Are you getting the flu shot?

giggles0918 · October 2011

So I went to the doctor today b/c they won't let you make an OB appt until you take their pregnancy tests. Not sure why but they gave me a book and ready material.

They recommended getting a flu shot. I've never gotten one and really not interested in it. But if it's best to get it I guess I probably will. What are planning on doing? Getting the flu shot or not? Thoughts?

unstuck6jb · October 2011

I actually went ahead and got mine last month when I knew I was TTC. I only started getting them last year and I haven't had any problems with them. With being pregnant, I just don't want to take any chances! Plus, if you get it now, it also protects the baby for the first few months of their life too which is an added bonus since babies can't get the flu shot on their own!

giggles0918 · October 2011

unstuck6jb:
I actually went ahead and got mine last month when I knew I was TTC. I only started getting them last year and I haven't had any problems with them. With being pregnant, I just don't want to take any chances! Plus, if you get it now, it also protects the baby for the first few months of their life too which is an added bonus since babies can't get the flu shot on their own!

I didn't know that! Thanks.

miblue · October 2011

unstuck6jb:
I actually went ahead and got mine last month when I knew I was TTC. I only started getting them last year and I haven't had any problems with them. With being pregnant, I just don't want to take any chances! Plus, if you get it now, it also protects the baby for the first few months of their life too which is an added bonus since babies can't get the flu shot on their own!

I think since you got your shot before you got pregnant, your baby most likely will not get antibodies from the shot. If you receive the shot while pregnant though, it may.

Here's an article with more info about why it's good to get one: https://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-get-a-flu-shot-when-im-pregnant_2488.bc

Katie829 · October 2011

I work in a hospital and I am required to get the flu shot. I got mine the day before my BFP.

EMOmamma · October 2011

Yes. I got it last time too. I assume they'll give it to me at my appointment later this month.

SugarhillHnA · October 2011

I will be. My work gives them out for free, but they won't give them to you if pregnant, so I'll be asking my OB for one.

joleine · October 2011

SugarhillHnA:
I will be. My work gives them out for free, but they won't give them to you if pregnant, so I'll be asking my OB for one.

Why won't they give them to you if you're pregnant? Pregnant women need them too!

joleine · October 2011

I didn't want to get one when I was pregnant with DD, but my OB was insistent. In fact it was pretty much the only thing he told me wasn't an option when it came to my care.. So I got both the regular and swine flu shot and had no issues, so I got t again last year and will again this year

Tinmc17 · October 2011

Well first I would like to start off by saying that this is my personal opinion, which is formed using research that I have completed myself. I would not do any sort of vaccination while I was carrying or nursing my baby. These Vaccines may be safe for adults, but these shots are in no way tested or proved to be safe to your developing baby. So rather then do some thing potentially damaging I would rather deal with the flu naturally. Doing this will also provide your baby with natural non harmful anti-bodies that are manufactured by you, what could be better?

joleine · October 2011

Tinmc17:
Well first I would like to start off by saying that this is my personal opinion, which is formed using research that I have completed myself. I would not do any sort of vaccination while I was carrying or nursing my baby. These Vaccines may be safe for adults, but these shots are in no way tested or proved to be safe to your developing baby. So rather then do some thing potentially damaging I would rather deal with the flu naturally. Doing this will also provide your baby with natural non harmful anti-bodies that are manufactured by you, what could be better?

Do you have any links to back up your theory that states these shots haven't been proven to be safe?

Because the CDC and every medical professional I've ever spoken to (even the naturopaths I know personally) state that the flu shot is perfectly fine for a pregnant woman and her baby.

sweetie6609 · October 2011

joleine:

Tinmc17:
Well first I would like to start off by saying that this is my personal opinion, which is formed using research that I have completed myself. I would not do any sort of vaccination while I was carrying or nursing my baby. These Vaccines may be safe for adults, but these shots are in no way tested or proved to be safe to your developing baby. So rather then do some thing potentially damaging I would rather deal with the flu naturally. Doing this will also provide your baby with natural non harmful anti-bodies that are manufactured by you, what could be better?

Do you have any links to back up your theory that states these shots haven't been proven to be safe?

Because the CDC and every medical professional I've ever spoken to (even the naturopaths I know personally) state that the flu shot is perfectly fine for a pregnant woman and her baby.

Ditto this. It's perfectly fine for pregnant women to get the flu shot & it is highly recommended!

misthang_1 · October 2011

I will definitely be getting the flu shot. I got one last year when I was pregnant with DS and had no problems.

OO cupcakes OO · October 2011

I plan to get one. The medicine you're allowed to take is limited while pg and you already feel kinda crappy so the last thing you need on top of that is the flu. I had one last year and I felt fantastic! Never got sick! It was great. I don't know why I never got one before.

GracieBlue · October 2011

I have only gotten a flu shot once before (my Dr. strong armed me into it). I am just one of those freaks who rarely gets sick so I never saw a point to it. If my ob recommends it I definitly will.

MrsL1022 · October 2011

I am going to wait until my first appointment but I will definitely get one. I got one with my last pregnancy as well. I also now have a preschooler so he brings home more germs. The baby will also be too young to get one so as the pp said the baby will have some protection for a few months.

ETA: The worst (ok one of) thing that could happen while pg is for you to get a high fever while pg. My OB was adamant last time that I get it and I didn't get sick at all which is great b/c the meds you can take that will actually help you are few and far between while pg. That is just my $0.02.

SarahZ24 · October 2011

SugarhillHnA:
I will be. My work gives them out for free, but they won't give them to you if pregnant, so I'll be asking my OB for one.

Yeah I drove all the way to my husband's work on Monday to get one and then when I told them I was pg they said they couldn't give them to pg women this year, though they have always in the past. So I will probably just get one at my doctor's appt next week. My doctor said I need one, so I trust her. Plus I work with kids, and we know what kind of germ-factories they are.

harleyjo · October 2011

Already got my influenza vaccine, next up is one for Easton.

Tinmc17:
Well first I would like to start off by saying that this is my personal opinion, which is formed using research that I have completed myself. I would not do any sort of vaccination while I was carrying or nursing my baby. These Vaccines may be safe for adults, but these shots are in no way tested or proved to be safe to your developing baby. So rather then do some thing potentially damaging I would rather deal with the flu naturally. Doing this will also provide your baby with natural non harmful anti-bodies that are manufactured by you, what could be better?

I'm sorry, I think you better do some more research. Pregnant women are at higher risk of being severely affected by Influenza than the general population. I'm an adult ICU RN, and every fall/winter our ICU is full of otherwise healthy adults and pregnant women on ventilators due to Influenza.

MissButters · October 2011

I'm still deciding and will see what the doctors says at my appointment next week (I usually do get one every year). My only concern is why Fluvirin (the flu shot) is classified as a pregnancy category C drug. (I know Fluvirin is only one of the flu shots out there, but the information was the same for Fluzone.)

From the Fluvirin (2011-2012) information:

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with FLUVIRIN?. It is also not known whether FLUVIRIN? can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. FLUVIRIN? should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

A link to the PDF file of the prescibing information for Fluvirin:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CD4QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fda.gov%2Fdownloads%2FBiologicsBloodVaccines%2FVaccines%2FApprovedProducts%2Fucm123694.pdf&rct=j&q=fluvirin%20pregnancy%20category&ei=XViMTonNGaPb0QHR5cz2BA&usg=AFQjCNEV4c_mgiCLrigxhTCTw4-PuGbbow&cad=rja

AshleyT121 · October 2011

This is on my list of things to talk with my mid-wife about at my first appointment next week. I'll see what her thoughts are and then make my decision from there. I don't normally get one, but I hear it's highly recommended for pg women, so we'll see.

joleine · October 2011

MissButters:
I'm still deciding and will see what the doctors says at my appointment next week (I usually do get one every year). My only concern is why Fluvirin (the flu shot) is classified as a pregnancy category C drug. (I know Fluvirin is only one of the flu shots out there, but the information was the same for Fluzone.)
From the Fluvirin (2011-2012) information:

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with FLUVIRIN?. It is also not known whether FLUVIRIN? can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. FLUVIRIN? should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
A link to the PDF file of the prescibing information for Fluvirin:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CD4QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fda.gov%2Fdownloads%2FBiologicsBloodVaccines%2FVaccines%2FApprovedProducts%2Fucm123694.pdf&rct=j&q=fluvirin%20pregnancy%20category&ei=XViMTonNGaPb0QHR5cz2BA&usg=AFQjCNEV4c_mgiCLrigxhTCTw4-PuGbbow&cad=rja

It's classified as category C because they have not done any testing on pregnant women. Almost all prescription drugs are classified category C.

The vaccine is perfectly safe. Heck, I had to take a 10 day course of Tamiflu when I was pregnant because my husband tested positive for swine flu!

JennP03 · October 2011

The truth is there have been no clinical trials done to prove whether of not the flu vaccine helps to prevent influenza or not. It states this in the packaging for the vaccine. Most doctors would rather give it to you than not even though there is no proof that it works.

It's your choice and you should do the research and decide what's right for you.

aliloulou · October 2011

I am required by my work to get one this year (not just optional anymore). So I will get one but I will make sure it's the preservative free one. That's why I did last year when I was pregnant with #1.

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