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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Flu jab...?

33 replies

Babycakes100 · 25/01/2016 19:23

Hi everyone, I'm 8w+2 and have been contacted by the doctor to say um eligible for the flu jab. Have you or are you going to have it? I know it's fully recommended but can't help but feel a bit uneasy about it

OP posts:
Original poster
Babycakes100 · 25/01/2016 19:24

*I'm

OP posts:
Mslg · 25/01/2016 19:26

I had it 2 weeks ago and am absolutely fine. What is there to feel uneasy about? There's no possibility of contracting flu from the jab as it's inactive. Better to have it than having flu IMO

Original poster
Babycakes100 · 25/01/2016 19:33

Just stuff you read on the internet about there not being any proper studies into the effects on pregnant women and horror stories about it etc. It's more the synthetic chemicals that worry me. I know that googling stuff is a bad idea! I would probably stay in a padded room for 9 months if i believed everything was true! Thanks for your reply. I probably will have it soon but wanted other people's views as don't actually know anyone who has had it

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NHKX2 · 25/01/2016 19:37

It was a no-brainer for me. I never got the flu jab for myself when I wasn't pregnant (I've never had the flu) but being pregnant I wanted to take all the precaution I could. I'm not sure what horror stories you're reading about but yes...stop Googling!

I also got the whooping cough jab at the same time (I think you need to be 28 weeks for that one).

KatyK1980 · 25/01/2016 19:39

Yep, I had it, no problems at all. It is very safe and well researched. Please please always trust your health professionals advice over all the scare-mongering rubbish that people put on the internet. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! :-)

KatyK1980 · 25/01/2016 19:41

Ooh yes and like NHKX2 said, also make sure you get the whooping cough vaccine when it is offered later in pregnancy, it's really important!

kiwiscantfly · 25/01/2016 19:46

I've had it twice while pregnant (the jab, not flu) and the whooping cough the second pregnancy, wasn't offered it the first time. I wasn't going to get it the first time and got a telling off by the midwife (in a friendly way of course) and she told me I'd pass the immunity on to the baby. I think I got it less than a month before she was born in the end. Totally worth it imo, I even got DH and DD to get it when DD2 was born. I also got DH to renew his whooping cough as most cases are passed on by close family.

Beansprout30 · 25/01/2016 19:48

I had mine last week, the nurse said they are only doing it for another couple of weeks. I think you are worrying unnecessarily and would get it done if you can

nixxxy · 25/01/2016 19:48

I had the flu jab back in October with no side effects, I'm getting my whooping cough done tomorrow. Tbh I'm more concerned about what would happen if I didn't get the jabs!

DinoSnores · 25/01/2016 19:53

I've had it in every one of my 5 pregnancies, along with the whooping cough vaccine in the last 2 (not offered it before then), with an utterly clear conscience. Flu in pregnant women can be really, really nasty.

There is a lot of craziness on the internet. Just a couple of days ago I was flamed on a FB page for contradicting someone who claimed that all vaccine research was fabricated and that there was no evidence at all for it. You can't even work out how that works, can you?!

Sidge · 25/01/2016 19:54

The flu vaccination programme runs until the end of March, however most surgeries will use up all their stock by the end of January/beginning of February and won't get any more, so if you do want it it's best to book sooner rather than later. In theory the flu virus 'season' is until March in the UK, so you are still potentially at risk. Also when pregnant the risk of contracting flu and suffering complications is higher, hence why pregnant women are offered it.

It's an inactivated vaccine so no risk of you and baby catching flu, however it can give you an achey arm and make you feel a bit grotty for a few days (though this varies between women).

The whooping cough vaccine can be given from 28 weeks and is primarily for baby's benefit. If your midwife isn't terribly clued up on the vaccines then phone your GP surgery and ask the practice nurse to call you back. They're the ones doing the vaccines (not the midwives) so may have more information to reassure you.

cantbelieveImquittingcoffee · 25/01/2016 20:20

I'm really not the person who goes to the Dr for anything (until I was pregnant I hadn't been for 4+ years) and also am mostly surrounded by lentil-knitting hippies in my work and social life, but FWIW I did get the flu jab having never had it before. My family were nagging me a bit about it, my midwife gave me quite a liberal response that it doesn't actually vaccinate against all strains as the flu viruses are constantly evolving etc etc...I booked the appointment then cancelled it, then did go ahead in the end as I just thought if I got sick and I hadn't had it I'd feel pretty annoyed with myself.
My midwife had a v different opinion about the whooping cough vaccine btw, which as a PP has said is for the baby's benefit and its recommended by most people.

DontKillMyVibe · 25/01/2016 20:26

I was a bit uneasy like you OP but decided to get the flu jab last week at 11 weeks. I figured out they wouldn't offer it to pregnant woman unless they felt it was necessary and no risk. I've had no effects other than a bruise on my arm.

Definitely getting the whooping cough jab at 28 weeks.

Jenjen86 · 25/01/2016 20:36

I have bad asthma so get the flu jab every year but I missed it last year and sods law I got the flu. The flu developed into pneumonia and I ended up in hospital for a few weeks unable to breathe unassisted. The flu I had was one that was covered by the flu jab, had I not missed it that year I would have been spared weeks of pain and fear...this is quite an extreme example but just highlighting that they recommend the flu jab to certain people for a very good reason. They have been giving the jab to pregnant woman for long enough to study any side effects. Don't believe the rubbish scaremongering you read, much better to get the flu jab than end up in hospital fighting for your life with a baby on board...

Original poster
Babycakes100 · 26/01/2016 17:35

Thanks everyone for your replies...just what I needed. I will get it but just hope that 8 weeks isn't too early!

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Snowflake16 · 26/01/2016 17:44

I had my flu jab at around 9 weeks, I'm now 22 weeks and baby is growing perfectly.

Jem01 · 26/01/2016 18:00

I had my flu jab at 5 weeks currently 16 weeks and all is fine :-)

Jenjen85 · 26/01/2016 19:34

I had the flu jab yesterday at 8wks 1 day. Had it at around 4wks in my first pregnancy and DD is fine. Better to have the jab than have flu as it's awful

QforCucumber · 26/01/2016 19:39

Had mine at 16 weeks - you may have googled the effects of the jab, but if you research the effects having flu can have on your baby then it makes you want to avoid it at all costs (I am not saying use Google, it's the devils work)

Whatdoidohelp · 26/01/2016 19:42

Your problem is you are reading shit on the Internet which could be written by any fucking moron. If your so concerned read proper medical journals and research papers. If it wasn't safe I doubt just about every country with a vaccination programme would recommend it to ALL pregnant women. Hmm trust the experts don't risk you or your baby.

Coldest · 26/01/2016 19:44

I had mine at boots. Was very easy and convenient to book online. And the store is 2 min from where I live so easy to get to

Sophia1984 · 26/01/2016 19:47

I had mine at around the same time as you. It didn't hurt at all, I didn't get any side effects, and I've just seen a very happy baby at my 12 week scan :-) When I told my midwife I'd had it done she was really pleased. The potential risks of getting flu when pregnant can be devastating. There is a lot of propaganda out there from anti-vaccers.

KnitsBakesAndReads · 27/01/2016 07:59

I had mine at about 16 weeks. I get offered it every year (due to asthma) but I made sure I got it this year as I've heard how serious flu can be during pregnancy. Had a slightly sore arm and felt a bit woozy an hour or so after I'd had it (helpfully coincided with me being on the train to work!) but other than that no problems. I'd definitely recommend getting it.

Original poster
Babycakes100 · 29/01/2016 15:20

Thanks everyone - still on the fence. It's not the immediate effects that worry me but the potential long-term effects as there have been no tests into the long-term effects on pregnant women and the baby as it has only been offered a few years because of swine flu scaremongering. What did pregnant women do pre 2009??? Just look at the cervical cancer jab - that was pushed onto everyone in 2008 and has now proven to have devastating consequnces.

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Kitkatmonster · 29/01/2016 15:26

If it helps babycakes you aren't alone in not necessarily wanting something just because it's offered. I have declined the flu jab, will probably accept the whooping cough one later on and will quite probably decline a whole host of other offers before this pregnancy is finished. I do hate the 'don't risk your baby' line that is invariably trotted out on these sorts of threads. Research and make your own informed decision about everything is my personal motto - it also makes for good risk management.

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