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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 jag - are you going to get it?

50 replies

wickedfairy · 23/09/2012 18:40

Hi,

I am 34 weeks with DC3 and have been offered the seasonal flu jag at my midwife appointment tomorrow - I have no idea whether to take it or not! It was never offered with my first pregnancy and I refused it with my second as I was under 12 weeks. So, I am not sure what to do.....

What will you do please? Should I take it? I cannot make a decision... TIA

OP posts:

mosschops30 · 23/09/2012 22:41

eliza are you saying that because it's not 100% it's not worth having?

Why would you take the risk, why not just get the vaccine.

milkyjo · 23/09/2012 22:49

When swine flu was rife pregnant women were one group that were hit hard and ended up in ITU on ventilators, not sure why, maybe due to the lower immune system during pregnancy. I get one at work regardless of being pregnant or not, we get a triple combined flue jab covering swine flu, and then the two seasonal flu strains.

Jojoba1986 · 23/09/2012 22:50

I had it near my due date last time because I was told it would transfer some immunity to DS... Big mistake! 2 days after having it I started having flu-ish symptoms which were just getting better when I went into labour... Loooong story short, I had to discharge myself from the hosp after having him because they wouldn't willingly let me leave because my temp & pulse were a bit raised! Noone would listen to me pointing out that that was a pre-labour issue! Hmph!

(If I was offered it next time in my second trimester or at the start of the third I would probably take it though - real flu is not nice!)

RubyrooUK · 23/09/2012 23:01

They're called jags where I come from bonzo.

But slang aside, in my first pregnancy the doctor and midwife advised against the flu jab. They said it wasn't particularly effective in their experience and the whole surgery objected to what they saw as "political scaremongering" by politicians over bird flu and swine flu. I took their advice because I didn't really know what to do and then forgot about it.

I'd probably get it done this time though as I'm pregnant now because I generally believe that vaccinating is a good thing and my two year old DS brings home every bug in the world....

PrimaBallerina · 23/09/2012 23:02

Yes I had it when pg with DS and I'll be having it this time too. Is there a good reason not to?

BuntyCollocks · 23/09/2012 23:47

Yes. Did with DS when swine flu was a big risk, and will this time as well.

Original poster

wickedfairy · 24/09/2012 07:28

Thanks all for your advice - I will take the jag! I just wasn't sure and of course the midwife recommends, but she would be advised to I suppose. It is good to hear from others and their reasons for/against. I feel knackered enough on this 3rd preg without getting flu - I have never had it but a bad cold is rough enough, so flu would be a nightmare on it's own, but even worse with a newborn/late preg.

Bonzo - apologies for my Scottish-ness, but they are called jags where I come from :-) No-one calls them jabs, unless in England (ok, which is where I live, but I can't seem to convert my lingo!!) Hehe :-) Thanks all!

OP posts:

ImPeppaPigOink · 24/09/2012 07:49

I'm going to get it. I only found out about it as there was a big sign on the bus.

DP and DD is both supposed to get it aswell so we should all be covered :)

isambardo · 24/09/2012 08:13

I'm getting mine next week (i'll be 33 weeks).

Don't forget, if you breast feed, baby is covered by the jab as well as you :)

panicnotanymore · 24/09/2012 08:55

I'm def getting it. I am currently trying to shake off a nasty chest infection, and it is horrible. Flu is a hundred times worse, I really can't face that.

backwardpossom · 24/09/2012 09:55

I work with kids, so will definitely be getting it. Not taking any chances.

elizaregina · 24/09/2012 09:58

eliza are you saying that because it's not 100% it's not worth having?

Why would you take the risk, why not just get the vaccine.

mOSS - MY previous post said I AM MOST DEFINALTY GETTING THE JAB.

I am saying that - ie.....the ladies you saw in critical care - did they have the jab or not - because - the jab is only 75% effective.

so, if your aware from your job whether the ladies you saw had the jab or not etc I would like to know.

they may have had the jab and been higher risk anyway with other complications, maybe they didnt have the jab and were higher risk, maybe they didnt have the jab and were not higher risk!

mosschops30 · 24/09/2012 21:05

Sorry Eliza I didn't read your previous posts.
I don't know whether the women had the vaccine.
I just know that I am first in the queue and last year I paid for the dcs to have theirs private

FluffyJawsOfDoom · 24/09/2012 22:01

Just had mine :)

HaveALittleFaith · 24/09/2012 22:08

When swine flu was first about, they struggled to create a vaccine quickly enough and it wasn't effective. The following year they combined the flu and swine flu jabs and there wasn't the second wave of flu you usually get. It's still worth having even if it doesn't guarantee you're flu free. I've had the jab 11 times and so far not had flu since. I'll take those odds!

cheeseandmushroomtoastie · 24/09/2012 22:17

Just in case I needed convincing, I got a cold over the weekend, and apparently the only thing you can now take for a cold is 4 paracetamol in 24 hours, says the boots pharmacist. I feel like death. I can not imagine how nasty the flu would be if I couldn't take any drugs.

minipie · 25/09/2012 12:01

Yup, I'll be having mine next Monday. I probably wouldn't bother if not pregnant but apparently flu is much more dangerous for pregnant women so it's more worth it.

woodysmummy · 25/09/2012 12:45

def have it - when you are pregnant your are immunosuppressed - so many stories of poor pregnant ladies ill in Intensive care with flu - its safe in pregnancy and doenst even hurt. i had mine yesterday. dont risk yourself or the bambinos :)

dietcokeandwine · 25/09/2012 13:44

What cheeseandmushroomtoastie said. I'm nearly 22 weeks, have one school age child and one preschooler, and have had a heavy cold all last week, and OMG how much worse is a cold when you can't have lemsips, nurofen, night nurse etc? [shocked]. I've felt absolutely dreadful. And if that's the case what the heck would real, proper flu be like? [shocked] [shocked] [shocked]

I am SO getting the flu jab!

dietcokeandwine · 25/09/2012 13:45

sorry all those should have been

LarkinSky · 25/09/2012 13:47

Yes, and I've had it when I was pregnant before. I also had the Swine Flu vaccination when I was last pregnant. Last thing I want is the flu while heavily pregnant, have a toddler and a busy job.

There is no risk from the jab, whereas catching the flu - and particularly Swine flu (which fortunately isn't around this year, so far) - could potentially be very, very, serious to mother and baby.

BartletForTeamGB · 25/09/2012 14:33

Yes, definitely.

Splinters · 25/09/2012 14:52

Had mine yesterday. My mum had flu when my younger twin sisters were born and said it was the worst thing EVER.

Original poster

wickedfairy · 25/09/2012 19:25

Well, I had it yesterday - thank you for all the feedback!

I just feel tired today and have a bit of a tender arm, but nothing too untoward. Hopefully it stays that way! I just hope it works for all of us and we don't get the flu...

OP posts:

wildpoppy · 25/09/2012 19:26

Both me and dd getting it. Me be aide pregnant with asthma. Dd because ongoing kidney issues.

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