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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Flu jab?

27 replies

ambientolf · 15/02/2015 19:43

Hi, I had my booking in app today & my midwife mentioned having the flu jab. She did say it was coming to the end of season but to have it anyway. With all the talk in the media at the moment of it not working on the majority of people, is it worth me getting it done? Have you had it done? I am 10 w 2 by the way. X

OP posts:
MissyBear10 · 15/02/2015 19:59

I had it done - had my baby last oct. am so pleased that we both will be having it next year. Hubby keeps getting sick and the most we get is sniffles!

Hope this helps.

MissTwister · 15/02/2015 20:19

What's the reason not to is the question I guess?

ToriB34 · 15/02/2015 20:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cornberry · 15/02/2015 20:44

I had it done by my GP. He said it was now highly recommended for pregant women and had no adverse effects so I got it. I think it's probably a good idea.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 15/02/2015 20:48

I had it this year at 14 weeks pregnant. Would have had it earlier but I couldn't get an appointment! if it protects me against even one strain of flu I'll be happy! I've had flu before and it was truly hideous, I can't imagine having it while pregnant (especially as I have a toddler to look after too). 4 pregnant women in my area were hospitalised with flu last year according to my midwife, so not worth the risk IMO.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 15/02/2015 20:49

In terms of 'reasons not to', some people will say the flu jab gave them flu but as it's not a live vaccine this is likely to be pure coincidence.

MissTwister · 15/02/2015 21:23

Agree with you. I never understand people that say this because it would be a shit vaccine and rather detrimental to public health if it gave you any kind of illness it was meant to be protecting against! As you say its also impossible as not a live vaccine

ToriB34 · 15/02/2015 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fattycow · 15/02/2015 21:46

I didn't get one.

sianihedgehog · 15/02/2015 22:05

It's absolutely worth it. Actual flu is a really serious illness, not just a cold. I was in bed for days with fever so severe I was hallucinating last time, and it took WEEKS before I was well enough to walk more than about 100yds. My flatmate missed nearly three weeks of work with it as we both developed severe bronchitis. One of my mates ended up going to hospital with pneumonia.

It'd be a huge risk to a pregnancy if you got flu, and the risks from the vaccine are so tiny that they're practically nonexistent.

Katnipp · 15/02/2015 23:28

As well as seasonal flu (which this year has shown they won't always predict correctly) the vaccine always includes swine flu. This strain in particular was fatal to some pregnant women when it was first around and is the main reason why the vaccine is recommended.

soontobemumofthree · 15/02/2015 23:35

I'm pregnant, got one 2 weeks ago but I work with public so feel I am at increased risk of getting it. Heard the media reports but not sure they can assess total benefit of vaccine until season over.

ch1134 · 16/02/2015 00:02

Get it. Flu is awful.

Maki79 · 16/02/2015 00:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the posters request.

SoonToBeSix · 16/02/2015 00:08

You will struggle to get one now.

blankfornames · 16/02/2015 07:29

I would get it if I were you. I ended up in hospital critically sick with pneumonia for a week when I was 34 wks pregnant. I got the jab since. Despite how healthy you are normally, your immune system becomes brittle when you're pregnant. Luckily me and the baby are fine now.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 16/02/2015 08:36

Agree with people thinking a bad cold is the flu. They're a completely different virus with different symptoms. When I had flu I physically couldn't get out of bed for 2 weeks. I had to be fed flat coke with a spoon as it was the only way to get fluid and calories into me. My limbs were heavy and weak and I was hallucinating. No blocked nose/cough etc, they are cold symptoms not flu symptoms.

pickle84 · 16/02/2015 15:36

I had it just after 12 weeks, and my 6yr old has been really poorly with it, so has my husband but ive not been affected at all :)
i would go for it!

Discobugsacha · 16/02/2015 15:40

I would not bother this year, it is only about 3% effective at best. They got the strains wrong and it does not provide any protection to most of the flu going round this year.

changingagain · 16/02/2015 15:50

I had mine 5 weeks ago when I was 6 weeks. The next week DH started complaining of sore arms, legs and throat and the next day was alternating between cold sweats and hot shivers. I was completely fine apart from a slight bruised feeling around the injection point for a day.
If it had been in the news before that it's almost useless this year then I may not have bothered but I'm glad I did as I think it's very likely that it was flu that DH had.
Also, there really is no reason not to get it. It does not contain the flu virus and it is fully tested before being released. When people get other illnesses (or other strains of flu) afterwards, it's coincidence. It does tent to be the same time of year when many people get ill.

Zahrah5 · 16/02/2015 15:55

Sorry but werent these related to autism in children?

I havent done much research yet.

blowinahoolie · 16/02/2015 16:08

I'm getting mine done this week, just booked it this afternoon. Will get whooping cough vaccine later on in the pregnancy too.

blowinahoolie · 16/02/2015 16:10

"You will struggle to get one now."

Nope, it's offered until the end of March in most surgeries. It is in NHS Scotland anyway.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 16/02/2015 16:12

No Zahrah. That was the MMR and the theory has been completely discredited.

SoonToBeSix · 16/02/2015 16:12

My GP and Asda etc all stopped last day of January.

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