Flu jab in pregnancy

[FirstTimeMum2Be]

Hello everyone. I'm 21 weeks pregnant and due 2nd August. My local midwife at the GP surgery says that I need to have a flue jab and whooping cough vaccine while still pregnant, but I am unsure what to do as I am being told by quite a lot of people that it sounds like a bad idea. Being a first time mum I need some advice.

Sounds like a bad idea? How?! It is best for you and your baby's health to have both, the only way you can protect your baby from whooping cough is to have the vaccine yourself, and if you catch flu you could be hospitalised.

It's something that all pregnant women are advised to do. Don't worry about it, they advise it for the right reasons x

I had the whooping cough jab but have skipped the flu jab with all three of my pregnancies.
Personal preference.
Do some research and make your own decision.

I had them both, as mentioned above all pregnant women are advised too

I had the flu jab when pregnant with DC3. About 6 weeks after the birth, DH and 18mo DC2 were struck down with the most horrendous flu. The baby and I were both immune thanks to the jab- it was an absolute lifesaver.

Your immune system is weakened when you’re pregnant so you are more likely than normal to catch flu and more likely to get complications if you do. Get flu whilst pregnant can also cause miscarriage and stillbirth. Getting the jab isn’t the worst idea.

It's coming to the end of the flu season (is it April that they stop?) so it might not matter if you skills,that one.

Do get the whooping cough jab though, because it's to stimulate your production of antibodies which then was pass to your baby in utero offering some protection for them between birth and age for first jabs.

14 babies, too young for their jabs, died of whooping cough in 2012.

Any people telling you it's a bad idea are wrong.

Why would you listen to random people and not the medical professionals?

If it's any reassurance I had both in my first pregnancy and have had the flu one this time, I'll have the whooping cough one too when I'm far along enough. Having seen an adult with whooping cough I'd hate to see what it could do to a baby, but although I choose to get it done, it's fully your choice.

Who is telling you it's a bad idea?

Flu is very dangerous in pregnancy due to your weakened immune system (flu is one of biggest causes of death in pregnant women). The flu jab isn't perfect (it doesn't cover all strains so it's possible to have the jab and still get flu) but it's better than nothing. There is absolutely zero credible evidence of any harm caused to the baby. I've had it with both pregnancies, all fine.

The whooping cough vaccine provides some protection to the baby before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. Whooping cough is also very dangerous, particularly for newborns and can be fatal.

The whooping cough vaccine has been given to pregnant women in the UK for some years and is recommended in lots of other countries too. Again, all the research suggests that it is absolutely safe and of no risk to the baby. I've had in both pregnancies, all fine.

The NHS has no reason to recommend these vaccinations unless there is a benefit to them.

Please have them.
I’m 14 weeks pregnant with my third baby, so too early for the vaccine yet, and I found out today that I have whooping cough (thread in General health about it) and it’s one of the most horrible illnesses I’ve ever had. I feel like my diaphragm is going to explode out of my chest and have coughing fits that make me vomit.
It’s not nice, but not particularly dangerous for adults, but can be fatal to newborn babies and young children. The vaccine you receive while pregnant protects your baby until they are old enough for their first dose of whooping cough vaccine (part of the 5-in-1 vaccine) at 8 weeks old.

My midwife told me 2 weeks ago they advise it but it’s so close to the end of flu season it’s unlikely to be around much during my pregnancy (I’m 12+5) and she also said if I did want one I’d probably find it difficult to find anywhere that still has it in stock especially this year as stocks were so limited over the winter.

As for whooping cough, I had to have the vaccine as an adult and, pre and post vaccinations blood tests (I had 3 injections at monthly intervals followed by bloods 3 months later) showed I did not take up the vaccination and had no immunological response to it and would be unlikely to be any different if I have it again so will be declining it.

I skipped the flu jab mainly because I was so sick until around 20 weeks. I just couldn’t face it, I am due in a few weeks and I have been fine without it. Everyone to their own but I decided not to have it. I did have the whooping cough vac & I would recommend that one as it does protect baby for first few months I think & is baby gets WC it can be very serious. Good luck x

Have any of the people advising you against it given you any reasons why?

We’re told not to eat so many things and avoid so many things because we’re pregnant. If these vaccines weren’t absolutely in the best interest of you and your baby, they wouldn’t recommend them for pregnant women.

Please listen to actual doctors, not Dr Google.

Chances are it's too late for the flu vaccine now, I know at my surgery it is only offered november to Feb, we are out of flu season now. I'm 21 weeks too and having my whooping cough vaccine tomorrow. It notonly protects you but also baby in their first 6 weeks before they have their first set of immunizations.

My uncle died as a baby from whooping cough, not trying to scare you, but they offer these vaccines for a reason, it's protection for your newborn baby.

Whooping cough can kill newborn babies, whoever is telling you it’s a bad idea is moron.

The flu jab is more for you, and as we are coming to the end of the flu season I wouldn’t bother.

I had both jabs this time and last time. I’m asthmatic though and both pregnancies were over winter.

The NHS wouldn’t provide anything that they didn’t deem necessary due to the cost. They do not just do these things for fun.

@Rememberall all, that would normally indicate that your immune system has naturally occurring antibodies that would protect YOU against whooping cough. That’s why you didn’t take it up.

I had the whooping cough vaccine but not the flu jab. I've never had a flu jab and probably never will.

Whooping cough is absolutely horrible, please please get the vaccine. It took me 6 months to recover and I had two cracked ribs and torn intercostal muscles from so much coughing. It can be fatal for newborns, why on earth would you risk it?

I wasn’t even offered the flu jab. I was offered the whooping cough jab but declined because I didn’t like the idea of vaccinations during pregnancy. DC has had all vaccinations after being born though.

A school friend of mine died very recently from flu. Early 40s seemingly well. Get the jab.

Who are the people telling you it’s a bad idea? Why do they think it’s a bad idea and how are they qualified to advise you - why do you trust their views over the views of your doctor and midwife?

I had them both with my past 2 they are 5&7 now healthy children,they are safe.i will be getting them this time.