Flu Shot- Should I get it?

Lebee2512 · November 2011

Hi , I'm 32 weeks and my dr. told me 3 weeks ago to get flu shot ( the mercury free one) but I'm still contemplating. I'm not sure if I should. Did anybody get it? and please give me some pros and cons or any opinions about it. thanks!!!

iluvmylab · November 2011

Yes, there's really not much to contemplate IMO. I got one right away. The pros? You are less likely to get the flu and put yourself and your baby in danger. You pass on those antibodies to your baby as well. The cons? You get stuck with a needle.

Honestly, if your doctor told you to do it, DO IT.

kthappy76 · November 2011

PP summed it up, but another benefit is that baby can't get their own until 6 mos, but getting one while you are pg offers them some protection for their first mos (the antibodies mentioned). It was a no brainer for me.

capulet · November 2011

iluvmylab:
Yes, there's really not much to contemplate IMO. I got one right away. The pros? You are less likely to get the flu and put yourself and your baby in danger. You pass on those antibodies to your baby as well. The cons? You get stuck with a needle.

Honestly, if your doctor told you to do it, DO IT.

All this. My OB practice has flu clinics, which is where I got mine, so I had no reason to worry if it was safe for pregnancy. It hurt for a couple of days to sleep on the side where I got the shot, but whatever, no biggie.

Lebee2512 · November 2011

Thanks, I probably will do it this week

did you get sick after the shot?

PhysChic7685 · November 2011

Agree with all others. It's totally worth it. Mine itched like a bad bug bite for about a week, but I was otherwise good. My husband had no reaction whatsoever. It'll all depend, but it's better than risking your baby getting the flu shortly after he/she is born.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

iluvmylab:
Yes, there's really not much to contemplate IMO. I got one right away. The pros? You are less likely to get the flu and put yourself and your baby in danger. You pass on those antibodies to your baby as well. The cons? You get stuck with a needle.

Honestly, if your doctor told you to do it, DO IT.

I agree with this. I don't normally get one, but both pregnancies have been during flu season and I'm not willing to risk it. If you get the flu when pregnant it can be so much worse if you haven't had the vaccine.

MesmrEwe · November 2011

It's a personal decision that you need to make for yourself. Some people will uptalk the benefits yet at the same time, there are side effects that can be worse than if you got the actual flu along with your actual chances of getting those particular strains of the flu are relatively minimal considering how many types of "flu" there are out there. Other than on this board, pretty much everyone I know (especially one of the family blood lines that is prone to allergies/asthma/etc.) all have had more severe reactions to something in the shot than if they had just gotten the flu for how many days of work and follow up doctor trips they needed to take. My Dad is still recovering from his three weeks ago! (and he's the type of guy who would normally work through ANYthing - this hits him every year he gets the flu shot at the VA).. Because of that, there is no way on earth I will ever get the flu shot.

Qmommy · November 2011

Yes! I wont repeat what others have said because they summed it up well. To answer your other question. No, I didn't get sick. You are not given a live virus therefore you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Some say they got flu like symptoms though but it's pretty mild comparatively to the flu.

b.heather · November 2011

Yes you should. The use an inactivated virus for the flu shot for pregnant women. You can't get sick from it. However, there can be complications for your baby if you don't get the shot and end up with the flu.

MrsG.060708 · November 2011

Lebee2512:

Thanks, I probably will do it this week

did you get sick after the shot?

You cannot get sick from it. It's an inactivated/dead virus.

I got my flu shot about a month before DD2 was born, and have made sure everyone around us has received theirs too (DH, DD1, grandparents, etc).

TheBrowns · November 2011

Just to voice another opinion - my dr. also told me to get the flu shot, and I did because I don't want to get the flu this year with 3 kids. I had a horrible allergic reaction to it - throat and chest swelled up, hard to breathe, eyes looked like I had pink eye, etc. I have heard there has been a lot of reactions to this years shot. Anyways, you will probably be fine, but any immunization has the potential of negative effects.

jenafr · November 2011

I've never enjoyed the idea of getting one because in the past the experience hasn't been that great, but my doctor recommended I get one so I did. It did not hurt, nor did I get sick and am happy I did. She also recommended my hubby get one and anyone who would be watching the baby, like my parents, to get one. My husband got one as well, but my parents have not...yet. ;-)

authorofdreamz · November 2011

MrsG.060708:
Lebee2512:

Thanks, I probably will do it this week

did you get sick after the shot?

You cannot get sick from it. It's an inactivated/dead virus.

You can't get the FLU from it but that doesn't mean you can't get SICK. Sick does not mean flu. Anytime you get a vaccine it lowers your immune system for the first few days making you more at risk for any other illness you may be exposed to. My grandma is the only person I know IRL who would get a flu shot and every year right after she would get a cold that would turn into pneumonia.

Lebee2512 · November 2011

Thanks guys for all answers and info. It's very helpful. My husband already got the shot and he's fine no side effect. I hope there'll be no side effect on the baby. This is our first baby and we tried for 8 years, so I need to be very careful!!

Thanks again, hope you all have heathy pregnancy :-)

laurakaz13 · November 2011

Of course you should get it.

JLS0320 · November 2011

I got my 1st flu shot 2 wks ago, never felt the need to get one before but it is important while preg and for baby that you get one. I had a headache and a sore arm the next day, no big deal

TimeRacer · November 2011

I never bothered getting one before this year because I've always been in one of the absolutely lowest risk categories. This year both DH and I got one because of the baby. My mom's job requires her to get one annually, so she and my dad were already covered.

As far as reactions go, I was sore for a couple of hours. I had no reaction otherwise. DH on the other hand is a big baby and whined about the spot hurting for days afterwards.

lana22 · November 2011

got it a few weeks ago at my ob/gyn's suggestion. arm was sore for a day, no big deal.

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