Have you or will you get a flu shot?

beeker816 · February 2016

bananers · February 2016

Every pregnant woman should. Period. The flu is so much worse for you and the baby than any small risk of side effects.

Stephanie7693 · February 2016

Since flu season is almost over, I don't plan on getting one now, and I think July would be a little early and probably unavailable to cover for next year. But I plan on asking about getting the dtap (I think that's the one I'm thinking of) because it's not exactly seasonal and getting sick can be fatal for babies

kiwico14 · February 2016

I learned about the benefits of the flu shot the hard way. I don't get it if it's just me, though.

Hummingbird125 · February 2016

I hadn't gotten one in YEARS, but I asked for one at my first prenatal appointment and my doctor gave it to me. Better safe than sorry!

kcolly32 · February 2016

I had to get one for work since I'm a RN they practically made us. I've worked there for 5 yrs and never got one but I'm glad I did since I have more than just me to worry about. But the downside is that it hasn't stopped coworkers from getting the flu this year. I'm just hoping I don't get it.

Car0liiine · February 2016

I work for the local hospital system so it's mandatory and I got mine before I got pregnant. @Stephanie7693 A couple of years ago flu season hit late in March/April/May and it was really bad. We are just now starting to see patients testing positive in our clinic so we are thinking that might be what happens again this year. Hopefully not and we just haven't seen much because they guessed the right strain for the vaccine this year. Just something to keep in mind.

kattyleigh · February 2016

Get it. Period. I'm literally laying here on day 7 of being the sickest I've ever been. Confirmed flu last Monday that turned into pneumonia and I was hospitalized. Pregnancy makes you way susceptible. I've had two ultrasounds this week to check baby and he's fine but still I'm so worried.

ballofmeat · February 2016

I also work for a hospital and we are required to get one or wear a mask all through flu season.

DressageDarling · February 2016

I got one at my last appointment and plan on asking when I can get the flu in the fall since I'm due early August.

Fremdschamen · February 2016

I didn't get one this year. I was in the first trimester of my previous pregnancy until late September when I had my loss. My doctor doesn't recommend flu shots in first tri. Then I was sick from Oct-Dec, and my doctor doesn't recommend them when your immune system is compromised. Then I got pregnant again in December. So, the timing just didn't work. I'm at the end of first tri now, but since flu season is almost over, I'm not going to bother.

TBH, I'm not super keen on them-- every time I've gotten the flu shot, I've still been sick all winter long, so it seems to make no difference for me.

Leeny3 · February 2016

I've never had one before, and honestly it never even crossed my mind, my OB didn't even mention it. So probably not. I don't think I have ever had the flu in my life.

bananers · February 2016

Fremdschamen said:

TBH, I'm not super keen on them-- every time I've gotten the flu shot, I've still been sick all winter long, so it seems to make no difference for me.

The flu shot won't keep you from getting sick, but it will keep you from getting the most common strains of influenza, which is totally different and much more serious than the common stomach bugs most people call "the flu." The actual flu can make a pregnant woman VERY sick, due to an already compromised immune system and can be fatal to your baby. I would highly encourage anyone on the fence or leaning toward no to do some more research.

Many women (myself included) opt to wait until second tri to get the flu shot, but now that most of us are out of the first tri there's really no excuse not to. The risks of the shot are so minimal at this stage and the flu can have devastating consequences. It's just not worth it.

smilormarie · February 2016

Yes:
1. Our immune systems are weaker when we're pregnant so when people say "I never get the flu so I won't ever get the shot" should think again.
2. It only takes 1 year for the deadly flu virus like the 1918-1919 flu (Spanish flu) to return, you never know what year that could be. Or for the next flu pandemic to be discovered.
3. We are the super lucky ones who will have a baby who will be less than 6 months of age for the entire flu season (Nov-Feb) and unable to get their own shot and even more susceptible to complications and death. Get it in early in Aug so the antibodies pass to the fetus before birth.
4. People don't wash their hands and people still cough/sneeze into their hands instead of their sleeves. Yuck. You can wash your hands 29 times a day and it won't make up for people's grossness.
5. Incubation period and symptoms and contagion period for flu is tricky. Although someone may seem perfectly healthy so of course you won't be avoiding them - they actually could have just contracted the virus a day or two before and they are already spreading it before they even realize they are sick.
6. The shot is an INACTIVE virus. If you happen to get sick within 2 weeks of the shot, you were simply exposed to the virus before the shot or shortly after - but before your body could build the correct antibodies. This myth is continually perpetuated by people who wait until Dec, Jan, Feb to get their shot and then complain that the shot caused them to get sick but they just so happened to contract it at the same time as the shot (see #5 above). Unless you are allergic to the ingredients, this is not possible.
7. There are people who truly cannot receive the shot and they rely on everyone around them to be vaccinated to increase their chances of avoiding a a serious complication due to contracting the flu.

An ounce of prevention....

edit: I almost always get mine at the start of Aug. so that meant I was covered this pregnancy before I was even pregnant and will get it again next Aug a couple weeks before I deliver. I try to get my son in to the ped as early as possible for it as well. We were lucky at his 1 yr checkup that they had the shots that day to give him. But for his 2 yr checkuo they didn't have them yet and I kept calling until they finally got them in late Oct early Nov. that's too late in my book and he's still too young to just go to the local retail pharmacy to get his, like I do. They don't treat kids under age 9 at Rite Aid and I assume CVS, Walgreens and the like would be the same. :-(

ZedPM3 · February 2016

I got mine almost as soon as I found out (the pregnancy-safe one).

Curls919 · February 2016

I got mine in October before i got pregnant (but got the preservative free one just in case). I always get it. Even if you end up catching the flu it makes it a million times less intense than if you didn't get the shot. I don't know if it will be available before I give birth but I'll get one again this next year. As will DH because the baby will be too young for a shot so if either of us catch it and give it to the baby it can be really bad

tmk0325 · February 2016

I got mine in December. The same week I found out I was pregnant. The pharmacist actually gave me a different strain than the one they normally give because it covered 4 different types instread of 3 and was better for pregnant women. I haven't had any issues and have only had some sinus symptoms this winter.

juleswalsh · February 2016

Ugh get the shot.

mumblefrog86 · February 2016

I got it before I was pregnant. I think it is important to protect baby and the family. Also had my DD get one she was 14 months at the time.

HeyStVincent · February 2016

Get it. There is no reason to not get it unless you have systemic reactions to vaccinations (i.e. an allergy to the shot). One of my friends didn't the shot this season because "I've never had the flu shot and I've never had the flu," and last month she got the flu (while pregnant) and was absolutely miserable. Her husband (who got the flu shot) did not get it from her. She is now a big fan of getting vaccinated for the flu because she doesn't want to go through that type of illness again.

Also, just because you get the flu shot, it does not mean you won't get sick. It only protects or provides *some* protection against the specific strains of the flu virus that are in the vaccine. It will not protect you from a bad cold (which, can make you feel miserable and give you a mild fever, but is NOT the flu) and it will not protect you from any stomach bugs (which, are also NOT the flu). The flu is a respiratory virus that has a tendancy to cause systemic complications in people with weakened immune systems, including babies and pregnant women.

If possible, you should probably get the shot prior to getting pregnant because the vaccination requires you to have an optimally functioning immune system in order to provide you with the most amount of antibodies/the most protection. So, theoretically, it probably won't work quite as well in a pregnant woman vs an otherwise healthy non-pregnant women. Really, we should all be getting it (pregnant or not, healthy or not) to protect those who are most vulnerable to the virus. Also, getting the flu does NOT make your immune system stronger and more capable of fighting other viruses. Not how it works.

acciobaby123 · February 2016

Quick question, I heard from multiple people that if you get the flu vaccine while pregnant that it doesn't pass the antibodies to the baby like the tdap vaccine does. Anyone have a scientific link to help me out?

lalalorelai · February 2016

I will be getting mine at my next dr.'s visit (the first one of my 2nd tri). Not even a question for me. I would have gotten it before I was pregnant but I kept forgetting.

Question from those who know better: how close together can I get two year's shots? I'll get this year's in early March and would like to get next year's fairly early in the season to protect everyone. Do I have to wait a certain amount of time between the two shots or can I get it as soon as the next shot comes out?

charmedlifex3 · February 2016

I did, DH didn't. I got mine in Dec, immediately after finding out we were pregnant. DH is allergic to one component in vaccines, which can make it tough - he can't get it at the pharmacy like most people, and has to take a bunch of precautions when he does get it from the doctor.

He has promised to get it next year, and the TDAP. He plans on taking Benadryl before, and if he has a reaction, steroids after.

Does anyone know any other crucial shots *he* should get?

smilormarie · February 2016

That would be great question for the OB or midwife!! Please share if you find out!!

katie121209 · February 2016

I usually don't get the flu shot. Last year I got the shot and then got the flu really bad

. That was the first time I had ever gotten the flu. I know it had nothing to do with the shot, but I also know they don't protect against all strains of the flu. I haven't gotten it yet and will talk to the dr next week since I'm now in my 2nd trimester.

MamaKSquared · February 2016

I got mine in November, shortly before I got pregnant. I don't usually get it, but knowing we were TTC, I decided to get it. I have had no issues. My midwife recommended getting another late in pregnancy, and I do plan to do that as well, to protect the baby as much as I can.

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