Can we talk about the flu shot??

Danielle0311 · September 2014

Good morning ladies!

So the doctor told me since I am delivering in flu season that I should get a flu shot. I have never gotten the flu shot or had the flu before but I know I am more likely to get it during pregnancy so I was expecting needing it. However, my doctor knows I'm a little crazy and I read everything and ask tons of questions so he told me "before you read it I will tell you there is a controversy about babies getting autism from vaccines during pregnancy or when the baby is an infant but you really need to get the flu shot and I don't believe that to be true" ummmmm okay so now I'm just a little nervous ?? Anyone know anything about this? And what are your thoughts on the flu shot while pregnant? I hope I'm not asking a stupid question I just honestly know nothing about it since I have never considered getting one....

E&B0811 · September 2014

The doctor that hypothesized that vaccines cause autism has since been stripped of his medical license and no longer allowed to practice. It turned out that his studies were total frauds and there was no link found. That said, there remains a controversy at least in part because of the extended time his "theory" remained in the news as potentially "good science". Every professional I have talked to has assured me that the vaccine is safe.

I am getting the vaccine.

LaRomana09 · September 2014

All of what E&B said. Also, the preservative that supposedly caused autism (again, no link has been found) is thimerosol and I believe that the preservative free version you get when pregnant does not even contain it...something you can ask about if you are really worried.

christia10 · September 2014

I have never gotten the flu shot either and I am a teacher professionally. My doctors office also recommends them. It is the first time I am considering it even. I am a special education teacher though and I am very cautious of vaccines. I don't really want to open that can of worms though...(Lord only knows). Anyway I probably won't get one...which is my personal choice. If my DH brings it up I will really consider it but I am just not a "vaccine" advocate/person. If you want to know my reasoning and you PM me I will share but this is one of those subjects I tread lightly on because most people have already formed such strong opinions.

Mel&John2013 · September 2014

I'll be getting the flu shot. I'd be willing to guess this is the case for anyone who's spent time in a children's hospital, where unfortunately you see what sort of damage the flu can do. I understand the uncertainty of "someone said this might maybe affect my baby" but I go with the definite. The flu definitely hurts babies.

HorseLover11 · September 2014

I am also one who never gets the flu shot and I know that's very controversial - I think you need to do what you feel is best for you and your family and go with your gut.

rox825 · September 2014

Ditto PPs- if you get it, request the thimerosal free flu vaccine (ask your dr for preservative free). There is no valid scientific evidence of a link between vaccines and autism. However, the risk of you or your newborn contracting the flu and ending up in the hospital with serious complications is real. Per CDC, on average 20,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized with the flu every year. Your baby's only protection will be from you if you get the vaccine during pregnancy.

Disclaimer: I'm not a health care professional so am in no place to flat-out tell someone to get a vaccine, but I did work as a pediatric immunization consultant for a CDC-funded immunization program for 4 years, so I consider myself to be fairly well-versed.

pblge · September 2014

I don't know why your doctor even mentioned that "controversy." Many studies since the first fraudulent one have demonstrated zero links between vaccines and autism. However, a recent study did show a link between flu during pregnancy and autism:
https://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20121109/flu-pregnancy-autism
That's a preliminary finding, but there are a lot of scary things about the flu while pregnant. I teach at a university and will be getting it as soon as possible.

Danielle0311 · September 2014

Thank you so much for this feedback. I honestly think my dr only mentioned it because he knows I google everything and wanted to cut me off in my tracks and tell me his theory about why I need to get it. I really appreciate this feedback because I really am not educated on this topic! Thank you

jess123456 · September 2014

I got it back in April at about 10 weeks I think. I had never had one before and did find that I felt sick after. Mine was the preservative free version. They also offered me the whooping caugh vaccine but apparently that is the same as the TTAP and I am already up to date with that.

mommy0411 · September 2014

I am so sorry your doctor even mentioned autism. My older son has autism and there is absolutely no scientific proof that autism is in any way caused by vaccines. Both of my boys are fully vaccinated and DS2 is completely neuro-typical. And the only vaccine that the fraudulent doctor claimed caused autism is the MMR vaccine which babies get at 15 months.

rox825 · September 2014

jess123456 said: They also offered me the whooping caugh vaccine but apparently that is the same as the TTAP and I am already up to date with that.

I just got my tdap vaccine last week. If you're in the US, it's actually recommended to get a tdap shot during every pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, even if you've had it within the past 5-10 years. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/tdap-pregnancy-hcp.htm

Danielle0311 · September 2014

Any other vaccines that I should get other than flu shot and tdap?

Drgn30 · September 2014

i'm getting the tdap and flu shots next week

Lalalady54 · September 2014

Vaccines are a soap box for me, I will be getting the flu shot today and will also get my tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) in 3rd tri. (I also went so far as with my DD all of my family had to get new tdap vaccines, as I have seen pertussis kill babies and a lot of adults aren't current- so babes grandparents and aunties and uncles all got vaccinated). They help protect your baby and ultimately that is all of our end goals, to have healthy babes.

There is no link between vaccines and autism. The CDC has proven over and over again this is true. They have physicians and physician scientists all over the world who study this entirely more than anyone else, who provide these recommendations and as a contributing member of society we should be following recommendations to keep ourselves and our children healthy.

Edit: spelling

classicstar28 · September 2014

I just wanted to echo what others have already said and say that the vaccines (the flu and Tdap) protect not only you, but the baby to some degree. I got my flu shot already and will be getting the Tdap this weekend. Even if I wasn't prone to getting the flu myself or had some other reason for not getting the shot every year anyway, I'd get it to give my baby whatever protection I can for those first 6 months. It's pretty a common disease and I think we tend to forget exactly how awful the flu really is.

Like others said, you can get the preservative free flu shot. I got it just because that's what the pharmacist recommended. I will tell you that it was by far the least painful vaccine I have ever gotten. I was actually concerned that she didn't really give it to me, but my husband watched her do it.

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mpiemont · September 2014

I have gotten the flu shot every year since I can remember (4 years of residency working in the hospital, twice while pregnant) and I will get it again this year. Vaccines are a hot topic so it's a choice you have to make. I watched my otherwise healthy aunt die from the flu 4 years ago and a pregnant friend become hospitalized/severely ill from it.

KJsbabe · September 2014

When I was pregnant with DD I chose not to get the flu shot. I wasn't concerned with Autisum and all that jazz, I just had never had it before and I didn't know how it would effect me. I was also still in the 1st tri when my doctor offered it to me and I was super nervous about doing anything that could possibly in any scenario hurt my baby. I said I would get it once I was in the 2nd tri, but I never did.

Well, I ended up getting the flu that year for the first time ever. It was beyond awful! I was around 30w by then. It came on super quickly and hit me like a ton of bricks. TMI... I got a stomach ache around 10pm, started puking with diarrhea at 12am which lasted all night, by 6am I was incredibly dehydrated and DH had to take me to the ER. It was bad!! It took two bags of IV fluids, zofran, and drinking gatoraid all day to get rehydrated. I never ever want to go through that again!

So yes, yes, and yes. I will be getting the flu shot this year.

Danielle0311 · September 2014

Thank you again ladies for these replies, I'm feeling a lot better about this and will definitely be getting these vaccines !!

DV3 · September 2014

Not getting it. Never have and never will.

Flowerstar1023 · September 2014

Glad you decided to get it. Influenza can be very dangerous during pregnancy (more so than for non pregnant women) and as all of the posters above have said, those studies have been totally refuted in the scientific community and the landmark article was completely discredited.

SamanthaLaura16 · September 2014

I get the flu shot every year and plan on getting it at my next appointment at the end of the month.

fallfever · September 2014

Getting it and I don't think twice about it. I have 2 children with asthma/allergy issues so I am advised to get the vaccine to protect myself and them. And all 3 of my children are in school/preschool so I'm sure they are exposed yearly. also, just because it freaks me out, a woman from my home town got the flu during pregnancy last year and passed away. It really upset and scared me. If I can take one small step to avoiding it, it makes me feel better. Last year even though I got the shot, I'm pretty sure I got another strain of the flu 3 months later and it SUCKED!

MrsTuna08 · September 2014

I work in healthcare and get my flu shot yearly, so for me getting the flu shot and updating my TDAP doesn't feel like a big deal. However, with a brand new baby coming into the house during cold and flu season, DH and I had to have a chat about those shots being mandatory for him too (he never gets his shots). Although I'm not going to require visitors to get shots prior to seeing the baby, I did mention to my parents and in-laws that whooping cough is on the rise, can be deadly for an infant, and if they weren't vaccinated perhaps they could think about getting it done this year.

Samuelismomma · September 2014

I agree with everything e&b said. I'm an Rn and got it with my DS and will with her too. To be honest a lot of DR's didn't believe the study before that dr turned out to be a fraudulent scum bag!;)

chicagojackie · September 2014

Here are some fun facts about influenza:

*Flu virus is gets into a person’s body through the mouth or nose

*Flu is spread when you touch a contaminated object (table, chair, toy) and then touch your mouth or nose, and when a sick person breathes, sneezes or coughs on you.

*Flu germs can live on objects for up to 8 hours

*The flu virus is highly contagious and has a contagious period of 1 day before a person has symptoms to 2 weeks after developing symptoms!

From the Illinois department of public health :

2013-2014 flu season (October-May):

599 reported influenza admissions to the hospital and 63 official deaths from influenza

*note most admissions and deaths are Dec-Feb

More fun facts:

Vaccination helps protect women during pregnancy and their babies for up to 6 months after they are born. One study showed that giving flu vaccine to pregnant women was 92% effective in preventing hospitalization of infants for flu.

So, yay. Definitey get the flu shot.

footprint · September 2014

I have a question. Does the baby have your vaccine protection while you choose to breast feed? I feel like a nurse told me this at some point. But my memory isn't great and I am not sure that I haven't made that up in my head. Anyone know if there is truth to this?

chicagojackie · September 2014

@footprint yes the baby does have your passive immunity but we think the reason the baby is likely safe is that the mother is vaccinated... for example the formula feeding vaccinated moms and babies do well too.

footprint · September 2014

Thank you @chicagojackie That is really interesting. I have already decided to do the flu vax and whooping cough this year, but I wasn't sure if I was making up fact and believing them.

BackstreetPixie · September 2014

Got my flu shot today. I asked ob if i should get one and she said yes and we have it so hang on, and then sent the nurse in with it.

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