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

Original poster

Should I get the flu & whooping cough vaccine?

40 replies

HAGI12 · 20/10/2017 14:30

Hi all, will any of you mums to be, be getting the flu vaccine? I've never had the vaccine before, and also never had the flu.
Heard it makes some people poorly (even though I know it's not a live vaccine) what are your thoughts? My midwife wasn't very helpful and just said it's up to me.

OP posts:
SmallBee · 20/10/2017 14:35

Flu is horrible to get normally but worse when you're pregnant so it's a good idea to get it.

Please please please get the whooping cough vaccine. The immunity is passed on to your baby and they are too little to have it immediately after birth so it's the only way to protect them from it, and it is on the rise. It's horrible to get so please get the vaccine

Sharl2017 · 20/10/2017 14:36

I have the flu jab every year anyway because of asthma but I've also already had it this year too Smile
I'd recommend it, it might give you a sore arm or a slight cold for a few days but much better than having the flu!

Callamia · 20/10/2017 14:37

Flu is brutal to pregnant women and unborn babies. If you've never had flu, I don't think you can estimate how awful it is.

It IS your choice, of course. And should you choose not to, the risk is only really to you and your baby. But I think the evidence stacks up in favour of protecting your child and yourself.

BoredOnMatLeave · 20/10/2017 14:42

Flu jab doesn't make you anywhere near as poorly as you would be with actual Flu.

I would say both vaccines are very important for a pregnant woman

user1484167681 · 20/10/2017 14:45

I had it this week! Was also sceptical but concluded I'd regret not having it and getting flu, much more than I'd regret getting the vaccine.

Have been feeling completely fine (there seems to be controversy over whether it would make you feel poorly afterwards- seems to be an urban legend as far as I could tell). It also hurt my arm a LOT less than the whooping cough vaccine did, where I got some reaction and it was all red and swollen. I'd say go for it- flu can make you very seriously unwell, especially when pregnant.

meltingmarshmallows · 20/10/2017 14:49

I had both.

There’s no logical explanation for the flu vaccine making you ill. It certainly had no effect for me.

Whooping cough gave me a numb arm for a day but that was it. My SIL and her newborn got whooping cough 5 years ago from somewhere. So it is around & can be very dangerous.

Missingmilestones · 20/10/2017 14:51

I’ve had both. I consider it very important and I’ve follwed the advice of my midwife

ChocolatePancake · 20/10/2017 15:08

Trust somebody who has had flu whilst pregnant - get the flu jab!

laelti · 20/10/2017 15:55

I've had both within the last few weeks. Apart from a slightly achey arm for 24 hours or so after the Whooping Cough one absolutely no side effects/illness from either.
Totally up to you (I've also never had flu) but for me I felt the potential benefits outweighed the risks.

DioneTheDiabolist · 20/10/2017 15:57

I've had both with this pregnancy and no nasty side effects.Smile

bettydraper31 · 20/10/2017 16:12

Both with last pregnancy, both were absolutely fine & no side effects at all. So far this pregnancy I've just had the flu jab (not at 16 wks yet for whooping cough) and again absolutely fine x

Usernamegone · 20/10/2017 16:19

I've had both. The flu one didn't hurt at all but with the whooping cough one my arm felt sore afterwards. I normally never bother with a flu vaccine but did this year as I really don't want flu as it makes you really ill even when not pregnant.

Swan8 · 20/10/2017 16:21

My husband and I got whooping cough last year (we don’t know from whom - probably a stranger on a train). It is insanely contagious and awful - I cracked a rib from coughing and have never been so sick in all my life. And it lasted for months. The vaccine provides some immunity to your baby until they can be vaccinated so I highly recommend you get it. People are contagious with whooping cough before they show symptoms - it is just awful. I haven’t had the whooping cough vaccination yet as they recommend it after 28 weeks (to give the baby the best protection). I had the flu jab two weeks ago and felt totally fine afterwards. It didn’t hurt and was over in a second.

mindutopia · 20/10/2017 16:25

I got both last Friday. No side effects at all except a sore arm for about 2 days. I got them in my previous pregnancy as well, also no side effects. And I get the flu one every year anyway so nothing new to me. I’ve never had any effects from it when not pregnant either. Even when taking into account adverse reactions to the vaccine (allergic reactions and the like), it’s still much safer for baby than you get them than not.

TonicAndTonic · 20/10/2017 16:30

I had both, I'm very pro-vaccination though! To me the potential benefits made them both a no-brainer. I've had flu a couple of times in my life and that was bad enough whilst being allowed to drug myself up to my eyeballs, the thought of trying to get through it whilst pg is not an appealing one!

The whooping cough jab gave me a sore arm for less than a day, and the flu jab didn't give me any trouble at all. I've also had the flu jab in previous years through work, and never had any reactions/side effects from it.

mintich · 20/10/2017 16:31

I got both jabs and felt fine

MagicFajita · 20/10/2017 16:33

I had the whooping cough one at 31 weeks , it was fine , no problems.

Veinarde · 20/10/2017 16:35

I had a flu vaccination and it gave me fever up to 39° for two days. I have always reacted badly to vaccinations in the past. I'm now doubting the whooping cough vaccination at 28 weeks as research doesn't proof it actually protects babies. It is still pretty much trial. I will be giving my baby one for sure though.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 20/10/2017 16:42

Yes, you should. Flu is a very serious illness that kills (most people who say they have had flu really haven't). Whooping cough kills small babies and the immunity you provide your baby by having the injection while pregnant protects them until they are old enough to cope with their own injection.

ethelfleda · 20/10/2017 16:49

Please get both.

I did - absolutely no side effects other than a slightly sore arm and I was just over a cold.

EEandEmakes3 · 20/10/2017 16:54

I’ve had them both and haven’t had any problems. I was weary of getting the vaccines but I wanted to provide some immunity for my baby once he arrives. I’ve also seen a baby with whooping cough, it was heartbreaking.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 20/10/2017 16:57

Please! Please please please get both! I had both whilst pregnant and the most I had was a slightly achy arm.

I am incredibly pro-vaccinations. I will give my DD everything they have going if it will stop her getting any of those dreadful illnesses. I paid nearly £200 for the Men B jabs because my DD was “too old” to have it on the NHS but still in the age range to get it.

TerrifyingFeistyCupcake · 20/10/2017 16:59

I've had flu and will most certainly have whooping cough when I reach 28 weeks.

It's likely to be a brutal flu season with a nasty strain running rampant. The last time I had proper flu, as a very healthy 30something, it took 4 kilos off me in 4 days and I really thought I might die. It's even worse for a pregnant woman and can have profound negative effects on a baby in utero. An entire generation who were in utero during the flu pandemic of 1918 suffered lifelong health consequences and died prematurely.

The vaccine cannot give you the flu. It's a no-brainer, IMO.

TerrifyingFeistyCupcake · 20/10/2017 17:00

I had a flu vaccination and it gave me fever up to 39° for two days.

While I'm sure that wasn't pleasant, flu when you're pregnant is much, much worse than that.

Pooshweens · 20/10/2017 17:02

Def get both

You are putting your baby at risk otherwise