What would you do?

[Buckler]

Hi i just wondered what anyone else thought. I know there's been a lot on here about the swine flu jab but just wondered what anyone thinks about my situation.

I've lost two to missed miscarriages in the past (we have no children). Am now ten weeks and pleased because it's the furthest we've got but still very very anxious. My problem is what to do about the jab, i teach at a secondary school so have about 700 kids in and out of my room all day, not to mention all the other staff who work there! Years ago i had an ordinary flu jab and was very ill for a week, to me it all seems such a risk to my (hopefully) unborn baby but at the same time can't avoid germs at work!! What does anyone think? I was thinking i could bring in antispetic wipes and sprays but not sure what else could help.

I have miscarried before but had the jab at 38 weeks this time, baby 3 days now and nothing is different. I had a sore arm and that's it

i have 3 other dc and I wanted to protect my newborn

Which do you think is the biggest risk? Getting swine flu or the injection?

I think I will get it in the second trimester. To me, I know pregnant women are at risk and that swine flu has killed and made women seriously ill. There is no evidence that we know of (as in scientific) that the injection is of any risk to the mother or the baby. Therefore logically to me the bigger proven risk is the swine flu.

However I am also nervous as we are told so much that we should be careful and not take certain medications. I have had an ear infection recently and couldnt take ibuprofen yet I can have an injection? Seems wrong. However I guess the risk of the flu outweighs the risk of the injection.

I think you need to balance it up for you in your own situation. Would you be more anxious knowing you had not had the jab or more anxious knowing you had had it? In these situations I try to pretend I am following one decision for a while and see how that makes me feel and then try the other one.

How would you feel if you didnt have it and got swine flu and the baby was affected? Is this better or worse than if you had the injection and the baby was in someway affected?

I am so sorry to hear that you have lost two babies, however if you had the injection later this would be unrelated wouldnt it. Did they give you a reason for the MMC? Usuually it is a genetic problem - again unrelated to having an injection.

Its really up to you - look at the scientific evidence (not the scare stories), talk to your midwife and doctor and your partner.

Hard one isnt it.

Glad to hear that you've made it to 10wks, it feels such a long journey when you're anxious about the outcome. I got to my 12wk scan before thinking about having the swine flu jab, as I've been very pessimistic about the outcome of this pregnancy for various reasons. However having had a very reassuring scan I felt more positive, and decided I would have the swine flu jab. My reasons were that I lost a baby this summer, and didn't want to risk anything this time around; and also a GP friend said that every flu vaccine is new each year, as they are developed in response to the strain of flu in circulation, and the swine flu one is just a different version. I guess I could have left it till a bit later with hindsight (eg until all organs etc have developed fully, in case of any worries) but having had a woman in our area die days after having her newborn, I didn't want to leave my DS in any danger of this situation. I think we'd already had mild swine flu but didn't want to risk it being something else; it may be for that reason that my only symptoms after the vaccine were a sore arm and slight headache for 1.5 days after.

If you still want to avoid the vaccine, antiseptic wipes and hand/nose hygiene should help - obviously you can only ensure your own hygiene though, not that of others (ie sneezing without covering mouths etc...).

I hope all goes well with the rest of your pregnancy, and that you don't get too worried over this.

Hi, I'm 30 weeks and work in a very large primary school. I felt reluctant to have the jab but there were a few cases of swine flu in school so I decided to go for it. I made final decision because baby would be protected for 6 months after birth too. Had an achy arm for a few days but no other problems. I did quite a bit of research and found no cases where jab had resulted in miscarriage or any other problems for unborn child but there were a few cases of serious problems with pregnant women who got swine flu.
It's a very personal decision and, according to my midwife, many women aren't having it but I'm glad I did.
Hope everything goes well with the rest of your pregnancy.

I'm 12wk pg with no 3 and a secondary teacher. Quite a few pupils have had swine 'flu, as have my own dcs, but I am not having the jab because it's not advised in the first trimester and am not overly keen to have it in the second, plus I have two autoimmune conditions and don't want to trigger an autoimmune response. On the off chance I did get it, I would consider the pg antiviral Relenza. I might reconsider in the latter stages of pg but that is going to be in the summer months when incidence is low. The consultant is happy with this.

Hi Buckler,
Hope all is well.I too had a similar dilema as i mc jan '09 then again july '09 and am currently pregnant (17 weeks) I too work in a school (junior) and was in 2 minds about the jab but after lots of thought and discussion with Dr's etc I decided to have it for my peace of mind. I left it till 16weeks though as advice was to avoid 1st trimester. Also meant it fell in with seeing MW and so I was reassured by listening to the heartbeat. I must say my arm was sore and is still a little sore, but am feeling lots of fluttering movement from the baby so think I made the right choice for me.
HTH and whatever you decide will be the best choice for you

I had 4 MMCs - none of them related to "normal" flu or swine flu vaccination (I get them offered every year in my job).

I have had 3 children, in the pregnancy with DS2 I had the flu vaccine before I had figured out I was expecting.
In the US all pregnant woman are offered flu vaccine as a matter of routine.

If you are nervous about the swine flu vacc then wait until you are after 12 weeks and then go for it?

I had the swine flu vacc during my current pregnancy at @ 16 weeks, had the obligatory sore arm but felt otherwise fine. I am now 30 weeks.
What swung it for me was the proven risk for complications to pregnant woman vs. the theoretical risks of the vaccine. Also the fact that women who had the swine flu vacc before they knew they were pregnant statistically speaking had the same outcomes as women who had not had the vaccine.

Bear in mind that being pregnant you are maybe slightly more likely to catch swine flu but far more likely to develop complications if you do.

Sorry, forgot to add good luck in this pregnancy ! Good things can and do happen after sad events...

Thanks everyone for posting such good advice and positive thoughts. I am probably going to wait till sixteen weeks plus then see about getting it. Happy new year everyone hope it brings happiness to all.

hi there.. i'm approx 11 wks and no1 has spoken to me bout this yet.. my friend asked me if i was having it but i dont think i will yet.. i know all the fears but i have already had a bad problem in a previous pregnancy n scared that this one will end up in sadness. i'm goin to wait as i cant go out much anyway due to constant sickness n lack of energy so i'm not worrying myself bout it yet.. i think i'll wait till as long as i can to have it as needlephobic too lol..
dreading the blood tests never mind injections
Good luck in your pregnancy and hope all goes well for you

I had the jabs (both swine and seasonal flu) at 15weeks only because that happened to be the only day my surgery offered them. Apart from the obligatory sore arm and a headache for a few days it was fine. I'm now 21 weeks and have 3 (!) scans since and baby is fine. It's a personal decision to have it but I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you

i'm 21 weeks and when i've been for my mw appointments sw jab hasn't been mentioned. is it something you get called into surgery for or do you have to request yourself?

i dont know morph2.. just ask your mw when you see her next. i'm going to leave it as far as i can as i'm needle phobic have really bad sickness and cant bare the thought of been more ill than i am or more needles.. got 2 days of bloods and scan on the 13th 14th jan.. lol
maybe when i know all is ok i will start to think about it

Morph2, I think surgeries have handled it differently. Mine has written to pregnant women inviting them to attend on a "swine flu vacc" day.
However missed that has to make an appointment with the practice nurse, again for a dedicated swine flu vacc appointment. The vaccine comes in vials of 10 doses which once openend have to be discarded within 24 (Panderemix) or 3 (Calvepan) hours, so they try to have 10 people lined up to avoid wastage.

The MWs usually have nothing/little to do with the vaccination program - I would contact my GP if I was you.

Ahhh thanks PacificDogwood thatshelped me too i'll speak to my gp n not my mw abit later on then