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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone having swine flu jab AND seasonal flu jab??

25 replies

first1 · 09/11/2009 11:28

I'm 13weeks and after a consultation with my GP whom I trust with my life and a phone call with the MW I will be having the swine flu jab. The only day the practice are doing it though is when I'm 15weeks which I figure will ensure I'm protected for the much more dangerous third trimester.

I'm also asthmatic and have the seasonal jab yearly. MW and GP both said this is also safe and has been given to pregnant women for years. But my question is, is anyone having both? And at the same time? Or are you having a particular one first and leaving a significant time in between?

OP posts:

lucy101 · 09/11/2009 11:40

Hi there - I am mildly asthmatic... it only really comes on if I have a cold or flu.... so am trying to make the same decision as you! I know if I got ill in the last trimester, when my lungs are a bit crushed, I could get really ill (also have had pneumonia and would never want to get it again). I am 21 weeks by the way.

I have had the swine flu jab a week ago - no side effects - really glad I did as I felt much better after making the decision.

I am pretty sure the normal flu jab is safe as in the US they give it to pregnant women and have done for some time...

I think if I do have it I will not have it for at least 2 weeks though so my immune system can deal with one thing at a time.

I am still unsure what to do...

roundabout1 · 09/11/2009 11:40

Hi First - I plan on having both. I'm only 11 wks & was told by mw that seasonal flu one is fine but would advise to have it after 12 weeks. Our surgery doesn't have the swine flu one in yet so will probably be having them separately.

mosschops30 · 09/11/2009 12:05

I am having both. Had the SF vaccine last Monday and felt so awful after it I was glad Id waited to have them separately.
Im having the seasonal jab today (so excatly a week apart).

I think the official line is you can have them together, but if you dont want to feel like youve been hit by a bus then maybe leave a gap.
You are at less risk from seasonal flu than SF so maybe best to leave that one a week

HTH

Liloosmum · 09/11/2009 12:57

I will be having both. I'm not high risk, but am offered the seasonal jab at work and will have it when I get to 13 weeks (currently 11) because it is safe to have during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. A few years ago they were talking about offering it to all pregnant women but didn't (I suspect because of the cost but don't know for certain).

I will also be having the swine flu jab when my GP has it.

bigpreggybelly · 09/11/2009 14:48

I'm having the swine flu shot on Saturday and have no worries as to its safety and trying to arrange getting the seasonal vaccine also (although that is easier said than done). If the doc will do both whilst I'm there, so much the better.

celebmum · 09/11/2009 15:47

hi, i too have mild asthma and was offered the normal flu vaccine, however at my 12wk check up when i mentioned this to midwife, she advised me not to have it and to decline my place? howcome its ok for some but not others? hmm (not trying to scare anyone!)

messylittlemonkey · 09/11/2009 16:05

hi,

I've just phoned my GP surgery to book my SF vaccination and she offered me the seasonal flu jab at the same time - I said yes as I can always change my mind and just have SF at that appt and the seasonal a bit later.

Have got to wait two more weeks to have SF jab though as that was the earliest appt they have! Will be 22+4 at that point.

Thought long and hard about SF jab, but have decided better to have it. I work in a pre school and am surrounded by germy children (including my own DD)!

MLM

mosschops30 · 09/11/2009 16:20

celebmum some seasonal flu vaccines are not recommended in the 1st trimester so maybe thats why your midwife was wary.
No reason I know why you couldnt have it in 2nd or 3rd trimester though

oopsandbabycoconut · 09/11/2009 16:35

I have been told by my GP practice the seasonal flu jab is not given to pregnant women. They phoned and offered me the SF one today when I said I didn't think I could have it as I wasn't 12 weeks yet and she didn't know about not having it in the 1st trimester. They fill me with confidence!

PacificDogwood · 09/11/2009 16:38

I've just had swine flu jab (Friday), but was under the impression that in the UK seasonal flu vacc was NOT offered to pregnant women? I normally have it every year, just not when pregnant.
Having said that, I did have it one year before I knew I was pregnant, and I know that in other countries incl the US is routinely given to pregnant women.
FWIW, I would not hesitate to have both together.

mosschops30 · 09/11/2009 16:41

I was referring to celebmum who has mild ashtma.
The seasonal flu jab is not offered to pregnant women routinely as they are seen as no greater risk than anyone else of getting it (unlike swine flu).
However if you are pg and have underlying healyh issues (e.g. asthma, diabetes) you will be offered the seasonal jab as you are every year
HTH

Original poster

first1 · 09/11/2009 17:10

oopsandbabycoconut That does sound pretty poor! Can you speak to your MW or GP rather than the receptionist? I think the rule for both vaccines is to wait until you're in the 2nd tri. How many weeks are you? Either way I'd have thought you'd at least be able to book an appointment ahead of time?

OP posts:

oopsandbabycoconut · 09/11/2009 17:13

first1 - I was speaking to the practice nurse! They apparently do not routinely give the flu jab to pregnant women even if they are at risk with asthma like me. Swine flu I have been told they will call me back when they have the next batch in but are working on a refusal basis - if I refuse now then I have to wait and see once everyone else at risk has had theirs if there are any left.

Original poster

first1 · 19/11/2009 14:36

I'm going to have them done at the same time on Monday (will be exactly 15weeks then), though in different arms!

OP posts:

Harimad · 19/11/2009 14:43

I was going to have the seasonal flu jab at work, but they then told me that I shouldn't as I was pregnant. Which of course made me wonder why on earth we were all being told to have the swine flu jab because we're pregnant!

The latter is a mute point at the moment however, as I haven't yet been offered it by my surgery... Not sure what I'll do, but I only have 6 weeks left, so I'm hoping the decision will be taken out of my hands!

JooLoo · 19/11/2009 17:41

I had a seasonal flu jab at work - I understood this is pretty routine for pregnant women. Was certainly advised it was recommended. Also had the swine flu jab (several weeks apart, both in second trimester).
No side effects from first jab but swine flu jab gave me quite a sore arm

Kingsroadie · 19/11/2009 17:52

I am 38 weeks and mildly asthmatic (ie never actually take my inhalers but can get short of breath at altitude/when ill etc) and have just had both swine flu and seasonal flu vaccine at the same time. Gp has had both and said given I am mildy asthmatic I should probably have them. Good for after the birth too when you are run down and he said the baby should be afforded some form of protection when born as the antibodies created by me will have crossed the placenta and will protect the baby.

Done now!

lucy101 · 19/11/2009 17:56

Hi there - glad to hear some people are doing both - I want to but wonder if anyone knows what the different normal flu vaccines are and whether one or other is better for pregnancy....

mommymeggie · 20/11/2009 00:52

They say they are going to make the seasonal flu shot annual for pregnant women. Here is the link

www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/flu+jab+for+pregnant+women+likely/2473572

bigpreggybelly · 20/11/2009 11:07

I've had both, about 4 days apart.

Getting the seasonal one was a nightmare but I finally got it. GP wouldn't let me have it because I'm not on the list for a free one and pregnancy alone doesn't entitle you to a free NHS seasonal flu shot. They wouldn't do it privately either. Boots wouldn't touch me with a barge pole - said they weren't insured to do vaccines for pregnant women. So I contacted one of the Medicare walk in clinics in London and asked specifically if they would do it before making an appointment. They said yes, so went jlast Tuesday, but the first foreign doctor I saw knew literally nothing about flu vaccines and pregnant women and refused to give it to me! He also fibbed by telling me they had run out of stock of the vaccine. So I had to kick up a stink with reception in the waiting room and eventually another doctor there (who inspired me with far more confidence) agreed to give it to me, after more stocks of the vaccine are suddently found!

I really wouldn't recommend those walk in centres. And if you are unfortunate enough to end up at the one in Bank London for any reason, insist you see the female doc. God knows where the first male doctor qualified (Timbuktu probably), and although they are trying to provide a GP service, I bet he had no GP training which is the norm in this country.

The sooner pregnant women are put on the free list for seasonal flu vaccine the better. That way, if you do want it, at least you can get it without so much hassle. Pregnancy puts us at risk of complications arising from normal flu as well as swine flu so there is no reason why we should not be on that list and then can get it from the GP.

Kingsroadie · 20/11/2009 13:30

Just fyi - my swine flu arm bloody hurts! Not that that should stopyou havng it or anything at all like that - just wanted to share and moan . Had both yesterday and normal flu jab is a tiny bit tender but fine and swine flu feels like I have had a typhoid jab - stiff up arm and neck and can't move it well - kept me up a lot in the night. Boo hoo....Hope everyone else isn't suffering!

1stbabygirl · 25/11/2009 19:20

Hi,
I am 29 weeks pregnant and have mild asthma which is completly under control, but have been offerred both the SF and seasonal flu jabs by my surgery. After lots of deliberating I had the SF jab about 4 weeks ago and am due to have the seasonal one this Sat. I was advised by my MW & practice nurse that both are safe for pregnant women and its ok to have them done at the same time as long as they are in different arms. i was still abit anxious so decided to have a break between the two. I felt the risks associated with me getting swine or normal flu in the 2nd or 3rd trimester were higher than the risks of the vaccine. Restrictions are placed on your breathing anyway when pregnant and then having flu and the added complication of the asthma, I wasn't sure how I would react and didn't want to put myself or baby at risk. Both vaccines also offer protection to the baby for approx 6 months after she is born, which is also a positive thing. I am still reading mixed messages though regarding both vaccines which concerns me but I have made my decision.

gemzhollie · 25/11/2009 20:12

hi everyone, ive been booked in to have my sf jab 2moz! i have been undecided in having it done but reading everyone's comments on here makes me feel im not alone!! if the jab wasnt safe then the docs wouldnt have called us pregnant pps in! does anyone else agree with me and would like to know other peoples opinion in having done and wot they would/have done!

Original poster

first1 · 26/11/2009 09:25

Welll ladies, I had both swine/ seasonal jabs on Monday (was exactly 15weeks). I had them done at the same time but in different arms. Like everyone else I was unsure for a long time but my GP (a living saint!) and my MW both convinced me of how important it was to go ahead. Now so glad I did!

OP posts:

excitygirl · 26/11/2009 09:36

Hi there - I did not know I was pregnant as was not at all planned and I had my seasonal flu jab when I was around 1-2 weeks, reading all your posts here has got me quite worried as it seems I should not have had the jab before 12 weeks....oh dear!

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