flu shot?

R87 · November 2014

I've never gotten the flu shot ever and my dr said I should get one. When I was pregnant with my son it was the summer so I didn't have to worry about getting one. Has anyone had any complications after shot while pregnant?

beckynsean11 · November 2014

The shot is perfectly safe while you're pregnant. Just make sure they know that you're pregnant so they give you the preservative free one. The shot is inactive virus, so it's impossible to get sick from it. Any sickness you may experience is because the shot didn't have enough time before you were exposed to the virus, or it was not a covered strain. But the most common strains are included in the shot, so the likelihood of you getting sick is very low.

The possible "complications" of not getting the shot are much more serious. A high fever for you can equal severe brain damage for your baby or worse.

All that to say, the shot is safe, go get it

tracyadelle5 · November 2014

Don't forget that you can't get it until between weeks 12-30 (or is it 12-28?) I just went over all this with the doctors

beckynsean11 · November 2014

tracyadelle5 said:

Don't forget that you can't get it until between weeks 12-30 (or is it 12-28?) I just went over all this with the doctors

It's safe to get at any point during pregnancy. Most doctors will tell you to get it as soon as possible.

juneberries · November 2014

tracyadelle5 said:
Don't forget that you can't get it until between weeks 12-30 (or is it 12-28?) I just went over all this with the doctors

From the cdc website: "You can receive the flu shot at any time, during any trimester, while you are pregnant. Millions of flu shots have been given to pregnant women over many years. Flu shots have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their infants."

tracyadelle5 · November 2014

Not true

Emilywooddesign · November 2014

They don't push the flu shot on people so much in Canada. I have never had a flu shot and don't know any friends who were previously pregnant who got the flu shot either. All this flu shot talk is new to me!

beckynsean11 · November 2014

sensitivesally said:

Don't forget that you can't get it until between weeks 12-30 (or is it 12-28?) I just went over all this with the doctors
Are you maybe confusing the flu shot with the tdap? That one is *think* recommended between 28 and 36 weeks.

You are correct, ma'am.

tracyadelle5 · November 2014

Definitely talking about the flu shot. I work at the doctors office and we have a flu shot clinic. Definitely have to ask if they could be pregnant before administering it, to make sure that if they are, they are able to get it then.

Ravenclaw314 · November 2014

It's your choice, but please do your own research regarding the vaccine and its contents before making your decision. Don't get it just because your doctor and some strangers told you to.

tracyadelle5 · November 2014

Maybe it's done differently here, not sure but both our office and my OB office go by the same thing and don't administer it until after week 12.

juneberries · November 2014

tracyadelle5 said:
Definitely talking about the flu shot. I work at the doctors office and we have a flu shot clinic. Definitely have to ask if they could be pregnant before administering it, to make sure that if they are, they are able to get it then.

From the website of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "It is particularly important that women who are or will be pregnant during influenza season receive an inactivated influenza vaccine as soon as it is available. The inactivated influenza vaccine can be given to pregnant women at any point during gestation"

beckynsean11 · November 2014

sensitivesally said:

Not true
No, really, I think you are confusing the flu shot with another shot.

Or she works for a poorly informed doctor. There are still a few doctors that will say that you need to wait until you're out of 1st tri even though there is no evidence to support that. For us, waiting until 12+ weeks, puts us in the prime of Flu season w/ no immunity.

ETA: Or maybe she's outside the US?

juneberries · November 2014

From the Canadian Public Health Agency website: "All pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy, should be considered high priority for receiving inactivated influenza vaccine because of their increased risk of influenza-associated morbidity, evidence of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with maternal influenza, evidence that vaccination of pregnant women protects their newborns from influenza and influenza-related hospitalization, and evidence that infants born during the influenza season to vaccinated women are less likely to be premature, small for gestational age, and low birth weight."

There's just no arguing that the inactivated flu vaccine is unsafe at any point in pregnancy. I guarantee any country where the flu shot is common recommends it is given to pregnant women regardless of their stage of pregnancy.

tiffbot1985 · November 2014

I'm Canadian and it has always been highly recommended for me to get and my son now too, whether I'm pregnant or not. We will all be getting it at my next appt, and there is constantly free clinics set up everywhere for it to make sure it's widely available. Maybe it's different in different areas though.

R87 · November 2014

I'll be almost 13 weeks when they give it to me. They did mention the t dap shot too which I just got 3 yrs ago but my dr said the recommend it with every pregnancy now

housewifebecomesher · November 2014

Oh good more flu shot talk!

Get the flu shot, OP. And definitely ask for the preservative free one.

I got mine before I knew I was pregnant so I got ALL the preservatives...but it was probably like a week after conception. I had the preservative free one with DD. Your OB should have it on hand.

jc-ot2011 · November 2014

I received my flu shot at 9 weeks. The only side effects I experienced were a sore arm at the injection site and some fatigue (which at this point has become the norm!). Thanks to all the ladies who are quoting reputable sources for safety information! OP I would suggest you do your own research and discuss it with your Dr. to make your own informed decision. These boards only give the opinions from people who have *hopefully* done their own research and consulted with their own dr to come up with what is best for them. What is best for you should be determined by you and your dr who knows your medical history.

julianakess · November 2014

About 4 days ago my Dr told me to get the flu shot too.
I've never had it before. I've also never had the flu..
I felt hesitant, I do agree it's great, a lot of people get it every year, and there probably are no side affects, but I decided against it.
I did a bunch of reading, I talked to friends who have babies, & family about it before I came to my personal decision.

These are 2 good websites that helped me. One is a little extreme for the paranoid people out there, & the other is super pro flu shot, an interview published by the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health in Ontario.

https://vactruth.com/2013/02/01/8-damn-good-reasons/

https://ca.shine.yahoo.com/know-years-flu-shot-130000710.html

They both go over what is in the shot & what type of flu they are injecting this year.. I don't know if your Dr brought this up but this was an interesting point from the Chief Medical Officer

"They need two doses if it’s their first time getting vaccinated. The same applies to anyone who hasn’t had a shot since July 2010. This is the H1N1 (swine flu)-containing vaccine."

For the record. I do believe in vaccines & I will vaccinate my child. As far as flu shot goes I have a hard time getting over the mercury & Formaldehyde part.. I will more than likely get the flu shot after I give birth. Just not now.
I hope all this helps.

mlindzz · November 2014

Interesting dialogue. Thanks for sharing everyone.

Trampslikeus · November 2014

Just asked my OB friend in Vancouver if the 12 week thing was a Canadian norm and she laughed at me. PP must have been confusing it with Tdap or works for "doctor" Mercola :P

Errrrrrybody get your flu shots!!!

Trampslikeus · November 2014

@sensitivesally‌ Hahahah she sent me the text book quote about that

It's OB confirmed and all but really we just use science and evidence because we are mean.

Or jealous of all these very special sneauxflakes. Or something.

mccall35 · November 2014

Emilywooddesign said:
They don't push the flu shot on people so much in Canada. I have never had a flu shot and don't know any friends who were previously pregnant who got the flu shot either. All this flu shot talk is new to me!

This had not been my experience at all. I'm in Canada and the flu shot is very much encouraged here. I've had one every year for 3 years (since being pregnant with my first). Most of my friends and family get the shot (including those who are pregnant)

holliberry28 · November 2014

So...Dr. Mercola is not a real doctor?!

erbear84 · November 2014

Get the shot. Period.

taisree · November 2014

Also in Canada, where it is very much encouraged. Infact it was mandatory for me to get the flu shot as I work in hospital. I got mine @7 weeks. No reaction whatsoever:)

loveinkw13 · November 2014

Late to the party here but wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

My sister is KU, and due in 10 days. She requested that if we want to be around her daughter we get the flu shot (we live in the same neighborhood). When she asked us, I called my RE to make sure it was ok for me to get it since I was about a week or so past my IUI and was coming in for betas in another week. They said yes, absolutely go get it. I just checked on the form that I was pregnant or planning to be pregnant in the next 30 days. Easy peasy, the only side effect was my arm hurt like a bitch for the rest of the day. I would think if you had to wait until the 2nd tri, my RE wouldn't have encouraged me to go get one...

Mommaswizz · November 2014

Ugh i'm in the same boat. I've always been verrrrry anti-flu shot. I really don't want to get one but since the doc says i have to i will. But i'm definitely pouting about it.

VanessaE19 · November 2014

I will NOT be getting the flu shot. I know many, many people who did without and their babies are perfectly healthy! The ingredients alone are enough for me to say NO! With that being said, it is your choice! Do your research and don't let anyone talk you in or out of it, you're the decision maker. No one else.

neongreen · November 2014

Silv3rlining said:

I do not get the flu shot **but only because I have an allergic reaction to it and have been told not to get it.** I did have my LO get the flu shot at his 15 mo checkup because I can't risk him getting the flu and passing it on to me. Previously I wanted to hold off on getting it for him until he was a little older in case he had an allergic reaction as well, but he did just fine with it. With that being said I would recommend getting it.

Same here (the allergic part). I also can't get the mist because that's a live vaccine and I'm on immunosuppressants. I rely on the herd immunity and hand sanitizer (and being rude and refusing to shake hands with people during flu season

), so here's hoping I get through the winter okay, thanks in part to all of you who are getting the flu shot!

kimmarie1105 · November 2014

My eye starts twitching when people talk about doing their own research when it comes to vaccines. Unless you are medically trained, and or a scientist, with all necessary resources available to conduct actual studies, then really you are just a person with access to google. Reading an ingredient list does not equate to doing your own research.
Oh and get your shot. Cause the trained people who actually did the research recommend it.

beckynsean11 · November 2014

pickles26 said:

The formaldehyde in the flu shot is there to inactivate the virus so it doesn't make you sick. Thimerosal is the mercury component and is a preservative, so the single dose preservative free vaccines do not contain mercury.

It takes 2 weeks for you to establish immunity after getting a flu shot so don't wait too long to get it done.

DMB&NSI · November 2014

I am not a believer in the flu shot. I am 28 and have never had the flu. My son is now 4.5 yrs old and I have never had him get the flu shot. My husband who is also 28 has never had the flu or the shot. I don't believe in filling your body with unnecessary toxins that the government that's ran by pharmaceutical companies says you should get during "flu season" I'll continue to eat healthy and take care of my body.

Trampslikeus · November 2014

DMB&NSI said:

I am not a believer in the flu shot.

Well, fortunately for those of us with common sense, science and evidence and facts exist whether or not you choose to believe them.

VanessaE19 said:

I will NOT be getting the flu shot. I know many, many people who did without and their babies are perfectly healthy!

I know many, many people who had unprotected sex and didn't get AIDS. Seems like legit reasoning!

beckynsean11 · November 2014

DMB&NSI said:

I am not a believer in the flu shot. I am 28 and have never had the flu. My son is now 4.5 yrs old and I have never had him get the flu shot. My husband who is also 28 has never had the flu or the shot. I don't believe in filling your body with unnecessary toxins that the government that's ran by pharmaceutical companies says you should get during "flu season" I'll continue to eat healthy and take care of my body.

"I don't believe in seatbelts. I drive all the time without one & I'm still alive."

sound logic

Emilywooddesign · November 2014

Lol I'm really regretting commenting on this thread!

neongreen · November 2014

Ah yes, all those unnecessary toxins that helped eradicate polio. And "eating healthy" is absolutely all that's needed to ward off measles and mumps.

Even though NY has just been declared ebola-free, I think I'll go walk a mile and eat some kale just in case. Because that totally has to do with disease transmission, right?

DMB&NSI · November 2014

I find it amazing how hateful some of these responses are. If I chose not to get the flu shot that's my choice. I'm not spitting out negative information on you mothers who so chose to put that in you bodies. It's one opinion vs another. And neither is wrong! Studies also say not preparing for pregnancy and taking prenatal vitamins causes premature birth as well as birth defects however I know plenty of women who were not taking prenatal until well into 6+ weeks of their pregnancy and had perfectly healthy babies. Now... would someone like to tell me how crappy of a person I am? I could give you plenty of websites that show vaccines are not proven to prevent diseases.

DMB&NSI · November 2014

https://www.whale.to/a/day5.html

DMB&NSI · November 2014

Now how about the safety of vaccines. Vaccines are grown in the laboratory in monkey kidney cells, in human cells which may be cancerous, in chick embryo and in guinea pig cells. The cells are nourished with the blood serum from calves, which may be contaminated with numerous diseases such as bovine leukemia virus, bovine AIDS virus, or other diseases that the animals may have. Chemicals such as aluminum, formaldehyde (a human carcinogen) and M.S.G are used in processing of the vaccines, and thiomerosal, a derivative of mercury and a deadly poison, is used as a preservative. These chemicals and potential diseases are all injected into your child's body or your body as part of the vaccine

neongreen · November 2014

DMB&NSI said:

I find it amazing how hateful some of these responses are. If I chose not to get the flu shot that's my choice. I'm not spitting out negative information on you mothers who so chose to put that in you bodies. It's one opinion vs another. And neither is wrong! Studies also say not preparing for pregnancy and taking prenatal vitamins causes premature birth as well as birth defects however I know plenty of women who were not taking prenatal until well into 6+ weeks of their pregnancy and had perfectly healthy babies. Now... would someone like to tell me how crappy of a person I am? I could give you plenty of websites that show vaccines are not proven to prevent diseases.

It's not one opinion vs. another. It's incorrect drivel you pulled from your nether regions vs. science. Science wins, game, set, match.

And as I posted upthread, I have legitimate issues that prevent me from getting all available vaccines. Legitimate as in supported by scientific and medical FACTS, not random words strung together by the tinfoil hat brigade. So yes, when other people's ignorance destroys herd immunity and therefore has an effect on my health (and that of my children before they're able to get vaccinated), then I will absolutely tell those people how crappy they are.

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