Should our family get the flu shot with a new baby coming?

Happycouple · September 2011

Our pediatrician recommends DS, DH and myself getting the flu shot (I would wait until AFTER the baby is born). None of us regularly get the flu shot, but Im wondering if we should make an exception since DS is in pre-school and DS #2 will be born at the beginning of flu season. Someone else told me that anyone that will be around him on a regular basis (like grandparents) should also get the flu shot and the pertussis vaccine. Thoughts?

RoxBride · September 2011

I say yes. Newborns + the flu = very serious situation.

Happycouple · September 2011

RoxBride:

I say yes. Newborns + the flu = very serious situation.

Yeah--thats what i was thinking. I just know there is no way to guarantee your not going to get it--even with the flu shot. I just hate vaccines in general, but know some are certainly necessary. I also wonder what everyones thoughts are on a flu shot DURING pregnancy. I really would prefer to wait to get it after the baby is born

JamaicaMon! · September 2011

I've gotten the flu shot during both of my pregnancies. Both with DS and these babies, they were expected to be born during the peak of flu season. By me getting it while pg, I'm protecting them from getting it as newborns the best I can. Plus, I always felt that breastfeeding helped.

charmcitygirl · September 2011

Happycouple:
RoxBride:

I say yes. Newborns + the flu = very serious situation.

Yeah--thats what i was thinking. I just know there is no way to guarantee your not going to get it--even with the flu shot. I just hate vaccines in general, but know some are certainly necessary. I also wonder what everyones thoughts are on a flu shot DURING pregnancy. I really would prefer to wait to get it after the baby is born

I'm not sure what your reservations are on vaccines, but I would recommend getting the flu shot while you're pregnant. Your LO will be too little to get any kind of flu shot until well into (if not after) flu season. At least if you were to get it now, he might be able to get some of the antibodies from you.

I don't think its too much to ask grandparents to get the flu vaccine. They should be willing to do that. Besides, if they're older they should be getting it anyway. But I don't know that every visitor is going to be vaccinated. But if grandparents are going to be around him a lot, I would ask.

Happycouple · September 2011

charmcitygirl:
Happycouple:
RoxBride:

I say yes. Newborns + the flu = very serious situation.

Yeah--thats what i was thinking. I just know there is no way to guarantee your not going to get it--even with the flu shot. I just hate vaccines in general, but know some are certainly necessary. I also wonder what everyones thoughts are on a flu shot DURING pregnancy. I really would prefer to wait to get it after the baby is born

I'm not sure what your reservations are on vaccines, but I would recommend getting the flu shot while you're pregnant. Your LO will be too little to get any kind of flu shot until well into (if not after) flu season. At least if you were to get it now, he might be able to get some of the antibodies from you.
I don't think its too much to ask grandparents to get the flu vaccine. They should be willing to do that. Besides, if they're older they should be getting it anyway. But I don't know that every visitor is going to be vaccinated. But if grandparents are going to be around him a lot, I would ask.

I wouldnt really say I have strong 'reservations' against vaccines. My son has had all his vaccinations. I just prefer not to shoot myself and child up with more stuff, but I know that the benefit can far outweight the risk in certain cases. My OB has never mentioned getting vaccinated during PG and neither did the pediatrician..that is why i was going to hold off until after he is born. I plan on BFing so hopefully that will pass down some antibodies I also would never expect every visitor to be vaccinated nor do I expect that grandparents to get vaccinated. I just know that they will be around him the most other than DH and myself

DavezWife · September 2011

You can ask, but be prepared for those who refuse, or just pretend they did. Hand washing will help a TON, insist on it. (good old fashioned HAND WASHING)

Here's a link to a flu vax discussion I started last week. Basically, EVERYONE said get it. The only thing that comes to mind with YOU getting it, is do it now, so the baby has the immunity a bit when they get here.

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/58211868.aspx

. .

madybug · September 2011

My OB asked me a few times when i was pregnant if i had gotten a flu shot. I had gotten it the first time he asked (5 monthish) but he asked again to double check. i have an older child that does bring alot of stuff home from school so i definitly wanted it. i had asked my inlaws to get the pertussis vaccine since they travel alot and they see my BIL family who travel to california 2x a month. They didnt say no but never did it. I didnt keep them away only because they stayed in AZ til she was almost 4 months when spring ended. They werent against getting it, just too lazy to go do it.

madybug · September 2011

forgot to add that DH and older DD got flu and pertussis shots too.

dana316 · September 2011

absolutely...

ladychicago · September 2011

I have no concerns whatsoever about the flu shot while pg, and was all about getting it to protect myself and our January baby. Our pediatrician also strongly recommended the flu shot for Anna, especially with the new baby coming. DH will also get one.

I have yet to hear any compelling arguments against the flu shot, pregnant or not. The flu is some nasty business, and while it isn't a guarantee against getting the flu, it is a no brained precaution for us.

firsttogo · September 2011

I got it while pregnant with both Lincoln and Gwen who were born during our Flu season. You just should all not get the live vaccine (nose spray) and get the injection instead. Walgreens can do it for anyone two and up!

lrrb · September 2011

Yes Yes and YES get the flu shot.....for you AND your family its one less thing to worry about!

nicolita14w · September 2011

I would definitely do it.

TakYelgif · September 2011

Yes Fenton had the flu mist vaccine last week and DH and I will be getting the Flu and TDAP as soon as we can get in at our doctors office. You can also request the TDAP while you are in the hospital after giving birth.

Happycouple · September 2011

TakYelgif:

Yes Fenton had the flu mist vaccine last week and DH and I will be getting the Flu and TDAP as soon as we can get in at our doctors office. You can also request the TDAP while you are in the hospital after giving birth.

This is good to know. I was also wonderingi f they could do the flu shot in the hospital as well....

emmyloustu · September 2011

When I was pregnant with Eliza, it was the h1n1 outbreak & I did get the flu shot (thimiserol free) based on the advice of my midwives. I did not get the flu shot for Eliza last year because I dropped the ball. I also felt her risk was pretty low - I was still nursing & did get the vax myself. This year, I didn't get it while pg, just because it was still august, but I am getting it this week. Eliza had hers on Thursday. With her doing MDO & having a newborn, it was a no brained for me & I am kinda conservative about vaccines (delayed schedule, no more than one live vax per visit, etc...) My mom got the dtap last week because she comes into contact with 100s and 100s of people per week at her job. Dh & I will get that as soon as we find a new primary doc. Before having the girls, I never got a flu shot, now it's not a chance I want to take. O have a cold right now & am miserable enough & paranoid enough about them catching it. don't even want to think about then getting the flu!

queenbone · September 2011

I did the same thing last year with the flu & pertussis vaccines. I told my DH and mom to get them too. The pertussis one I couldn't get until I was in the hospital for my c/s. (They don't recommend it while you are pg.)

Anyway, for a week afterward my thigh was so sore & bruised and I thought it was from the dr. leaning on me during the c/s. Then it finally dawned on me that was were I got the pertussis shot. Ouch!

xtencornfield · September 2011

I agree that you and as many of your family you can convince to get it should. I just got mine on Saturday in hopes that I can pass some antibodies on to #2 before he gets here.

dusk42 · September 2011

wife07mom09:
there is also some anecdotal evidence that flu shots while pregnant may protect the newborn

Not anecdotal - this study was published in June (summarized in this article, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623085955.htm

And this study did not look at vaccinated women (just natural infection), but newborns have higher antibody concentrations because the antibodies are actively transported across the placenta.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19643662

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