Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Doubts about the flu jab

153 replies

zigzag7222 · 20/01/2020 15:34

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and am booked in for whooping cough and flu jabs later this week.

I was planning to get the whooping cough jab done anyway as I know it can be very serious if the baby catches it in the weeks after birth.

However, I'm having real doubts about the flu jab. I know several people who have been quite ill after having the jab and am concerned that the same could happen to me. I've read on previous MN threads that the jab isn't "live", so it's impossible to get ill from it afterwards - but it does seem from anecdotal evidence that it can make you unwell.

I've never had flu in my life (am mid 30s) and mostly work from home so don't come into contact with a lot of people on a regular basis. From what I understand, unlike whooping cough the flu jab is solely to protect the mother, not the baby.

My instincts are telling me not to have it, but I'm nervous to go against NHS advice.

I'm booked in for both jabs at the same time - are they separate injections or combined and if so, could I opt to have whooping cough only on the day?

Help!

OP posts:
FirstTimeDS · 20/01/2020 15:38

A very very quick Google search shows you from the NHS it DOES NOT contain the live virus it cannot make you ill. What can make you I'll is the flu from a compromised immune system dye to pregnancy. Please believe trained professionals over people who had a sore arm for a few days after the jab. You will be fine, this is not a sudoscience.

FirstTimeDS · 20/01/2020 15:41

Please trust your doctors and midwives. They aren't employed to lie to you.

Mummylanie3 · 20/01/2020 15:42

Agree with pp the vaccine is not live I had them both together same arm was fine was sore for a few days but that's it. I'd take a sore arm any day over passing flu onto my unborn baby and her becoming ill xx

Ibizababyy · 20/01/2020 15:44

Speaking as someone who has had full blown flu twice in their life I would urge you to get the flu jab!! I would never ever miss mine especially when pregnant. People who are out and about complaining they have flu only have a bad cold- if you have flu you can’t leave your bed, it’s horrific! I do believe that it doesn’t contain the live virus and therefore would suggest the people you know who have become unwell after (and I might add won’t have been anywhere as poorly as what flu would make you) did so coincidentally as they already had a cold coming on.

I had my whooping cough same time as flu jab this time and you get one in each arm.

scaevola · 20/01/2020 15:44

"but it does seem from anecdotal evidence that it can make you unwell"

Yes, it can - thebside effects, which include flu-like symptoms, are all listed in the pack information leaflet (also readily available online). For most people, they are mild and pass quickly.

Never having had flu before just makes you lucky, not somehow resistant.

Flu is very contagious - not coming into contact with people much doesn't mean you can't get it, you're still meeting people (and in turn they're meeting people) and going to clinics etc.

At the end of the day it's your call. Flu is more serious in the pregnant than in the general population. But of course it protects against only the 4 dominant strains, you can have the jab and still catch a different flu.

Original poster
zigzag7222 · 20/01/2020 15:46

I'd take a sore arm any day over passing flu onto my unborn baby and her becoming ill

I don't think a mother getting flu during pregnancy can pass it onto their unborn baby can they? Although if you caught it just before/after the birth then you could presumably give it to your newborn.

I've also read on MN that the flu vaccine contains mercury, which sounds worrying.

OP posts:
SnoozyLou · 20/01/2020 15:48

There is 0 evidence to suggest that the flu jab causes miscarriages, versus a wealth of evidence proving that catching the flu in pregnancy does.

TheGreyInThisCity · 20/01/2020 15:55

The reason it’s so important to have the flu jab is because your immunity is lowered during pregnancy, so you’re more likely to catch it and more likely to end up seriously unwell or to develop complications. It isn’t just to protect you though, as the flu could lead to premature birth and complications for the baby. I can understand your fears but if you’re worried then it would be better to talk to your midwife/doctor about the risks and benefits, just because a lot of the stuff about it on the internet can be very biased and not based in fact.

PurpleFrames · 20/01/2020 15:58

This was recently on Victoria Derbyshire about the false claims of the antivax movement.

1- most vaccines don't contains metals
2-those that do have it in a smaller percentage than you would get eating a normal Varied diet

Spam88 · 20/01/2020 16:04

Can't flu cause miscarriage?

Goldenmother · 20/01/2020 16:05

I was offered the flu jab at my last antenatal appointment 16 weeks but i opted out as I feel we are more or less done with flu season and don't feel I need it I am getting the whooping cough vaccine as I work in a school so want to make sure I do t catch that

Spam88 · 20/01/2020 16:05

And fwiw, I get the flu jab every year (work in healthcare) and have never been ill from it. The worst side effect I've ever had is a bit of a sore arm.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 20/01/2020 16:06

FFS. The flu jab isnt just about YOU. Its about herd immunity.

TLBftm · 20/01/2020 16:09

OP I opted to only have the whooping cough vaccine and refused the flu jab. Midwife was fine with it and all is well my end, DS is now 12 month and we are both very happy and healthy

TimeMarchesOnNeverEnding · 20/01/2020 16:11

You can't get it from the virus.

People who feel ill after would probably feel after a placebo. A lot is psychosomatic.

Some people do have side effects but it's no where near as bad as flu.

A baby doesn't get the flu. The jab doesn't increase a chance of miscarriage. However, mothers having high temperatures in pregnancy can impact the baby which is why getting flu with high temperatures is so dangerous.

Get the jab.

TimeMarchesOnNeverEnding · 20/01/2020 16:12

*you can't get it from the jab

Betsyboo87 · 20/01/2020 16:17

Flu jab is given mainly in autumn/winter... peak time for colds and flu. I’d say it’s more a coincidence that others are unwell following the injection.

DesLynamsMoustache · 20/01/2020 16:19

I've also read on MN that the flu vaccine contains mercury, which sounds worrying

With all due respect, if this is the general calibre of your own research, then I would definitely be trusting medical advice.

SweetpeaOrMarigold · 20/01/2020 16:23

I've looked after babies in ITU of mums that have had flu in pregnancy.
If you are very ill, they do an emergency c section to remove the fetus, to protect the woman. If you're in intensive care you won't have a say in this. I don't mean to sound alarmist, I just don't want that to happen to anyone else.
Please get the jab.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 20/01/2020 16:24

I don't think a mother getting flu during pregnancy can pass it onto their unborn baby can they?

No, but the flu could kill that pregnant woman which is not ideal for the baby.

scaevola · 20/01/2020 16:24

FFS. The flu jab isnt just about YOU. Its about herd immunity.

If that were the case, then it wouid be offered by the NHS to the entire herd. It's not.

Instead it's offered to the vulnerable: over 65s, during pregnancy, those with certain medical conditions, and children. It's a jab to protect high risk groups (one of which is also a super-spreader group), not an attempt to prevent flu from circulating

mummymummymummummum · 20/01/2020 16:24

There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitiss, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumoniaa.

If you have flu while you're pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirthh_ or death.

Copied and pasted from www.nhs.uk

So, yes, you having flu can affect baby.

Original poster
zigzag7222 · 20/01/2020 16:25

FFS. The flu jab isnt just about YOU. Its about herd immunity.

I'm not bothered about me - I'm worried about my baby. I just have huge misgivings about voluntarily injecting a strain of virus into myself (especially when pregnant) when there may be no need.

i opted out as I feel we are more or less done with flu season

That's the other thing - by the time my body has built up immunity it'll be almost spring anyway.

@TLBftm can I ask why you chose not to have the flu jab?

OP posts:
scaevola · 20/01/2020 16:28

i opted out as I feel we are more or less done with flu season

It's too early to be saying that. The flu season doesn't end until April. As the jab takes no more than 2 weeks to take effect, it is still worth it.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 20/01/2020 16:31

I just have huge misgivings about voluntarily injecting a strain of virus into myself

As has been said various times, its not a live vaccine so you wont be "injecting a strain of virus into yourself".