Flu jab in pregnancy.

[MsHopey]

I've never had the flu. I've had coughs and colds but from people descriptions of the flu I've never had it.
Today I got a letter from my GP suggesting I get the flu jab because I'm pregnant.
Now, my nan gets it because she's a lot older, and she's always ill and feeling off for about a week after hers. Maybe not as bad as if she'd actually had the flu, but still feeling pretty rough.
I've got a 14mo DS to look after who loves to run around and mess with everything. I just don't feel like it a good time for feel rough, I've already so far avoided most morning sickness and feeling pretty good although a bit tired.
So, my question is, does the flu jab make other people feel terrible? I'm aware it could just be my nan, or do you feel the same as normal after having it?
And is it worth having? I know the NHS don't normally offer things without a benefit, but I've really never had the flu so I must have a pretty good immune system so far.

No, it doesn't make you feel ill. Yes, it is worth getting.

Absolutely it's worth having! I'm pretty sure it protects your baby too.

I've only ever had flu once and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I'm also a relatively fit and healthy person but no way would I put myself and unborn baby at risk if I did happen to get it again

Flu jab plenty of people says it makes them ill. But your having it done in flu/cough/cold season so chances are you were coming down with something anyway.

Trust me, you do not want the flu while pregnant. It literally kills people, particularly those with compromised immune systems (pregnant women). That is why the NHS offer it. I know death from flu isn’t common but complications or really bad cases are not uncommon.
The vaccine is not live, so will not make you ill. Your arm might hurt a bit but that’s should be it.
For what it’s worth I’ve never had the flu either but I always get the vaccine, pregnant or not. Better safe then sorry in my mind.

You are more susceptible to catching things when you are pregnant as your immune system is compromised.

Your treatment options are much more limited when you are pregnant.

Feeling rough for a few days (unlikely) is still far better than actually catching flu.

Pregnant women have died from catching flu in recent years.

Have the jab.

I get a letter inviting me to get the jab annually as I have asthma.

I never tended to get it before I was PG, but thought that winter I should, mainly because I WAS pg.

Went into GP who refused as, at that time, it was not recommended for pg ladies. (Since changed I believe - this was 13 years ago).

Now I do get it annually, as I just cannot afford to be so sick over the winter if I were to get flu. I sometimes feel a bit ugh the next day or so, but just less energy than normal, certainly not "I'm dying and need my bed", just more "I need to slow down and be good to myself" levels - while still going to work and doing the house stuff and organizing DD etc.

I've had the flu jab twice, only when pregnant. It might make your arm ache for a day but it's never made me feel ill at all. There is also separate vaccines this year for the over 65s as they're trying to improve it. It's worth getting. A cold in pregnancy will really knock you out, flu I would dread to think (increased risk of pneumonia at least).

The flu jab doesn't contaun live viruses as far as I'm aware, so VERY unlikely to make you feel ill.

I have it every year and feel fine afterwards. I am having it at the end of September this year whilst pregnant as would much rather a sore arm for a day, than flu.

Made my arm ache for a day, that's it!

Okay. I'll get it.
I'm not worried about the achey arm.
I've got my booking in appointment on Thursday and I'll book my flu jab while I'm there.
I want me and baby to be safe.
Tbf my nan is 73, on lots of other medication and has other serious health issues, so I did think her being a bit off might not be a good representative of the rest of the population.

I had the flu jab earlier this year and it made me ill for about 2 weeks. It wasn't even flu season and since been told whoever suggested i get it was wrong 🙄 31 weeks pregnant now and i have an appointment for whooping cough and another flu jab in 2 weeks 😣 dreading it.

I've had the flu jab for the last 5 or 6 years due to being diabetic and never had any side effects, not even an achey arm! It's not a live virus so you shouldn't feel any different after except the possible achey arm, which is definitely better than getting flu!

I second what velmasglasses is saying, I’ve worked for the NHS for ten years so I get offered it routinely and always have it - I never feel unwell afterwards. I would go for it if I were you!

I have it every year as I’m diabetic, also pregnant this time round, and off to have it today.
It isn’t a live vaccine and doesn’t make you ill, although of course a proportion of people having it will then come down with something and so assume a connection. (Queuing in a drs surgery waiting for it probably doesn’t help!)

Can’t say this strongly enough but get it. It doesn’t make you feel under the weather. I had it last year (and 3 of the 4 ultra before due to pregnancy and nearly didn’t get it as I didn’t really see the point but my DH got the flu last winter and I’ve never been so glad I’d had a jab. 2 of my 3 little ones had their jab too. I was terrified my DHs flu wouldn’t be covered in the vaccine but it must have been. He was so incredibly sick for about 6 weeks. I didn’t let him touch the little one (who had no vaccine) for most of that time, but he was too sick to interact with the kids much anyway.

Some of the flus in recent years have been very serious (flu is serious anyway) and being pregnant makes you very vulnerable.

Oh, DH got the flu jab this year for the first time in his life.

The flu jab doesn't make you feel ill.
It isn't unusual to reach your 20s or 30 s without having had flu , this doesn't mean that you won't catch it in the future.
Your immune system is disturbed when you are pregnant and so if you catch flu there is a chance that it will be more serious than if you weren't pregnant.
You have a toddler and an unborn child to care for so safeguarding your own health is more important than if you only had yourself to look after.
Have the flu vaccine.

I got it and I didn't feel any different afterwards. I got the whooping cough one too. That is even more important to your unborn baby. Whooping cough can be fatal to newborns. They can't get vaccinated themselves until they are months old. By getting the vaccines during pregnancy, they get a certain level of immunity against the illness (until they get their own childhood immunisations).

Ive had it every year for the last 15 because I work in frontline healthcare. I've never been ill from it and have already had it this year (currently pregnant) and felt fine.

I have on the other hand seen immunocompromised patients die from complications of flu many times. So to be me it is a complete no brainer. I encourage everyone to get it (and get my family to pay to have it if they're not eligible)- I get very frustrated by people who refuse "because it gives them the flu" - you have it in flu season hence you may well pick up a cold or flu if you don't have it done earlier enough or get a strain not in the jab.

Thoroughly confused by poster higher up who said she had the jab, got the flu and it couldn't possibly be coincidental as it wasn't flu season? So why was she having the FLU jab?