factors available: how long the vaccine has been given to pregnant women (esp. the new H1N1 strain) and how much testing had been/was possible to do on potential effects on baby; the numbers of healthy people getting any strain of flu ending up in ICU in the last few years; the numbers of pregnant women with any strain of flu ending up in ICU in the last few years; and the numbers of deaths in healthy people and pregnant women linked to flu nationally. There is a quite a vocal 'counter' movement in the US trying to get the jab banned on safety grounds, however it's hard to tell how much of that is based on actual scientific evidence and how much is general anti-vaccine propaganda.

The reason I did this is that it's quite recent advice for pregnant women to get the flu jab and I wanted to understand the health/policy reasons for this.

In my case, the jab was never mentioned by my GP or my midwife at any appointment (I saw her last after the start of flu season), so it's interesting that others are given a very firm steer to have it. I went through an entire flu season in another 'Western' country during my first and early second trimester and it never came up either.

Out of my friends who are/have been pregnant in the last year, it's about 50/50 between those who decided to have it, and those who decided not to (everyone was aware of the availability of the jab and had seen the posters). We all had our own reasons for coming to the decision we did.

My only advice is inform yourself as much as possible, and then you can feel more comfortable in whatever decision you make.

BartletForAmerica · 29/11/2011 09:59

I had it done at 8/40.

A study found that stillbirth was increased in women with swine flu.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15357218

There are no safety concerns with the vaccine, and much increased risks of ITU admission and death for mother & baby.

user59457812 · 29/11/2011 10:00

And Mousebacon meant to say in my last post really sorry for your loss. Such a tough decision. I had MCs before and therefore every decision in this pregnancy (not just the jab) seems to have taken on epic proportions... All the best of luck xx

leftmymistletoeatthedoor · 29/11/2011 10:07

It has to be your decision.

I didn't have it when I was pregnant last year.

When dd was 3 months, dh, ds and I got swine flu. It was hell. Ds was 4 and got pneumonia and was VERY ill, I couldn't talk for days due to being so breathless.

If I were ever pregnant again I would be first in the queue.

WhyAlwaysBoris · 29/11/2011 15:54

I had it last week, i did my research first though.
For me the issue isn't so much the inactivated viruses but the other stuff in the vial.
About half the current flu jabs licenced for use by the nhs contain a preservative that is 50% mercury by weight.
The nhs say this is perfectly safe. It is a very small amount.
It is now not allowed to be used in any jabs for the under 7's in the US, and is being phased out in most european countries.
I would have the jab but be careful about whch brand they use
(as a rough rule of thumb, if it is in a single dose vial, it is unlikely to include it as the preservative isn't necessary. If it is in a bottle with more than one dose, it will include it to keep it sterile once the first needle has punctured the seal).

nickelbabe · 29/11/2011 16:03

has it really?
I didn't know that.
I have to say, I'm a bit wary about anything like this, that isn't a routine inoculation.

HugosGoatee · 29/11/2011 16:14

WhyAlways - I read about mercury in vaccines and called the surgery to ask if the brand of flu jab they used had mercury in it. I spoke to 3 receptionists, a practice nurse and 3 doctors and didn't receive a satisfactory response. Basically, they didn't know, and didn't think it was important. The answer I got was that it didn't but I honestly think they were guessing. Mercury isn't labelled as such in the ingredients, it will just say the name of the preservative. Pissed me off but I had it anyway, the amount is so so tiny and mercury vaccines have never been linked to developmental delays in babies of pregnant women anyway. I just wanted to be fully informed.

I would recommend to anyone to have it. The balance of risk always, always comes out in favour of having the jab. I think of the anti-vaccine crew as frothing beserkers who are usually seeking something to blame for an illness or disorder.

PamBeesly · 29/11/2011 16:18

I had the flu injection at 26 weeks but had a bad reaction to it, I ended up in hospital and needed steroid injections to develop babies lungs in case he came earlier BUT the doctor said it was still better for me to have had the vaccine on the whole because the benefit of it outweighed the risk (including the reaction I had) So even with the reaction I would still recommend it to any pregnant people unless they have had a reaction to other vaccines in the past

midnightexpress · 29/11/2011 16:19

My neighbour who is an immunologist says the strain of flu this year is extremely nasty. One mum at the DC's school has it at the moment and has been in bed for about a week so far. Her DH says he's never seen her this ill. Sad

That said, I'm not pg and I don't know how I'd feel about it if I were. It's entirely your choice.

Halgirl · 29/11/2011 16:19

Anyone had the flu jab at a later stage in pregnancy? Im 38 weeks and it has never been mentioned to me by doctor or midwife, but not sure whether it would a good thing to have?

PamBeesly · 29/11/2011 16:29

halgirl my doctor told me you can get it at any stage of pregnancy, it would be no harm to ring and ask

nickelbabe · 29/11/2011 16:42

yes, halgirl - my MW mentioned it again at my 39+4 week appointment, and didn't think it was too late.

Crosshair · 29/11/2011 16:54

I had mine at 32 weeks, had to ask for it as noone mentioned it either.

Twittwooo · 29/11/2011 17:21

Hi mousebacon (and everyone else), I remember you from the previous thread we were both on and I'm almost in the exact same situation as you regarding the flu jag. Due to previous losses, as others have said too, I am very cautious about taking any risks. However, I am also a primary school teacher and I have asthma too, so I feel I am in a fairly high risk category. I am just in the second trimester, but not sure if this has any bearing on anything. I have made an appointment to get the flu jag at the end of next week, but I'm still undecided. It's such a toughie, isn't it? I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread! x

YULEingFanjo · 29/11/2011 17:24

I didn't get it (DS born last Dec) as I figured I was very unlikely to get Swine/Bird flu anyway.

Xmasbaby11 · 29/11/2011 17:41

All pregnant women (as well as other vulnerable groups) are advised to have it. Therefore I would get it.

mousebacon · 29/11/2011 18:28

Hi twittwooo congrats on your pregnancy!

Thank you for your advice ladies, I will keep checking in here. I've got a scan booked for the 20th of dec when I'll be 16 weeks. I think I'll try and hang on until then.

Twittwooo · 29/11/2011 18:41

Thanks mouse, congratulations to you too! It's nice to see you on here, and even better to hear you've reached the 12 week benchmark. I'm almost 14 weeks now and had my scan on Friday, but it's still a really tricky decision about the flu jab. I'm not sure how I'm going to make my mind up!

PieMistress · 29/11/2011 19:48

mouse, twit I am in a similar position. I'm just over 9 weeks and having such a dilemma about it. I think if I was over halfway ie/ 26 weeks I wouldn't have to think twice but having had a miscarriage previously it really makes you question everything that you do. I'm so torn! I wish I had had in back in September before I got my bfp then wouldn't even have to worry! It really is a case of devil if you do, devil if you don't

If DS wasn't in nursery I probably wouldn't have it as I don't take public transport to work and work in a small office but DS mixes with lots of other toddlers at nursery so it's very possible he could pick something up and pass it on to me. I've got a MW appt on Thurs so will see what she says about it.

mousebacon · 29/11/2011 20:19

Let us know piemistress Smile

Mum2be79 · 29/11/2011 21:34

Had it!

I'm fine! Baby's fine! Have it every year being asthmatic.

MrsRV · 29/11/2011 22:01

Still torn... Midwife said briefly to Have it... So I've buried my head and hoped it would go away! Read lots of things from other countries on why not to have it. But nothing from UK... I don't have as much trust in the NHS as I probably should... Something just doesn't sit comfortably with me in having it and I just can't quite put my finger on why..

puzzletree · 29/11/2011 22:11

I had it, got it straight after my first midwife appointment at 6.5 weeks as she recommended I got it. Have never had a bad reaction to vaccinations so it seemed like the obvious decision to make. Would never forgive myself if I did get flu and something happened to the baby.