Flu shot when pregnant???

Tamarababy

Hi everyone,

I'm expecting twins and this is my first pregnancy. I am in my 10th week and I was at the doctors yesterday and she mentioned the flu shot and how I should get it as I don't want the flu especially with twins! I am a teacher and I've never had the flu shot in the past as I don't normally believe in that sort of thing. BUT....now that I am pregnant I was considering it. I know they have done testing and say that it's fine for the babies but I still worry that it may cause unknown issues down the road that we're not aware of.

Help I need opinions on this. Have any of you had the flu shot?

Thanks

Tamara

24karat

I opted out of it but that was only because of concerns with my medical history. I (and other members of my family) have had severe reactions to various vaccines in the past plus an egg allergy, so my OB and I agreed that the risk from a reaction to the shot seemed to outweigh the benefits.

hootie123

I got it - but I get it every year anyway.

nblondheim

I got it but like pp I get it every year too!

Paradisemoon

I get mine every year too.

megs3084

I have to get mine for work. I got it beginning of Oct. My OB mentioned that I should get a Whooping cough booster too but I haven't done that yet.

VeryBlessedMom

I had it one year, about 10 years ago, and wound up so sick in bed. I usually get one called Per winter and it is mild, so I never bothered with it again. I did not get one last year when I was pregnant or after I had her last October. Again, even with triplets, I'm not getting it. Just going to be careful. I ask before family functions if anyone has been sick..no one really is bothered by this because they know we can't get sick. Do what makes you feel comfortable.

iloveburritos

I don't usually get the flu shot (no anti-vaccination bias, I am just generally healthy and rarely around vulnerable populations) but I did this year. The flu can be incredibly hard on your body and you're already taxing it by carrying two children, even at 10 weeks. The risks of dehydration and other concomitant health issues with the flu are proven; health issues in babies of vaccinated mothers have not been. I also got the pertussis (DPT) vaccine. No adverse reaction on my part and the babies are still doing well so I am confident in my decisions.

cukimerrydoll

I would definitely recommend it. This was my first year getting one, because influenza can cause a lot of pregnancy complications. As for it making you sick, the flu shot does lower immune response to things like the cold virus that aren't harmful to the babies. That is why some people get sick, but if you take it easy for two weeks after you should be good to go. There are two main exceptions to getting the vaccine: egg allergies and Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

cukimerrydoll

@iloveburritos Good call on mentioning the pertussis vaccine too! We're doing it once we're in the 3rd Trimester, since this can be deadly in infants.

LucyRicardo3

The one year I did not get it -2009 (because I got too busy and kept procrastinating), I ended up with H1N1, at Christmas. Up until then DH never got one, and he caught it from a coworker and passed the crap on to me. I have never been so sick in my entire life. Thankfully, my older two didn't catch it because they'd had their shots.

When I was pregnant with my twins, it was really encouraged to do so by my MFM so the babies could get some of the benefits while in utero since it was the beginning of flu season and I was on hospital bedrest. (I think you're more likely to catch the Flu or other crud if you hang around any hospital long enough, IMHO.)

Some people have suggested to wait until second tri, but I don't know if that's true. This year, I got it at the beginning of October, when I was still in my second tri with this pregnancy and my OB was totally okay with it since my due date is still in Flu season, so little dude gets some of the protection.

badbridey

The first time I ever got the flu shot was with my first DD, I decided to go ahead and get it this time around as well.  My doc did recommend that I get the preservative-free flu shot. I think it's standard for pregnant women.  I've heard that getting the flu shot would also provide some protection for the babies once they're born, anyone know if that's true?

cukimerrydoll

badbridey said:

I've heard that getting the flu shot would also provide some protection for the babies once they're born, anyone know if that's true?

I'm not sure, but I think that's mostly true with shots in the 3rd Tri. That's why they want me to wait on pertussis, but it may be different for the flu shot.

zazu13

I have gotten mine every year, including this year when I was about 16 weeks.

legaleagles

I work with a lot of homeless people and am visiting inmates in the county jail occassionaly and homeless shelters - I get it every year since I can be exposed frequently due to my work. I got it his pregnancy and with DD. I'll also get the TDAP a little later on per my OB and MFM because they think some of the vaccine can really help newborns who can't get it yet, but at least here in CA, pertussis has had an increase (especially among newborns)

ntdane

Flu shots and pertussis vaccines for the whole family here - including those who will be visiting and staying to help with the babies. I've had a nasty case of the flu before and I would never want to go through that while pregnant. I've never had issues with flu shots, pregnant or not.

jennybean80

I work as an L&D nurse and have seen how sick pregnant women can get with the flu (including ICU admissions) I made sure to get it this year. I get it most years anyway because I do work in a hospital - so many sick people!!

Rynleigh

If you don't have any medical reasons to opt out of the vax (like an allergy or GBS), please get it. Also, please do some heavy research regarding what vaccines are, what they do, etc, before saying things like you don't "believe" in them... you may not "agree" with getting them based on what risks/efficacy/components/etc might be associated with the vaccine vs pathogens, but a vaccine isn't something you do or don't "believe" in. You are either ignorant of how they work, or educated about how they work, and once educated, you either agree with or disagree with using them. 

The flu vax is created to protect against three to four different types of flu, each year: A-H1N1, A-H3N2, and either one or two Influenza B strains. The build of the strains is predicted based on the historical evolution of each of those subtypes, they are not just random guesses. Each of these subtypes mutates every year, so predicting the most likely variant is important - but does not eliminate the chance that it might be slightly off. So, it is not 100% effective. However, even when a strain isn't "spot on", you still have improved resistance against similar strains of those subtypes - so, while you might get sick if you didn't develop full immunity against this year's strains, you will still be likely to have reduced symptoms and reduced duration of the flu when you do get it. When you get the actual flu and develop antibodies that way, it is similar to receiving the vax, in that you are now immune to the strain you contracted, and you have improved immunity against similar strains... it just cost you your comfort, possibly time off from work, some lost sleep, the spread of the illness to others you interact with, or - possibly - some very severe complications. Whereas, in a healthy adult with no medical contraindications, it costs you the whole of a co/payment (assuming you are not insured or are on a grandfathered plan, as all newer plans in the states are required to cover it with no cost-share as part of the AHCA preventative coverage), and some slight discomfort, to just get the vaccine..

Dena526

I am a teacher. Never got the flu vaccine before. I'm now 24 weeks with twin boys and haven't gotten the vaccine and don't think I will be getting it.

marcobonny

I would highly encourage you to do your own research on the flu vaccine. Everyone will obviously have their own opinion in what they think is "best" you'll feel better if you make the decision yourself. I've decided not to get the flu shot with this pregnancy and both my midwife and OB agree. The only consideration I would have is if I was around sick people (maybe a nurse or teacher like some PP's have mentioned).

KatieGummow

I got mine around 11 weeks or 14 weeks (I can't remember if it was before or after my NT Scan).  I think it was 11 weeks, and I was totally fine.  She almost shot me and I said, "this is the mercury free one, right?  I'm pregnant."  She said "Yes, but hold on, we have newer shots I would like to give you."  and came back with the right one

Tamarababy

Thanks for your info. I live in Canada and have a really good plan with my Teaching job so meds of most kids are covered with little to no cost. I was just afraid because of all the things I've heard from other family members and friends. That's where the "believe in" comment came from. With all the positive support for it on here I will be booking mine this weekend.

Tamarababy

Thanks for your info. I live in Canada and have a really good plan with my Teaching job so meds of most kids are covered with little to no cost. I was just afraid because of all the things I've heard from other family members and friends. That's where the "believe in" comment came from. With all the positive support for it on here I will be booking mine this weekend.

TheDairyQueenx3

ntdane said:

Flu shots and pertussis vaccines for the whole family here - including those who will be visiting and staying to help with the babies. I've had a nasty case of the flu before and I would never want to go through that while pregnant. I've never had issues with flu shots, pregnant or not.

Yup same here myself and all family got both shots. I never get it but this year I made sure too

katiebenes

I had the flu shot at 5 weeks pregnant. I had 0 complications my entire pregnancy. they were born 38w1d, at 6-1 and 6-11 oz. 

sushilover0214

I got it. I actually am just getting over a cold and that was bad. I can't imagine having the flu. On top of being worried about any fever, I know I would've been miserable than I was with just a cold.

Tamarababy

Thanks everyone!