I'm torn what to do about the flu jab..are any of you going to refuse?

[blondebaby111]

I have my 25 week check nxt week with a doctor and I know they will mention the flu jab. I'm really torn what to do, I've never needed it before and I'm very lucky I have a high immune system and this pregnancy I've been so lucky health-wise.

Most winters I never get a cold and I work in the beauty industry so I'm around it a lot but I've also had clients that have the jab yyear after year and end up with the most horrendous cold afterwards..what to do!!?? I just don't know.

Hubby isn't really too keen on me having it either..this baby is very precious to us as we never thought it would happen but I also know that if u have flu while pregnant its pretty damn awful too..are any of u abit cautious like me??

[RobotHamster]

Jorior - if you want to have it now you might be able to get it from Boots or another pharmacy.


I'm definitely getting it. Swine flu 3 years ago was terrible, but had flu with this pregnancy already and was almost hospitalised I was so ill.

[Norfolknway]

I'm going to get it. I've had it before while pregnant and each year since (was terrified of catching flu while having newborn or 1 year old)

Not had a problem or the flu bonus

[tackytiger]

Kiki I'm due tomorrow and got my jab today. Not sure about immunity for the baby but I was thinking more of myself anyway! I'm also going b to have my three-year-old vaccinated next week.

[fancydressdiva]

I am really unsure.

I had never had flu before but had a jab in 2009 when preg with dc4. Then in 2010 I caught it really bad. Ended up in hospital as it had gone to my heart lining and ended up on beta blockers. It took ages to get my health back.

I wonder if having the jab blocked my immune system so that when it wore off and I did catch it, I got it twice as bad. The rest of my family got it too but didn't suffer as much.

You can buy a protection thing from boots thy you rub on your nose to help protect against germs.i might go for that.

So confusing!

[wispaxmas]

I'm confused about the reasons for people not getting the flu jab.. If there is copious amounts of evidence to show that you have a compromised immune system during pregnancy and that the flu can pose a real and measured threat to both you and your unborn baby, what are the risks on the other side that outweigh that? Millions of people have the flu jab every year. Any cold-like symptoms are coincidental, I've personally never experienced them and I've had the jab nearly every year of my life. Please provide me with evidence that a flu jab is more dangerous than contracting the flu during pregnancy, or depleting the herd immunity for others who are unable to vaccinate for medical reasons.

[midnight1983]

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and I got the flu jab yesterday. I do feel a bit under the weather (aching muscles, mostly) but I think a few days of discomfort is worth it when you consider how harmful flu can be. I have also felt like I've had a constant cold/sinus headache all through my pregnancy so far, so I seem to have a compromised immune system at the moment. For me, the risk of getting the flu was not something I was willing to gamble with - I work in retail and get bad colds every winter through contact with the public, and have a tendency towards chest infections so I'm not willing to risk complications such as pneumonia.I remember having real flu as a child and it is horrendously debilitating. I agree that its best to make these decisions for yourself, but I highly doubt medical professionals would advise us to do something that has a high risk of harm to us or our babies. Whilst you may think there's a chance of a jab being harmful, there's a very high probability that flu would be very harmful - so that was my reasoning. Good luck with all your decisions and pregnancies.

[2blessed]

This time last year I was thinking exactly the same as you OP pregnant at 27 weeks. In the end it was an easy decision and had both the flu jab and whooping cough vaccine.

[Panzee]

I had my flu and whooping cough jabs during my last pregnancy. My absolutely perfect 7 month old is currently asleep on my knee. :)

[Xenadog]

I had the flu last Christmas and I have never felt so ill in all my life. DP came down with it the day after so we were basically quarantined and had to look after ourselves. It was awful. The thought of going through anything like this this Christmas when LO is due is utterly impossible. I'm not sure why people are anti the vaccine though (admittedly haven't read the thread closely) I'm guessing there are potential dangers but there are risks with not having it as well.

I will be having the flu vaccine and the WC one and DP is going to pay to have the flu vaccine (he is not considered high risk) but after last year he wants to avoid feeling so ill again.

[quackojuliet]

I had the jab on friday and haven't felt ill since, maybe a little more tired and slightly achey muscles but that's it. I'm glad I did.

[Mondayschild78]

I've had it for the past few years due to asthma and two years ago had it in pregnancy. I've also had it with this pregnancy last Thursday. Never had any effects from it. My arm is a little sore from the whooping cough injection though which I had the same day.

I don't understand why you wouldn't have it to be honest.

[bludgerwitch]

I have to admit that I've been with a GP for over 25 years who advised against the Flu Jab and with cases in my family I've seen several of them get less bugs since they stopped getting the jab.

My DH is healthy as they come, the year he decided to get the jab he was first in bed for 10 days straight after the jab from side effects and caught every bug going that winter. I'd never seen him that bad.

So my personal experience makes me not want to get it, but it's a really personal decision.

[MintyDiamonds]

I'm a biomedical scientist, specialising in immunology specifically vaccinations and there was one piece of advice I had to give, it'd be for pregnant women to have tr flu vaccine. I have had to go over so many tragic case studies of pregnant woman who didn't get the vaccine. The flu and the immuno compromised are a deadly mix.

[Lostinspace1]

Minty Diamonds - what is your opinion on having the tetanus/whooping cough combined vacination when you already had a tetanus jab at around 5 weeks pregnancy? I haven't yet got round to asking my midwife this question but I will do. Just curious to know if you have an opinion on this.

[jerryanne]

I most certainly will be having the flu jab. Personally I always seem to get the worst illnesses at winter time and even the most simple cold turns into a full blown chest infection requiring antibiotics. I am currently only 6 weeks pregnant but by flu jab time I will be taking the precaution to protect myself and my baby. I would rather have the cold that sometimes comes after than have the flu desperatly needing antibiotics and feeling the worry and stress that decision would bring.

Just FYI, I had the flu jab last year in early November for protection before my wedding day and I didnt get any side effect or cold afterwards. It doesnt affect everyone the same way.

[Jorior]

I'm 35 + 3 and I had the flu jab today. I figured it was a no-brainer because of the benefits but after a discussion with the nurse today, I'm wondering if it was worth my while. She said it takes a few weeks to become active in my system until which time I'm not protected. That means I'll only be covered for 2-3 weeks of my pregnancy. I asked if my baby would be protected once born and I was told it was possible she would have some protection against the flu. Does anyone have any information to reassure me that it was worthwhile?

[blondebaby111]

Well I've took the bull by the horns and booked my flu jab for saturday. I'd never forgive myself if something went wrong with this pregnancy just because I was too stubborn to have it. I'm still a bit wary as I'm never ill and if it makes me feel like crap I won't be happy but until I do it I will never know x

[dizhin79]

i ummed and aaaahhhed about but having spent the past week with a severe cold I have booked my flu jab for in a fortnight. I saw someone else on here post about the James Randi foundation, have a look on there for really interesting info about the flu vaccines
www.randi.org/site/

Having always been dead against over vaccination I actually think it's better for me to have them than the baby to suffer. Also this cold has really knocked me sideways and i wouldn't wish it on anyone! I never usually get colds, but obvs being prego my immune system is otherwise engaged!

[MissHC]

I had my flue jab on Tuesday at the GP surgery. 34w pregnant.
No side effects, my arm's a bit sore but that's it.

[Rhianna1980]

Had the whopping cough and the flu vaccines yesterday. I have sore arms so far.

[Madamecastafiore]

Not been offered whooping cough or flu jab. I don't tend to have vaccinations as am allergic to eggs though.

Are you supposed to be offered these vaccinations??

[littlecloud]

I had WC and flu yesterday. WC is actually a combine vaccine with polio an something else which I can't remember. My arm is pretty sore to touch and a bit run own but to be fair had the start of the sniffles before the jab.