Flu jab worries - reassurance?

[daydreamdaisy]

I'm 13+3 and have yet to have my flu jab that the midwife recommended.
I am fully in support of vaccines, have had all previous and intend to get future dc fully vaccinated.

However, last winter I had a flu jab just after a scan whilst 9 weeks pg and then 2 weeks later at the next scan heartbeat had stopped.

I KNOW logically that these were so likely to be unconnected and just a sad coincidence and that my brain is looking for connections.
But every time I try to book in for my flu jab this time, I end up putting the phone down and crying as part of me is so scared about putting this so desperately wanted baby at (imagined) risk.

How do I get over this? Would you wait until later on say after 16 week scan? I'm really embarrassed and can't talk to anyone about it IRL.

Personally I wouldn't say it is imagined risk, vaccinating pregnant women hasn't actually been fully researched, I am pregnant and have refused all vaccinations, 20 weeks so far and all ok, they never even offered them when I had my ds 8 years ago and we are both ok!

I declined this vaccination.

It probably was a coincidence but personally I’m a strong, healthy person and I’ve never had flu. In any event, it doesn’t protect against all strains of the virus, I believe.

OP, getting flu while pregnant can be fatal, as the pregnancy depresses your immunity to stop your body rejecting the fetus.
Please get yourself immunised. We are entering peak flu season, and there are some particularly virulent strains circulating this year.
Miscarriage is very common in the first trimester, and unrelated to vaccine. You are now 13 weeks, so past the stage of highest risk for losing the pregnancy.
I think you recognise that your fear is emotional rather than rational.
Do the right thing to protect yourself and your baby- get your flu vaccine. Best wishes.

I had mine around 20 weeks and it was fine. BUT it is optional, so if you feel the effect on anxiety/MH outweighs the benefit of the jab then it’s up to you whether you have it or not. Do try to speak to your midwife about it though.

I’m so sorry about your MC and I can understand how the two things are linked in your mind even if you know logically that it is highly unlikely that the vaccination caused it. I have had the flu jab in both my pregnancies as I felt that any risks from vaccinations were heavily outweighed by the proven risks of contracting flu whilst pregnant. Yes it doesn’t cover you for all strains of flu, but some protection is better than nothing. Plus I want now to protect my toddler as far as possible (my husband has the flu jab due to asthma but my son is too young). You do not have to have it but it is recommended because when pregnant you are part of a higher risk community.

Just to add, with respect to the “I didn’t and I’m fine” responses, one of the reasons why this is the case is that the “I did and I’m fine” group (of which I am one, and no harm to either baby either) DID have the vaccination and increased the herd immunity

OP, I found myself in a similar situation. Last year my GP gave me my flu jab around 6 weeks pregnant and then I discovered at my 12 week scan that the baby stopped developing at 6 weeks, ended up with medical miscarriage. I have exactly the same view as you in that I am fully pro vaccine, however, this niggled at me. I got pregnant again. I did have the flu jab this time around but much later on in my pregnancy, around 34 weeks, and all was ok. I am putting it down to coincidence. We are all going to have our reasons, please do what you feel is right for you.

I'm teary as everyone's so kind and I was worried I'd get a flaming!
I think I'm going to ring my midwife and explain the situation to her, I had been too nervous to admit my worries as I feel so silly! Thank you ❤️

Hi,
I understand your worry but think about how miserable you'd be if you got the flu while pregnant. Vaccines work via herd immunity. Also, don't forget that there are vulnerable people around and they will appreciate everyone who has a vaccine.
Vaccines are safe, of course not 100%.
I am sorry about your miscarriage but please don't mistake a correlation for causation. I know, it's easier said than done.
Speak to your midwife and tell her about your worries. She will be able to tell you the facts.
I had all my vaccines btw. and baby and I are prefectly fine.

OP there is no evidence that the flu vaccine causes miscarriage but there are papers out there showing that contracting influenza can. The risk of getting the flu is low but with a lowered immune system during pregnancy it is still a risk. For those saying the vaccines haven’t been tested on pregnant women this isn’t true. They aren’t evaluated in pregnant women during trial I.e before they go into the market but they are monitored in pregnant women afterwards to ensure safety. You’re protecting your child by getting the vaccine not risking their health.

Flu vaccine is different though, its changing every year and the vaccine is against previous strains, not current, herd immunity for last years strain seems absurd!

I’m not sure whether you really understand how the flu vaccine is developed or how herd immunity works. But this is irrelevant in many ways to the OP - OP, it sounds like you’re aware of all the advantages of vaccination and realistic about how the flu vaccine can protect you. It’s completely normal to be anxious in your situation and your midwife won’t think you’re daft for asking about it. Hopefully you can have a good chat with her before you come to a decision either way.

I think we all go through the should we shouldn’t we!
I personally decided to be vaccinated at 30 weeks and I felt an ache in my arm and that’s about it I would rather not catch the flu whilst my body is already going through so much.
Whatever you choose I’m sure will be the right decision for you :)

It's normal to feel how you do, I got mine done after 20 weeks but it wasn't peak flu season at the time. My dad had the flu a few weeks ago and had to be hooked upto fluids and given steroids to help him breathe so I'm really glad I got mine done. I didn't have any side effects apart from a sore arm. Maybe talk to your midwife and GP and they could try and put your mind at ease? In the meantime carry hand sanitizer especially if you're using public transport!

I’m sorry for your loss.

Definitely have a chat with the midwife about your feelings, which are understandable. Maybe a compromise would be to have the jab slightly later on in your pregnancy so you still benefit from protection.

I've had three babies and declined the flu jab all three times.

I'd feel the same if that had happened to me OP, so sorry for your loss

My area won't give them before your 20 week scan. Why not wait and then have it, although it is peak Flu season on. First pregnancy I didn't have it. I worried about it too much and also refused whooping cough, but the baby was due in mid summer. I took a risk.

This pregnancy I have taken both jabs it as it's winter and I have toddler germ magnet, who I also got jabbed too. It's really up to you to choose.

I can understand why you feel like that with what you have been through. I read up some of the studies about it before having it. There has been lots of research, no one seems to have found any link between the flu jab (or whooping cough) and miscarriage etc. I do know that getting flu is awful and I felt like that was a much bigger risk, so I had both jabs and feel reassured I did. I found looking at the research into it reassured me. If its really upsetting you, please tell your midwife. Good luck with it.

Have you done any research? There absolutely Is a link between vaccinations and miscarriage.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.medicaldaily.com/flu-shot-warning-could-increase-miscarriage-risk-other-side-effects-443327%3Famp%3D1

But the point is about weighing up the risk of the vaccine vs the risk of getting flu and its associated risks. Likewise whooping cough. For me, the risks of the latter far outweighed the risks of the former. It is sensible to read into this, but also to be clear about what risks are increased and to what degree, and what that means for you personally.

@BlueGingerale that article does not say there ‘absolutely is a link’. It says it is a ‘possible link’ that needs to be looked at and studied.
OP, talk to your midwife about your concerns as has been suggested.
Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy :)

As far as I know the flu vaccine has never been safety tested on pregnant women.

This is the package insert for the 2919 flu vaccine: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9223.pdf

It says it is recommended for people over 65.

Under pregnancy it says n/a. Which means it should be given to pregnant woman.

Shouldn’t be given to pregnant women.

BlueGingerale it hasn’t specifically been tested on pregnant women. Drug tests work by offering a placebo, in this case it would be unethical to do so. Flu kills people in the UK every year, this year’s flu is particularly bad and is hitting early. Pregnant women are both more likely to get flu and have complications. Please speak to your midwife or practice nurse about if you should get it.