Conflicted

Dolls2011 · January 2013

I don't know what to do. I opted to NOT get a flu shot this year since I am no longer working and not out and about as much as I used to be. Also, I was concerned that if I got it, I may end up sick anyway and that would defeat the purpose of getting it. I never got sick from it before but being pregnant does mess with your immune system so anything is possible.
But now I'm wondering if I should get it. I live in Massachusetts and they just declared a health emergency here because the number of flu cases has been off the charts. However, they're also saying that many of the people that are sick DID get the shot.
So, do I not get it and hope for the best or do I get it with the possibilty that I could end up with flu anyway??

Happy2BPregnant · January 2013

I got the flu shot when I first became pregnant. However, I know of some people who did get the shot and got the flu. You can't really predict what's going to happen. I'm sorry I wish I had an answer for you.

sucrets4 · January 2013

You can get a different strain of the flu than what's in the shot, that's true. But I've also heard that you will have milder symptoms if you get the shot.

As pp said, it's a personal decision. If I were you, I'd get it, but that doesn't mean you should if you don't want to.

Kimbie79 · January 2013

Dolls2011, I'm in the same boat. I second guessed myself and didn't get the flu shot. I'm so paranoid I'll get the flu now because I still have three weeks of work left and I commute on the skytrain. I want to get it as I've always gotten it but for some reason being pregnant is holding me back. I know there are so many good reasons to do it, but I worry about the effect it might have on my baby long after birth.

egb+jaf · January 2013

its def a personal decision, but i say get it. i was just reading about how bad it was in the boston mass area, and i see you are in massachusetts. it must be a local thing that's reporting many people that got the shot still getting the flu, but the national average is that about 75% of those infected didn't get the shot, and climbing.

however, when the flu is this bad and running rampant the way it is this year, there are FOR SURE going to be other strains going around that the shot doesn't cover, its pretty much inevitable. but getting the shot could potentially prevent you from getting the flu twice, as can happen when multiple strains are circulating. plus you will be giving your baby some of the only protection they can get right after they are born, the cdc only recommends the shot after 6mths. hope this makes your decision easier!

sucrets4 · January 2013

Kimbie79:
Dolls2011, I'm in the same boat. I second guessed myself and didn't get the flu shot. I'm so paranoid I'll get the flu now because I still have three weeks of work left and I commute on the skytrain. I want to get it as I've always gotten it but for some reason being pregnant is holding me back. I know there are so many good reasons to do it, but I worry about the effect it might have on my baby long after birth.

Like...?

7apodacn · January 2013

sucrets4:
You can get a different strain of the flu than what's in the shot, that's true. But I've also heard that you will have milder symptoms if you get the shot.
As pp said, it's a personal decision. If I were you, I'd get it, but that doesn't mean you should if you don't want to.

All of this.

Annabelle7 · January 2013

I'm in the same boat. One of the reasons I didn't get it is cause I've never had it before. Another reason was I was sick for 8 weeks with a head cold/ upper respitory thing and didn't want the shot to make me sick again. Third reason was that everyone that I talked to who got one, including my cousin whos a nurse in Boston and all her nurse friends, got sick from the shot this year. Right now I think I'm going to stick with my decision to not get one.

ninambutler · January 2013

Kimbie79:
Dolls2011, I'm in the same boat. I second guessed myself and didn't get the flu shot. I'm so paranoid I'll get the flu now because I still have three weeks of work left and I commute on the skytrain. I want to get it as I've always gotten it but for some reason being pregnant is holding me back. I know there are so many good reasons to do it, but I worry about the effect it might have on my baby long after birth.

What effect? There are literally no negative effects on the baby in the short or long term.

MSW_721 · January 2013

After reading how bad the flu has been this year, I'm so glad that I got the shot. I know it's not a guarantee that I won't get sick, but it at least has made me feel better that my chances of getting the flu are lower. Plus I think I read that infants are less likely to get the flu after they're born when their mother was vaccinated during pregnancy. Being due in March, there's still a good chance that the flu could still be going around and babies can't be vaccinated until they are 6 months.

dancy8657 · January 2013

Getting the flu shot also helps protect your baby for up to 6 months after birth! Since they can't get the actual shot until 6 months :

uctracy@yahoo.com · January 2013

If I were you, I would get it and I would make sure your husband gets it too. You don't want to get sick in March or April (which are prime flu months) and give it to your baby).

rm2013 · January 2013

uctracyyahoo.com:
If I were you, I would get it and I would make sure your husband gets it too. nbsp;You don't want to get sick in March or April which are prime flu months and give it to your baby.

This.

You are much more likely to get the flu without the shot. Could you dodge that bullet without the shot? Yeah theres a chance but why take the risk?

jglenn4 · January 2013

uctracy@yahoo.com:
If I were you, I would get it and I would make sure your husband gets it too. You don't want to get sick in March or April (which are prime flu months) and give it to your baby).

Really? I recall reading somewhere and seeing on the news that flu season is the end of Feb. Does it really stretch out until April?

thecarrotflower · January 2013

I haven't got the shot yet but DH and I plan on getting it. We both got H1N1 in September 2009, and were out for two almost three weeks. My vocal cords took 6 months to recover from all the coughing. I just can't imagine getting the flu myself and being the one to pass it on to my child. All that said, it is a very personal decision that you have to make for yourself.

ashleyl31 · January 2013

jglenn4:
uctracy@yahoo.com:
If I were you, I would get it and I would make sure your husband gets it too. You don't want to get sick in March or April (which are prime flu months) and give it to your baby).
Really? I recall reading somewhere and seeing on the news that flu season is the end of Feb. Does it really stretch out until April?

According to the CDC, it can last as late as May. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm

Renatcmu · January 2013

I got the flu shot and am glad i did. My DH had the flu and they say its much worse if you get it and are pregnant. Also, you are not endangering your baby you are protecting your baby. As others have stated, you pass your immunities to your child. Several flu deaths have been reported in my state (Michigan) and i would not want my child to contract the flu and have that possibility. Sorry not to freak you out, but its the truth. Its much better to get the vaccine than to get the disease. Good Luck to you and I really hope that you don't contract the flu!

candreco · January 2013

Honestly, I would get it. No, it doesn't guarantee that you won't get sick, but it will lessen the symptoms if you do. And yes, your immune system is different when you're pregnant, which is why it's important to get the flu shot, the flu shot does NOT make you sick, pregnant or not. With the flu being so widespread and severe this year, it's especially worth it. Having the flu when pregnant can end really badly, if there's something you can do to prevent or lessen its impact, then why wouldn't you?

cojourney24 · January 2013

candreco:
Honestly, I would get it. No, it doesn't guarantee that you won't get sick, but it will lessen the symptoms if you do. And yes, your immune system is different when you're pregnant, which is why it's important to get the flu shot, the flu shot does NOT make you sick, pregnant or not. With the flu being so widespread and severe this year, it's especially worth it. Having the flu when pregnant can end really badly, if there's something you can do to prevent or lessen its impact, then why wouldn't you?

Driving in your car can end badly, too. In fact, the risk of having a terrible outcome in a car accident is probably a higher than having one from the flu. But you probably still driving in a car everyday.

You cannot pass the flu to your unborn child. And you do not pass antibodies developed to an unborn baby. It was only 2 years ago that the CDC said pregnant women should NOT get the flu shot. There have been no studies done on long term health effects (or short term) - benefits or risks - to a fetus of a mother who received the vaccine.

jamiedsgirl · January 2013

I am normally totally rational about these kind of things. In fact, I just got my tdap last week. However, I've only gotten a flu shot twice in my life. Once when I was younger, and then soon after, I got incredibly sick for about a month. No idea if it was related. Probably not, but who knows. Second time, I was pregnant with DS#1. I was fine. However, after DS got his flu shots for the first time (there were two boosters done), he developed a seizure-like condition. The timing coincided exactly with the timing of the shots. We saw a neurologist, were hospitalized, MRI, the whole works. Luckily it was determined that it wasn't seizures and the condition eventually went away on its own. Again, no idea if it was related to the flu shots. But that experience made my normally rational mind think very irrationally because I wouldn't want to go through that again with DS#2. So I am conflicted. I will probably end up getting the shot if Target has any left.

Dolls2011 · January 2013

Still conflicted but I appreciate all the responses. I'm well aware that only I can make the ultimate decision but it helps to hear from other people. Have an appointment tomorrow with my OB so my plan is to make a decision by then.

Mmm79 · January 2013

I agree that the reports have been conflicting (I also live in Massachusetts). On the one hand, they're telling you to get a flu shot, but on the other they're reporting that several of the sick people did get their flu shots. Full disclosure, I got mine as I do every year (they offer them free at work).

I personally have never gotten sick from the flu shot and I believe that is because it is a "dead" strain of the virus (versus the nasal spray which uses a "live" strain). I think that if you come in contact with a flu germ that is so strong (or different) that you'll get it even if you have the shot, chances are you'd get it without the shot too- so either way, you're sick with the flu. But if you get the shot, you at least have a chance of not getting a the flu even if you come into contact with the flu germs.

candreco · January 2013

cojourney24:

candreco:
Honestly, I would get it. No, it doesn't guarantee that you won't get sick, but it will lessen the symptoms if you do. And yes, your immune system is different when you're pregnant, which is why it's important to get the flu shot, the flu shot does NOT make you sick, pregnant or not. With the flu being so widespread and severe this year, it's especially worth it. Having the flu when pregnant can end really badly, if there's something you can do to prevent or lessen its impact, then why wouldn't you?

Driving in your car can end badly, too. In fact, the risk of having a terrible outcome in a car accident is probably a higher than having one from the flu. But you probably still driving in a car everyday.

You cannot pass the flu to your unborn child. And you do not pass antibodies developed to an unborn baby. It was only 2 years ago that the CDC said pregnant women should NOT get the flu shot. There have been no studies done on long term health effects (or short term) - benefits or risks - to a fetus of a mother who received the vaccine.

Confused

It's also a lot more practical to get a flu shot than to not get in a car. Of course bad things can happen in any circumstances, you reduce the risk where you can and accept it where you can't.

And yes to the flu and antibodies not being passed to an unborn child, though if you BF, the antibodies will be passed to the baby that way, and if you have the flu after giving birth, obviously the baby will be exposed as well.

mcooper014 · January 2013

You shouldn't get sick from the flu shot if it doesn't contain the active virus. I've never had a flu shot in my life or the flu but I got one this year and I had no side affects except a sore arm.

Dolls2011 · January 2013

Just an update... Had an appt this morning with my OB and after much discussion decided to get a flu shot. Thanks for all the opinions!

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