Flu Shot

RedMar · August 2016

I know this was brought up in "quick questions" and most likely in the randoms, but I am wondering if the Flu shot is similar to the Tdap where the antibodies can be passed on to the baby. I'm considering one since they're now available (and I usually get one from year to year). Just not sure if it makes a difference to wait until I'm not pregnant anymore. I know it's a while before LO can get one and she'll be born the beginning of Flu season.

Sporty1216 · August 2016

I just asked my OB about this yesterday and she gave me the flu shot because the antibodies can, indeed, get passed to baby in utero. And, as you said, baby will likely arrive at the start of flu season and won't be able to be vaccinated herself.

rock1cherry · August 2016

I just asked my OB about this on Tuesday and she told me to hold off on getting it for now. She said that studies haven't proven 100% if the antibodies pass to the baby while in the womb. She said as well that the shot wears off so if I were to have it now, it may not cover me by the time March rolls around. She said if I haven't had it by the time I go into labor that they can do it then.

But I'm not sure what info to believe since @Sporty1216 was told differently. So I'm just adding this because I was told this a few days ago...confused!

ETA - I looked online a much of what is on there says the flu shot will protect the baby. I've seen a few that say "may". I am not sure if this is new info from the OB, but I am going to personally wait until into September to get mine, but I'm also due the 24th so I would like to ensure I can get it so it protects me longer. If possible.

Sporty1216 · August 2016

@rock1cherry --I think it makes sense to wait til closer to your due date in any case! I'm scheduled for a C-section on 9/7, so it was kind of now or never for me if I wanted it to have a shot at passing to baby.

Shiva14 · August 2016

@Sporty1216 I need to take us all to go get one. I'm kinda worried it'll make me feel semi sick for a few days and that I'll go into labor during that time, but waiting isn't going to make that scenario better. Thanks for posting this, looking up our well clinic as we speak.

yellowrose314 · August 2016

My midwife said the same that @rock1cherry's said. I'm lucky that my job gives me access to some pretty amazing research journal databases so I do most of my research about birth interventions and other things on there, and I could only find 3 articles that definitively said the flu provides antibody protection from mom to fetus. The rest all said there "could" be a connection to decreased flu contraction in infants if mothers received the flu hot while pregnant, but nothing conclusive.
Even if I wanted to get mine now, this years vaccine doesn't become available where I live until mid September, and by then I might have already had baby girl.

RedMar · August 2016

Thanks for the input all. I do plan on breastfeeding as well, so could some of the antibodies pass thru my milk?

Sporty1216 · August 2016

I found some info on the cdc page that addresses getting the shot during and after pregnancy and the possibility of transfer in both cases. maybe that will be helpful:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/pregnant/flushot_pregnant_factsheet.pdf

abberson · August 2016

This thread just inspired me to make an appointment for DD to get the flu shot, I'd like her to get it before baby and it's available here. Need to bug H to get his and will talk to OB this week about it for me. Thanks for the reminder!

KimmySchmidt · August 2016

Just took my daughter to her 2 year appointment. She cried as though demons were being exorcized from her before they even took her height and weight. They didn't have the flu shot yet, so we have the great pleasure of experiencing this all again soon.

The doctor said it would be fine to take her along to one of the new baby's appointments for the shot, so we'll probably do that. I guess CVS has it, but I can't get it there because it needs to be preservative free, and they won't do it for children under three.

ansley0319 · August 2016

CVS definitely has it and are super proud that they do! I went to get my TDAP and she wanted me to get it SO bad then was disappointed when I declined. She even made a remark about how if I changed my mind it'd probably be too late because EVERYONE wants them. Hot commodity esque discussion, I was quite tickled.

miam4 · August 2016

I took the flu yesterday. DH takes all the shots because he is in the military.
Now, what about the Dtap? Anyone taking again? I took 3 years ago when I was pregnant with DD, but I saw somewhere that you are supposed to get every pregnancy... anyone took it?

pizzaandwine · August 2016

@KimmySchmidt My almost 2 year old does the same thing. He clings to me like a primate and screams the whole time. Fun. I need to get the flu shot for my older girls as well.

@miam4 I got the Dtap two years ago, right after my son was born (in France they don't give it during pregnancy, so I got it just after I had the baby), and I got it again this time.

MamaSquishyB · August 2016

I got my DTaP a few weeks ago, and got my flu shot today. I don't know when my son's school is doing it, so I'll probably schedule an appointment with his pedi.

rock1cherry · August 2016

I had the tdap a few years ago but was told to get it again while pregnant @miam4 I think they suggest it with every pregnancy. My first was for my green card application.

roadspeckle · September 2016

I'm so confused. Did everybody not get their flu shot when they were early pregnant?

steminist · September 2016

That would have been for last year's flu combo, probably. I had one last fall before pregnancy, but the spring one likely won't cover this season's virus strains. Check with your OB, though, because they might be similar enough that you still have immunity.

yellowrose314 · September 2016

@racklerooo the most recent flu vaccines start development in February, but don't get distributed until the fall. So for this seasons flu, they started it during the winter of last year, because they have to try and predict which strains are going to be the most virulent and prevalent. So last years vaccine will probably not be that effective this year. Or it might, who knows. The flu shot is kind of a crap shoot that way.

KimmySchmidt · September 2016

racklerooo said:

I'm so confused. Did everybody not get their flu shot when they were early pregnant?

Girl, you gotta get a flu shot every year! New flu season, new vaccine!

pizzaandwine · September 2016

Got mine today. I was surprised it was out already.

abberson · September 2016

H and I got ours today too. Doc said it takes up to 4 weeks to give some immunities to baby, but online said 2. I have somewhere in between to go, and hopefully we'll provide a little protective cocoon between all of us getting it.

miam4 · September 2016

@pizzaandwine and @rock1cherry thank you. I took it

mjpatzwa · September 2016

Got mine yesterday at the midwife appointment-- was surprised it was ready!

jln27 · September 2016

@racklerooo I got a flu shot back in January or February. I brought that up when the nurse asked if I'd had the shot yet this year, and she said that was for last year's strain or something and new flu season was starting now. I went ahead and got it at my appointment today.

I hate getting it though. I'm allergic to an ingredient in most vaccines (can't remember the name, some long chemical, and it's not a severe allergy) so whenever I get the flu shot I get dizzy a couple hours later and have to sleep it off.

roadspeckle · September 2016

@jln27, I didn't think about different strains lol. I got mine last week too.

Kimmy717 · September 2016

got my flu shot today at cvs... now that im nursing, will baby get the antibodies still through my milk?? i didnt see that answered yet... i assume there probably will be a slight transfer, but probably not as great as the shot given in utero...

RedMar · September 2016

@Kimmy717 my OB said that some could be transferred through the milk, but in utero it's more likely.

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