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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Swine Flu Vaccine

18 replies

JosephineClaire · 01/04/2010 21:47

I'm 7+3 wks today, and had the swine flu vaccine when I was 5 wks pg.

I was very surprised to find out from the doctor and nurse that a large number of women have turned down the vaccine, despite it being recommended by the GP.

I decided to say yes because the doctor explained that the flu was likely to re-surface in Sept. I'm due mid-Nov, and the third trimester is the most dangerous for pregnant women to come into contact with the swine flu.

I just wondered what you all decided, or whether it was just low numbers in my local area?

OP posts:

Mumcah · 01/04/2010 21:53

I decided not to have it as I felt that I was unlikely to catch it,also I felt worried about having a vaccine whilst pregnant.
Just to say I am usually pro vaccinations.

SqueezyB · 01/04/2010 21:54

I turned it down for me and my 2-year-old. I looked into all the research and spoke to my GP about it. I was a bit concerned about how quickly it had been rolled out and the low numbers of people in the trials. My GP's answer was that she 'assumed' it had been tested properly as they had been told to recommend people to have it - I didn't find that very reassuring! Plus, my midwife and various other health professionals I know told me they weren't having it.

It's a personal decision - as I'm a SAHM and DD doesn't go to nursery I felt we were low risk anyway. I'm sure if I was getting the tube every day or something I might have felt differently.

flameproofsuit · 01/04/2010 21:58

I decided not to have it in the first trimester, was going to have celvapan in the 2nd trimester but caught SF in first trimester so never had the vaccine.

Was never invited by my surgery to have the vaccine either, despite being pregnant and asthmatic.

FatSeal · 01/04/2010 22:18

I had it, although it was going round dd's school the week before and think we all had it around the same time anyway (DH and I have never been so badly chesty and DH was absolutely on fire). I actually feel that I got vaccinated just in time to mitigate the worst effects of the SF as I had a much milder form than either dd or DH.

Although there was a lot of fuss about it being a "new" vaccine, it is just another type of flu virus and the method used to create the vaccine is the same as the seasonal version. Think about it- there's a new vaccine every winter for that and no-one complains it's new and untested, do they?

Hevster · 02/04/2010 07:53

I decided to have my 2 year old done a fortnight ago but have delayed having it myself as my ms is so bad i couldn't face it, however i plan to have it at some point in the second trimester, mostly to give the baby immunity rather than myself.

fairydusty · 02/04/2010 08:18

I never had it done and i am 33 weeks pregnant. I have also decided not to have my 2 year old vacinated either. I also looked into the research and felt that the trials were on very small sample sizes and it had not been tested on pregnant women (don't think anything is tested on pregnant women) . I still don't know if i have made the right choice but i was getting so stressed by the decision that dh and i felt it best not to have vacine.

I also spoke to my gp and my midwife who would not personally recommend having the vacine but did say it was recommended for pregnant ladies to have it.

Mumcah · 02/04/2010 08:41

fatseal it's not the fact that it's a 'new' vaccine that bothered me.I would never have any vaccine old or new in pregnancy.

yama · 02/04/2010 08:51

My midwife told me that 99% of pregnant women she'd seen had turned down the vaccine.

She did say that the uptake for under-5's was quite high though.

I haven't had it an am 19 weeks pregnant. I also didn't have dd (4) vaccinated.

PanicMode · 02/04/2010 09:25

I had it in the second trimester - I was commuting into London over the winter and the media frenzy about the 'pandemic', coupled with a lot of research about the vaccine amongst my medic friends and relatives convinced me that the benefit outweighed the (tiny) risk. The vaccine hasn't been tested on pregnant women (because they don't test anything on pregnant women) but it is just a variation of a seasonal flu vaccine - which has been around for years without any contraindications.

It is such a personal decision that only you can decide what is best for your personal circumstances - you will hear scare stories on both sides of the debate, but only you can read up about it and make your own decision.

I haven't been asked to have my children vaccinated - and in fact, haven't bothered to chase up because I think that DS1 and possibly DS2 had a mild form last winter anyway. DD has the constitution of an ox so I decided that as my arm was incredibly painful for about a week afterwards I wouldn't inflict it on her.....

porcamiseria · 02/04/2010 09:38

me and my 2 year old had it, I reasoned better safe than sorry, he was not affected, I was! I hindsight I am glad I did it as one less thing to worry about

whippybamboo · 02/04/2010 11:50

In my area, Westminster and at hospital, none of the midwives have mentioned it. And when I've been to the doctor's for antenatal it hasn't been mentioned.

Also i don't remember that my 2.5 yr old son has been invited for vaccine.

thedollshouse · 02/04/2010 11:57

I turned it down (I am nearly 39 weeks pregnant). It may be advised by the department of health to have it but the medical community is still deeply divided. One GP could not believe that I hadn't it and in his own words he was astonished that a pregnant woman would choose to put herself at risk by not having it. Another GP told me that she hadn't made up her mind on it. A consultant Obstetrician told me that she wouldn't touch it with a barge pole and my midwife said that if she were in my shoes she wouldn't have it.

I think I may have already had SF anyway. If not fingers crossed that I can stay safe for the next few weeks.

asampras · 02/04/2010 19:58

So strange because when i was (i think i was) 10 weeks pregnant (i am now 15 weeks)my GP called me and offered me the vaccine but said that as swine flu was on the decline "my recommendation is not to have it." So i went with his advice but it feels like i am the only one who has been given this advice

roary · 02/04/2010 22:52

I had it and am glad I did. I got a non swine flu at 36 weeks and was fearsomely sick for 3 weeks with a very bad respiratory infection. Lots of trouble breathing. The prob is that lungs are at 2/3 capacity and you can't clear your chest. I am really healthy and active and If that was the after effects of reg flu you can see why people are so concerned about swine flu. Swine flu seems to have a more pronounced respiratory effect than other flus.

tiredfeet · 03/04/2010 19:16

My midwife and gp haven't even suggested I have it. My mum, who is a nurse, said she wouldn't if she was pregnant but that it was a tough call and she would find it hard to have to make the decision. I think it is a very difficult decision to make, I think there's actually a lot to be said for having the vaccine. I am still concerned that swine flu will be a problem, I'm due in October and planning to leave work by end of August as my job involves a lot of contact with the public. I figure this way I can reduce my risk of exposure during the autumn. Swine flu sounds dreadful, I don't think there is an easy answer and I do worry.

first1 · 03/04/2010 21:47

I had it at 15weeks, am now 33+5. Tough decision definitely. I've had loads of scans since out of my own pocket to make sure baby is ok, and I now feel really glad I did have it. I'm asthmatic but still, all pregnant women have reduced lung capacity and catching SF could lead to dreadful respiratory problems. You'll make the right decision for you. My MW and GP who I spoke to in great length about it, recommended it.

nunnie · 04/04/2010 15:10

Not been offered it yet, not sure what I will do when I am. My 2.5 year old had it before I found out I was pregnant and she was fine, my only concern is no one knows for definate if it will be the same strain if it does return, which makes the vaccine a bit useless and unnecessary if it is a different strain, so that is the only worry I have, that it may mean two vaccines whilst pregnant if it is a new strain, and truth is probably won't get the new vaccine ready before I am due so would still be at risk of getting the new strain if it is new.

Another part of me says don't over analyse something that nobody has the answer to till it happens, it is just one other worry added to an already bulging list whilst pregnant

Bathbaby · 05/04/2010 15:12

Both my kids and myself have had it - I'm 39 weeks and had it 4-5 months ago. I decided to have it as 2 local pregnant women ended up in ITU with complications, both having been previously healthy, and as a GP myself, thought that I would likely to be in contact with swine flu at some point.
I decided to give it to my kids (18months and 3years) due to the increased risks of complications.
My husband is also a GP but hasn't had it - I was really angry as I thought he could put us at risk if he got it, but as we're all immunised now, he can take all the risks he likes! He hasn't had it because "I won't catch flu..." - he's also needle phobic!

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