Flu Shots?

bfranke · August 2011

I am a teacher and don't usually get flu shots because the one year I did I got so sick! I didn't get a chance to ask my OB if I should get a shot now that I am pregnant and it is being offered to me before I speak with her again. What are your thoughts on getting the flu shot while pregnant?

McGibbon51311 · August 2011

I think it's up to you. I don't think they can force you to get one if you don't want it. I refuse to get them, there is no science behind the vaccination. Each year they guess as to which strains of the flu will prevalent, and include those in the vaccination. The thing is, with thousands of different strains they're hardly ever right. I know some people swear by them, but in my personal opinion, I don't. I know my uncles wife was urged by her OB to get one when she was pregnant last year and she told me she absolutely regretted it.

jayleigh68 · August 2011

I will not be getting it. I have never had one before and they have always seemed unnecessary to me.

heatheroo · August 2011

My OB strongly, highly, emphatically recommends pregnant patients get one. They say this with as much emphasis as they can and then say, "Of course, it's up to you. BUT you really should..."

I am planning on getting one. I haven't had one in a few years, but every time I've had one in the past, I've had no adverse reactions to it.

JennPierog · August 2011

All pregnant women should get the flu shot. You don't "get sick" from the flu shot it may make you feel lousy for a day but all vaccinces will do that. Take Tylenol before and mabye that will help. Trust me the benefit out ways the sore arm And lousy feeling.

kmiller1012 · August 2011

Last time both my OB and the Pedi recommended getting one. Your immune system weakened by the pregnancy so you are protecting yourself and the Pedi wanted me to get it b/c you are also passing it to the fetus. So your LO's immune system is better when they are born and more likely not to get the flu!

526SadieSadie · August 2011

My mom got a flu shot 5 or 6 years ago and had a nasty reaction to it, she got sick and her arm swelled up. The doctor told her she shouldn't get them anymore because the reaction would be worse every time, the doctor also advised me against getting them because I will most likely have an adverse reaction too.

Its on my llist of questions for the nurse when we meet tomorrow.

Alliebooberz · August 2011

McGibbon51311:
I think it's up to you. I don't think they can force you to get one if you don't want it. I refuse to get them, there is no science behind the vaccination. Each year they guess as to which strains of the flu will prevalent, and include those in the vaccination. The thing is, with thousands of different strains they're hardly ever right. I know some people swear by them, but in my personal opinion, I don't. I know my uncles wife was urged by her OB to get one when she was pregnant last year and she told me she absolutely regretted it.

This is how I feel about them. Some people are die hard flu shot people. I have never gotten one and I'm definitely not getting my first one now that I'm pregnant. The shots are new each year and there are absolutely no long term effect studies since it's new each year.

Alliebooberz · August 2011

McGibbon51311:
I think it's up to you. I don't think they can force you to get one if you don't want it. I refuse to get them, there is no science behind the vaccination. Each year they guess as to which strains of the flu will prevalent, and include those in the vaccination. The thing is, with thousands of different strains they're hardly ever right. I know some people swear by them, but in my personal opinion, I don't. I know my uncles wife was urged by her OB to get one when she was pregnant last year and she told me she absolutely regretted it.

This is how I feel about them. Some people are die hard flu shot people. I have never gotten one and I'm definitely not getting my first one now that I'm pregnant. The shots are new each year and there are absolutely no long term effect studies since it's new each year.

salt78 · August 2011

I've never gotten a flu shot before and depending on my doctor's recommendation I will get one this year because of the pregnancy. Then I will go back to not getting them anymore.

Nel11 · August 2011

This is hard for me. I'm a teacher and I never get a flu shot, and have never gotten the flu. However, this year I will probably get one. I meant to talk to my OB about it this morning and forgot, so I will put a call in to the nurse this week.

LilyPotter218 · August 2011

I have never gotten one and as one PP said, the science behind it is kind of a shot in the dark. There are new strains out yearly and you may end up with it anyway.

I work in an office with 6 people. I have never gotten the flu. MH has never gotten the flu, and also works in a very small office. I think if either of us worked around a lot of people or with kids I may feel differently...

That being said, if my OB can tell me why, and give solid enough evidence, Ill get one. Shots and needles don't bother me, so it's not that. I just do not, and never have understood putting a virus into my body that may just make me sick and do nothing b/c the flu strain in my area is totally new this year.

lawright · August 2011

It's highly recommended that pregnant women take the flu shot. The flu vaccine administered as a nasal spray is NOT recommended. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm

That said, talk to your doctor and pharmacist to attempt to determine WHY you got sick after receiving the flu vaccine that one year. Note that there's both a shot and a spray. The spray uses a live culture and is thus the only delivery method that can cause the flu in individuals with weakened immune systems. Typically, this is anybody under the age of 2 or over the age of 50, but can theoretically apply to anybody who has a temporarily suppressed immune system. The shot uses a dead culture and cannot cause the flu in the recipient. Because there are so many different strains of flu virus, the vaccine itself is largely based off of the most commonly spread strains at the time of production - which means you can still get the flu even after getting a flu vaccine. In addition, it's common for the vaccine to include egg and/or gluten products as well as various preservatives which can all cause allergic reactions. You should talk to your doctor if you believe that your illness may have been caused by an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Lastly, if you received it at the same time as other vaccines, your illness may have been caused by the other vaccine. In particular, the TDAP Tetanus/whooping cough booster causes flu-like symptoms in 10% of adult recipients and 30% of adolescent recipients.

diabeticmom · August 2011

I'm diabetic so it's highly recommended for me to get one every year and now especially so since I'm pregant. I personnally see nothing wrong with them. If it makes it so that i have less chance of spending my time throwing up into a toilet, I'm defintely going to take it.

LizzyBlueEyes · August 2011

I am a teacher also and have never gotten a flu shot. But last year, I did get the flu (its was awful) and DH never got it from me because he did get the flu shot. I know many people who didn't feel well after getting it, or got a cold-so I am weary of getting it, but I know my DR is insisting that I get it.

bingham101 · August 2011

My DR highly advised (she actually said we want you and everyone in your house to get the flu shot). So I will be getting mine there. DH will have to go somewhere else and get his. For normal healthy people its not really a necessity, but for the elderly and children the flu can be deadly.

mcp · August 2011

My OB strongly recommends that all pregnant women, regardless of what trimester they're in, get the flu shot. If you get the flu your baby is very vulnerable. Plus pregnant women have compromised immune systems and are more likely to get the flu. For these reasons I'll be getting the flu shot.

4-Ever-Young · August 2011

I get it every year (including when I pregnant with DD). I got the flu once and would prefer never to get it again. Especially while pregnant.

Also, I have 2 close friends that have severe asthma who I spend a lot of time with. I would feel horrible if I gave the flu to them. I know the chances of that aren't great, but it feels like the right decisions for me.

TheMutleys · August 2011

It is highly recommended at my OB's practice. I got it last time, even though it was late in the season (January.) I will be getting it in early October this time around.

raceyrae · August 2011

I have gotten the flu shot with both my previous pg and will so again this time once I'm out of the 1st trimester.

Contrary to what was said above, there is extensive research conducted on what goes into a flu shot yearly, not to mention the research is carried over from year to year. (My husband works in drug design at a pharmaceutical company. What goes into flu shots is not taken lightly, nor is recommending that pg woman get them).

ktekne · August 2011

My OB said I needed to get it along with DH and DD. I got it when pregnant with DD and I was fine.

Since you're a teacher, I would get it.

orchid8301 · August 2011

I have severe asthma and am always urged to get one but never do. I have only got the flu once in my life and it was horrible. I will probably not get one this year either.

Kristinmo · August 2011

diabeticmom:
I'm diabetic so it's highly recommended for me to get one every year and now especially so since I'm pregant. I personnally see nothing wrong with them. If it makes it so that i have less chance of spending my time throwing up into a toilet, I'm defintely going to take it.

Just to clarify, the flu shot does not prevent stomach viruses. It prevents influenza, the flu with aches and high fevers.

I will get it because we are all now in the at-risk group this year.

BitsKD13 · August 2011

JennPierog:
All pregnant women should get the flu shot. You don't "get sick" from the flu shot it may make you feel lousy for a day but all vaccinces will do that. Take Tylenol before and mabye that will help. Trust me the benefit out ways the sore arm And lousy feeling.

See I do get sick from the flu shot. Everytime I have had a flu shot I either develope cold or flu symptoms with in 3 days. And it lasts for a week and requires meds. None of the other vacs I've had made me feel sick. Hell the only down side to my rabies and Hep B vacs was my friend squeezing my arm in the same spot as the injection site (he did it twice and it hurt like hell, I almost killed him). So unless my OB says I have to I'm avoiding it.

heatheroo · August 2011

mcp:
My OB strongly recommends that all pregnant women, regardless of what trimester they're in, get the flu shot. If you get the flu your baby is very vulnerable. Plus pregnant women have compromised immune systems and are more likely to get the flu. For these reasons I'll be getting the flu shot.

My OB's nurse told me that last flu season several of their patients got the flu, & because your immune system is already weakened when you're pregnant, many of them were hospitalized. She said one person was in the hospital for a few weeks because of complications related to it.

Angel002 · August 2011

I didn't get it last year and I had lo in November, we had one of the coldest winters and I had him around church and my 9 yr old's school and classmates and he has never been sick (he's 9 months now). I guess it just depends on what you feel comfortable with.

Angel002 · August 2011

Angel002:

I didn't get it last year and I had lo in November, we had one of the coldest winters and I had him around church and my 9 yr old's school and classmates and he has never been sick (he's 9 months now). I guess it just depends on what you feel comfortable with.

ETA: Also, I don't think my dr even asked me but he knew how I felt about taking meds if it wasn't absolutely necessary and that we didn't want any vaccines given in the hospital for our newborn so he probably knew I'd say no. I've been going to him for 9 yrs.

lulling · August 2011

I have never had a flu shot. I also have never had the flu. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. No shots for me!

kmiller1012 · August 2011

Angel002:
Angel002:

I didn't get it last year and I had lo in November, we had one of the coldest winters and I had him around church and my 9 yr old's school and classmates and he has never been sick (he's 9 months now). I guess it just depends on what you feel comfortable with.

ETA: Also, I don't think my dr even asked me but he knew how I felt about taking meds if it wasn't absolutely necessary and that we didn't want any vaccines given in the hospital for our newborn so he probably knew I'd say no. I've been going to him for 9 yrs.

They won't give them to newborns. Thats why my pedi said for me to get it, so my LO would have the same benefits. I had DS in Dec and he never got sick.

RaeJ004 · August 2011

BitsKD13:

JennPierog:
All pregnant women should get the flu shot. You don't "get sick" from the flu shot it may make you feel lousy for a day but all vaccinces will do that. Take Tylenol before and mabye that will help. Trust me the benefit out ways the sore arm And lousy feeling.

See I do get sick from the flu shot. Everytime I have had a flu shot I either develope cold or flu symptoms with in 3 days. And it lasts for a week and requires meds. None of the other vacs I've had made me feel sick. Hell the only down side to my rabies and Hep B vacs was my friend squeezing my arm in the same spot as the injection site (he did it twice and it hurt like hell, I almost killed him). So unless my OB says I have to I'm avoiding it.

This. I've had the flu shot 3 times, and each time got ridiculously sick. My doctor knows this so he advised me against getting it. My mom and both sisters have the same issue.

LauraSmarterSpam · August 2011

My OB recommends it. Apparently being pregnant can make you more susceptible to catching the flu, and can turn into pneumonia, cause pre-term labor or miscarriage. Knowing that kind of scared me.

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CplusJ=S · August 2011

I will definitely be getting the flu shot this year. I have never received the shot before, but I've had the flu the past 2 years and it was awful. I can't imagine having it while pregnant. I need to be extra careful this year since I work with preschoolers.

FinallyMrsBMW · August 2011

My OB recommends that all her pregnant patients get it. It will also protect your baby once the baby is here.

I have gotten a flu shot every year and last year I got the flu really really badly. I was on the couch for three solid days and my grandma ended up in the hospital with it. It was a different strain. So even though it may protect you from the most common strains, it doesn't protect you from all. I'm sure that one of my kindergarteners gave it to me...haha!

books4brooke · August 2011

I know I'm late to this but just wanted to add my thoughts.

I won't be getting the flu shot. I got it after my son was born, and I have had an issue with mercury ever since. Some of my lyme symptoms were made worse because of it, and I've had to do a heavy metal detox (this is not quackery for those who are skeptical of my story - I've been tested and had a dramatic improvement of my symptoms which can not be explained by placebo for various, complicated reasons). It's kind of scary because I believe that under normal circumstances it would be a good thing to do, but I am now really freaked out by the flu shot. The trouble with vaccines is that the risk of something adverse is really low, but if you are one of those people it's awful, and you don't know if you are going to be that person until after you get a shot.

adam+katie · August 2011

I am also a teacher. I got one during my first pregnancy, both a regular shot, and the swine flu shot. It was during the height of the swine flu scare, and I was freaked out! I don't think I ever had a flu shot before that.

I will probably get one again this year.

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