Flu jab pregnancy

[ar44455]

Does getting the flu jab during pregnancy protect mum or baby ? I said no to getting it as I would like to build an immune system up myself especially where I'm quite young but does it benefit the baby at all ?

Build up an immune system yourself? Erm how? By getting very ill with flu. Proper flu can be really serious. Get the jab.

As flu changes every year you wouldn’t be able to build up the immunity yourself unless you got the flu every year. Baby has no immunity and that’s why they recommend mum gets whooping cough and flu jabs in pregnancy. I’d get it (and am) as the pros far outweigh the cons

I'm just wondering if it does benefits the baby though because I wouldn't normally get a flu jab if I wasn't pregnant, I've heard a lot of bad things about the flu jab even by professionals I've had whooping cough to protect baby

My understanding of the whooping cough jab is that is passes some immunity to the baby. But definitely have the flu jab. You don’t want flu whilst pregnant.

What bad things have you heard exactly?

Is protecting you not a good enough reason? I caught a vomiting bug at 41 weeks pregnant with my 3rd and I have never ever felt worse. I would avoid all illness I could when pregnant if possible.

As a PP has said, strains change slightly every year so probably not something anyone can really build their own immunity too. Catching the flu whilst pregnant can cause complications to the baby which is why it is strongly encouraged.

It's less the 59% effective and in a lot of cases it gives people flu like symptoms and I just don't see the point of getting something put into my body if I can fight it off myself I've had flu once that was really bad and I still wouldn't want to get a flu jab unless I know that it will protect baby

I wouldn’t usually get the flu jab (this is going to be my first time getting it) but your immune system is weaker when pregnant - I’ve had a terrible cough and cold for over a week now that has left me bed bound when usually I shrug them off within 24 hours when not pregnant - so it’s just safer to get it than run the risk of getting it

It's personal choice, just remember your immune system isn't working as usual.

The flu jab is predominantly to protect you, however that also results in protecting the baby. Flu can make you seriously ill, and being seriously ill in pregnancy can affect your baby. The wanting to build your immunity argument doesn’t really work with the flu as the strains change every year. The only thing you would become immune to is that particular strain of flu. They recommend you have the injection in pregnancy for a reason, not just for the sake of it.

It won’t give you symptoms. It’s not a live vaccine. Whoever is filling your head with that rubbish isn’t a professional.

Can you explain what you mean by wanting to build up an immune system yourself? It doesn’t seem to make any medical sense, unless I’m missing something. You’re of child-bearing age therefore you’re not a young child and your immune system is already formed. However the flu virus changes every winter so you cannot ‘build an immunity’ to flu unless you get it and recover every year. That’s why the jab is specially formulated each season. And if you get flu when pregnant it’s very bad for your baby and can even cause foetal death. After the baby is born, your being protected will make him less likely to get it. For me it’s a no brainier, I’m pregnant and I had my flu jab today. What specifically are you worried about?

By the way it isn’t a live vaccine.

@Wolfiefan why are you even commenting on my post you haven't even answered what I originally asked which was if it protects the baby and yes my friends mum is a midwife and when she was pregnant her mum told her not to get it she's been a midwife for 20 years. Just because doctors tell you to get all these jabs doesn't actually been it's the best for every Individual ! People believe anything a doctor says and it is 59% effective so for a lot of people they still have a 41% chance of still getting the flu

@marriageoftrueminds what I'm saying is I don't want to get loads of random jabs when I don't need them, not every jab is good for everybody. They tell you that you have to have it, it's a choice

It has also caused miscarriage when they used to allow pregnant women to have it before 20 weeks why did they do that for? Because they don't know everything

It drastically reduces the risk of a potentially serious illness. It can’t make you have flu like symptoms. Exactly how much protection it gives varies as does the most prevalent strains of flu each year. Friend’s mum is not offering the best advice here.

Well obviously it won't protect the baby from flu because it can't catch it while it's inside you. However your immune system is lower when you're pregnant and the baby needs you to be well. I had a cold when pregnant, i never get colds, and it was horrendous because you can't take anything at all so I'd hate to get the flu. I can't understand why people make such a fuss about it.

That study has been discredited. No suggestion it causes women to miscarry. Please get your facts straight before your anti vaxxer false facts put your child at risk.

So if you don’t think doctors recommend something because it’s a good idea from a health perspective, then why do you think they suggest it? I’m genuinely curious to know what your reasoning is. Also, have you heard of the concept of ‘herd immunity’? If not, google it. No vaccine is 100% effective but the way they work is by cumulatively reducing the risk in tne genral population. If everyone is 60% covered, then the risk of coming across the virus in the first place goes down and down. That’s why we’re seeing more cases of awful childhood diseases like measles at the moment - because fewer parents are vaccinating their children and it puts not just their own child bit EVERYONE’s children at risk because it reduces herd immunity. I strongly feel you should read up on the flu vaccine and ask your GP for a clear explanation of why it’s a good idea, rather than relying on hearsay.

It protects you.....which in turn protects the baby. Your immune system is weaker while pregnant and flu could make you very, very ill. ...which wouldn't be good for the baby. Why would the NHS waste money on vaccines for no reason?
Be sensible

@Wolfiefan all jabs have side effect especially the flu jab if your not going to get the flu it's a total waste getting the jab and can actually cause you a lot of problems but none of the problems are as bad as flu but if you weren't going to get the flu anyway you've risked it for nothing. Obviously you won't know if your getting the flu or not but I don't want to put things that can cause harm in my body for no reason. Which is also my choice I'm telling you not to get it

If you've already decided you don't want it why are you starting a thread then arguing with everyone's opinion? Your friends mum isn't a very good midwife if she's telling people not to have it as it's recommended you do

@Wolfiefan in the first trimester yes It can corse miscarriage hence why they don't give it to women before 12 weeks