Dr wants me to have the flu jab. Would you/have you?

[Flightty]

I'm not sure what to do. I'm only just pregnant, and it's nearly summer (well sort of!) but he thinks it is a good idea to have the flu jab.

I don't have any other medical conditions. What would you do - is anyone else in this situation?

thankyou

I would definitely get the jab. I got flu about a month ago at 35 weeks pregnant and it was horrendous. I now really understand why it's dangerous for pregnant women to get flu. Breathing is hard when you're very pregnant and my immune system just wasn't shifting it. I was very ill for 2.5 weeks and nearly went to a&e when I was getting worried about being able to breathe.
Btw the flu season has only just actually occurred this year so it's not always in November/December (although that's when you'll be in late pregnancy and therefore most dangerous.

I would have it, amd did have it when pg in 2009.

I was pg in 2009 at the height of the swine flu pandemic. As a moderate asthmatic with no access to a vaccine at that stage, I was petrified and it triggered OCD. I wouldn't touch surfaces, travel on public transport or go more than 30 mins without washing my hands and cleaning my work surface meticulously.

I have had vacc in both pregnancies and no ill effects...

I had it at 12 weeks. I've had no ill affects and baby is due in 6 weeks.

Thanks guys, you've made my mind up. DP is a bit dubious, he didn't think pregnant women normally had the flu jab but I think they do, don't they? (don't we! still in denial here)

I explained how serious it can be and he said I should do what I think best. So I think I will have it.

I think your DH is mistaken - pregnant women are one of the groups advised to have the jab.

I had it and it was fine. Twas mostly out of self-preservation - I have colleague who prides herself on never being off sick even though the office is the very last place she should be and to boot refuses to take anything for it. While I'm sure even she couldn't manage work with flu I'd rather not risk it especially as I was just starting to recover from HG.

(As it happened I had a cold at 33 weeks and because I couldn't take anything half-useful for it I was laid out for way longer than I would normally be and felt horrendous so I'm pretty glad I did have the jab!)

Oh I don't blame you then, she sounds terrible

Part of the fear is that it'll make me feel ill, having the jab, but it seems like there's no side effects which sounds good.

I had HG with other two and starting to feel sick already at 3 1/2 weeks, so a bit worried about that!

I personally wouldn't get it, It is recommended that I have it every year and I have refused every year except once and that is the only year I have had the flu so I haven't had it since

Pregnant women have only been offered the seasonal flu jab routinely for the last few years.

This came out of research that shows that pregnant women are much more vulnerable to serious side effects if they catch influenza and their babies have a greater risk of illness and death.

The vaccine changes very slightly each season, so if you have it now you may well want the next season's vaccine later in the year.

It is unlikely to make you unwell, but some people do have a sore arm and a mild immune response such as a headache and a temperature for a day or two. It cannot give you flu. Conversely there can be many circulating strains of flu each year and the vaccine can only protect against the 4 (or so) most common strains. The flu vaccine cannot protect against other viral illnesses.

I had it the day it was offered. Having read up in advance, side effects are very rare (unless you have an egg allergy) and being very keen to avoid flu. I knew I wouldn't make a special "vaccine" appointment, but that's due to fear of needles!

I had a sore arm but that was all. When I had a cold later in the year it was dreadful though. Couldn't breath, could barely get the energy to stand etc. And that was just having a cold without the benefit of decongestants. Really wouldn't want to have flu under those circumstances.

Had mine at 5 weeks (am 33 weeks now). No ill effects. Have it every year for work, only time I had a side effect was after H1N1 vac - v sore arm for about 5 days. Other than that absolutely fine but some people do experience mild fluey symptoms. It's an inactive vaccine so can't cause flu. Although we're heading into summer seasonal flu isn't over yet (some community wards near me closed because of it last week) so still worth getting vaccinated, and probably having next seasons vaccine when it comes out sept/oct time as it's up to date for any changes the flu strain may have undergone.

I think the important thing to remember is that although there may be tiny unknown risks with the vaccine the risk of becoming seriously ill with flu whilst pregnant is real and significant. There seems to be a real suspicion amongst the public that vaccines are inherently dangerous, with a global amnesia of how dangerous the infections they protect us from really are.

Sorry for the rant, hope everything goes well in your pregnancy x

ps 3 colds so far in this pregnancy agree really not fun, wish they had a vaccine for the common cold!

I wouldn't have it and missed two when I was pregnant and breast feeding.