Will you be getting the flu jab?

[sepa]

Morning peeps. Looking to see what others have done regarding flu jabs during pregnancy?
I have never had flu (I'm not even sure I have had a bad cold for more than 2 days) so I am undecided about the flu jab. I have heard that people who have it for the first time could get sick after as a result (this is probably a small % though) so I need to weigh up the pros and cons. I want to do what is best for my baby but i think it's a bit of a hard decision to make never having flu in the past. I know that it can make you really sick (having the flu) and lead to further illnesses.

If you could let me know if you will or will not be getting it done and if you don't mind saying your reason behind your choice.

I am 24 weeks now so I should be getting it done soon if I want it done

[jamtartandcustard]

I refused the flu jab. I did have the whooping cough one and had a very sore arm for a couple of days. My reasonings? The chance of getting flu is low. I have had it once, when I was 15, and it was horrific there's no doubt about that, but the chance that I get flu this year are very very slim. Yes you can say pregnant woman are a higher risk but this is my 4th baby, and 4th winter baby too, and I've not caught it with the rest so I'm prepared to take the risk.
The chance of catching it, the giving complications which result in a perm birth - well I'm full term on Monday so again I will take that risk. You hear a lot about the side effects and I just didn't think it was worth those for the minimal risk there is. I made the same decision for my year 2 child who are now being offered it in school. I'm usually very pro-vaccine but not the flu jab unless you have a low immune system then obviously it is very necessary.
Oh and the comments about it not being a live vaccine - the injection is not, but the nasal spray is.
It's a personal choice really, no right or wrong answer

[tinyme135]

I work in a pharmacy and would recommend any one let alone if you're pregnant to have it. I had it done and unfortunately I must have already had the virus in me as a few days later I was ill and now I'm off sick till my mat leave.

don't let me put you off having it. as I said I think I already had the start of it so the jab wouldn't have stopped me from getting it. Probably eased it and would have been worse if I didn't have the jab.

[Junosmum]

I had it, same day as whooping cough and the day before my anti d. No issues at all. You can't get flu from it. I work in social care so get it most years any way. Didn't even consider not having it.

[notfromstepford]

I had my flu jab at about 14 weeks. I had flu once when I was in my early twenties and was extremely poorly, anything to help avoid that is a good thing in my book. I'll also be having the whooping cough vaccine after 28 weeks. I saw a 3 week old with whooping cough and it was incredibly frightening.

[Stom91]

Had it with my first and the whooping cough no problems at all.

Already had it this year before I found out I was pregnant

Would rather get jabbed than be really poorly x

[UptownFunk00]

I'm getting mine next week - I will be nearly 29 weeks.

I've had the flu once in my life but it was swine flu and that made up for not having the regular flu!

[mmmuffins]

I have turned it down. I feel the risk of catching flu is very low. I also am finding maternity care a bit full-on, so want to avoid any further poking and prodding that I don't feel is necessary.

[CarShare]

Yep, I had it too. Total no brainer. I'm a pharmacist and understand vaccine formulation so have no concerns over safety (all explained by skipton up thread).

[cheesetoastiesrule]

I'm having it this week. I had flu for the first time last year (whilst not pregnant) and ended up in a&e it was so badit was truly awful. My DH had to take a few days off work to watch the DC as I was physically incapable to getting out of bed/talking/eating/drinking. In total I was bed bound for 8 days, and it took another week to fully recover. It was hideous, I had a very high fever and lost loads of weight as wasn't eating/drinking. There's no way I'd want flu whilst pregnant, I never worried about it before I'd had full-on flu (I admit to being in the naive "it's just a bad cold" camp). But now I can totally understand why it leads to bad complications and even fetal death. I'm happy to have a sore arm/feel a bit off in order to minimise the risk of catching flu.

[Sunshine511]

I've never had the flu during pregnancy but I had it once when I was younger! There's no way of me exaggerating just how dreadful it was! It genuinely took me a month until I felt anywhere even close to my normal self! I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy! I can't imagine how awful it would be in pregnancy! Needless to say, myself and my 2year old dd are just back from getting vaccinated.x

[Skiptonlass]

Just a couple of points in response to what people are saying re: risks of getting it/benefits.

right now we are in a bit of a lull in terms of flu epidemics, but they come round inevitably - the next really nasty one is a case of when, not if. A moderately nasty one comes round every few years.

Your chances of catching it are higher when pregnant

If you do catch it, you will likely be much sicker than a non pregnant person. Your risk of death /serious complications is much higher.

Even normal, healthy people have a high complication rate from flu. I've had it four times in my life - three of those I've ended up with severe chest infections piggybacking on the initial viral infection and twice I've ended up with pneumonia. At the time I was in my twenties, fit enough to run a half marathon with no training, non smoker etc etc.

If you get flu, at best you'll feel utterly shit, which is not what you want when pregnant if with a new baby. At worst you'll end up with some nasty complications, including (sorry) being dead.

I know that every time this question comes up on mn I'm here banging on about it, but in my professional life I'm a scientist who works in drug development, I see the safety procedures these things go through and the years and years of post - marketing surveillance.

Honestly, please take it, it'd be awful getting flu when pregnant or with a new bub.

[Paperblank]

I had it at 16 weeks, I thought as I'd be pregnant and have a newborn through the Flu season anything to minimise the risk was a good thing.

I think the MW said it wasn't effective against all forms of the virus but was effective for over 60% of them - not sure of the actual stats as it was a few weeks ago.

I've had flu once...I'd rather have kidney stones again than flu!

[Oysterbabe]

I've had it and will be getting whooping cough next week. The flu jab did not make me ill. I've also never had flu and this is the first time I've had the jab.

[Cnmorgan13]

Please read this. The writer of the post had exactly the same questions and worries as you.

alphamom.com/parenting/parenting-health-safety/flu-shot-pregnancy/

[Brummiegirl15]

I got both that flu and whooping cough vaccines. Flu at 23 wks and 28 wks for whooping cough.

Absolutely no side effects with either. Flu is very serious and can be potentially fatal when pregnant, this is why vulnerable groups are offered the vaccine and normal people aren't. Pregnancy counts as a vulnerable group.

For those that say the chance of catching flu are very low.... You have no way of knowing that. If everyone thought like that and didn't get vaccinated then more and more people catch it and the risk rises even more.

For some so serious, as in potentially fatally serious, as flu in pregnancy, I don't understand why you wouldn't have the vaccine?

[cloudjumper]

I've had it, absolutely no side effects whatsoever.
Get the jab, flu is awful, and the benefits of the vaccination outweigh any risks/side effects by far.

[sepa]

I will be getting the flu jab next week. Thank you for all your help

[mrsmugoo]

I'm 11 weeks and yes I intend to get the jab whenever I can get a flipping appointment at my hopeless GPs.

My reason is, last year I forgot to get one (I am asthmatic so I get one every year) and I got flu over Xmas and it was throughly miserable.

[thundernlightning]

Got mine a few weeks ago. Got a slight headache and a stiff arm for a few hours, but it was worth it to chat with the lovely nurses and get off my feet for twenty minutes!

[Ladyboluna]

I'm 5 weeks and luckily already had it because I work in a hospital. I didn't feel ill or anything after just had a bruised arm!

[fairydust85]

im so glad i found this thread. i have a flu jab booked for tomorrow (when i will be 6 weeks pregnant) ive spent most of the day researching and have seen some awful comments....and some positive ones too. imm really struggling to know what to do. i feel i might wait until 12 weeks, but then by the time i am 12 weeks it will be january and flu season will nearly be over. i really dont know what to do for the best.

[sepa]

From the comments on here and the NHS website it says safe in first trimester so I would stick to it nagger this threat and my own research I have decided the risk of flu isn't worth not getting it done

[Brummiegirl15]

Honestly I never felt a thing and had absolutely no side effects. Didn't even get a sore arm.

It's completely safe because they encourage pregnant women to get it.

My whooping cough I was worried about, but again didn't feel it, although had a slightly achy arm afterwards

[Katarzyna79]

I had the flu vaccine done at less than 12 weeks, I forgot all about the whooping cough thanks for reminding me ladies!

I get the flu jab as routine every year coz I'm a carer they offer it.

[ChicaMomma]

Is there any scientific evidence that pregnancy lowers your immune system? Because i think the opposite is true- i honestly have never felt better, and despite my entire household (and most of DS1's creche) having colds and flus and what not, i've escaped it all. I was the same on my first pregnancy. Maybe i'm just lucky though, i havent delved into it.

Either way i wont be getting any vaccines during pregnancy- we are advised not to take cough syrup for eg- or anti histamines- but everyone is mad keebn to get vaccines? just not for me. Call it gut instinct. My baby will get all the vaccines on the list, but i wont be getting flu or WC vaccine while he is in utero.