@hannahbananas11- We requires all the grands, who would be the only people holding my DS in his early weeks, to have had a flu and TDAP. If they had a complaint, I never heard it. We didn't ask. We told them it was a safety precaution and that it was necessary. They got them and came with a smile. You might be surprised at how easy it is to get compliance, assuming they are rational folks.
@sjnsjnsjn They're rational, but sometimes a little too laid back. For instance, my MIL didn't understand why I wouldn't want the crib she had. It's a drop-side crib that was recalled for safety concerns and is now illegal to make or sell. Her response? "I used it for both of my sons and never had a problem. It's probably fine." So sometimes my reasonable requests or statements sound overly dramatic and fear-mongering to them. But I'll be firm on this one, just like I was with the crib.
@hannahbananas11- Do we have the same mom/MIL?! I had the exact same issue the first time I brought my son to my mom's and he was at crib stage. She acted mocking about drop sided cribs being outlawed and said something absurd about how grandmas probably fall in on the babies trying to get them in and out without a dropside. Not to my knowledge, drama queen! Anyhow, even she -- pre delivery of my son- got her and my stepdad the vaccines without a peep. (And likewisesucked it up about us not using her weird old crib . Their incentive is too high! ETA: if memory serves, this thing about the flu and tdap for everyone who was gonna hold the baby the first few weeks was something our ped said when we went for the consultation visit while I was prego. So maybe you can ask at your ped consultation about it, and once it's the baby's doctor's medical directive, it's not on you!
@hannahbananas11 on this one, I honestly don’t care if people aren’t happy. February here is still prime flu season and this isn’t about it being an inconvenience for me, it can absolutely become deadly for a newborn. Unless there’s a reason (like being immunocomprised), they’re getting the damn shot. I’m not putting my kid at risk because someone thinks flu shots are stupid.
DD and I are doing ours on Wednesday before my OB appointment. Last year she was scared shitless. This time we’ve been talking about it a lot and she’s been watching me do my insulin injections. She just says I have to do first.
Our 3rd LO was a January baby and when the older 2 came home from school every day we had them change clothes and wash their hands before they could touch the baby. Just another little thing that could help prevent the spread of germs to the new baby if you have other LOs that are spending time outside the house during those first few weeks. That was a particularly nasty flu year and we were able to keep everyone from getting sick.
@hannahbananas11 - $5 to Target sounds like reason enough! I was supposed to get mine at my OB last week but she and I both forgot after we started chatting about something else. Maybe DH & I will Swing in today because $10 is even better than $5!
@cass06_07 I never got the flu shot until I was pregnant with DD. When she was six months old both she and my husband got the flu. I did not, despite having her cough in my face repeatedly. I get vaccinated every year now, and make sure DD gets it too.
I'm Team Flu Shot for everyone. It's just one of those thing that, IMO, if I can cover mine and my kids bases, I feel like I'm doing my part to help out people who medically cannot get vaccinated.
Thanks folks, I've thought about it a bit more and after reading your replies, it makes sense. I just informed H and he's like okay where do we get it... looks like we'll be going this week to see the pharmacist. H can tell his MIL who lives with us she needs to get one too.. that's his job
@cass07_06 I am planning on not. I have multiple personal reasons as to my choice and I already expect to get alot of backlash for my choice. Hubby is fine with my decision so that makes it easier. I know the benefits typically out weigh the negatives and anyone who chooses the flu shot, more power to ya. I just am choosing to not get it. I will have to update mt Tdap one tho soon...that I am not looking forward to.
Also, not attempting to provoke anything, I think I am being confused but last I heard norovirus has no relation to the flu. So a flu shot won't do diddly squat for it. Am I mislead?
@hnbergeron You're correct: norovirus is a different virus than the flu virus (though norovirus is sometimes called the "stomach flu", which leads to the confusion). Both are highly contagious, and both have similar symptoms, though the norovirus typically presents with vomiting and diarrhea and a low-grade fever, whereas the flu usually presents with a sore throat, a higher fever, full-body aches, and congestion (which is why pneumonia is a very common complication of the flu).
@hnbergeron Correct, there’s no way to prevent norovirus besides washing your hands. The flu shot will only protect against one strain of the flu, which is why it sometimes is very effective and sometimes not very effective. The people developing the flu vaccine basically have to make an educated guess re: which flu strain will be the Big flu strain that specific year, sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don’t.
There’s no harm in getting the shot though, worst case scenario it just doesn’t work, which is no worse than not taking it. If it does work though, the more people have gotten it, the better it’ll protect those who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons. With the common cold, norovirus etc, you’ll just have to be vigilant with hand washing.
DS born 2/18/2019 DD born 4/1/2023 Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
Just chiming in to say I'm on team flu shot over here! DH and I both got ours at my last OB appointment a week ago. We also work in a petri dish (a college) so anything I can do to minimize illness while pregnant I will do, although I am diligent about getting my flu shot every year - being on college campuses also makes it easy since there are usually (free and speedy) flu clinics, but $5 at Target is a great incentive!
@eggsandwich2019 I also work on a college campus. I recently read a report that college students are the least likely to get vaccinated of all populations. YUCK. H is a doctor, so between the two of us, it takes all hands on deck to make sure we don't get sick each year. Flu vaccines (already required for anyone in healthcare), hand sanitizer, and being very vigilant about washing hands all.the.time. usually saves us. I get chapped hands every year from washing my hands and using alcohol sanitizer so frequently. But it's worth it to avoid the flu. Pro tip: remember to sanitize your cell phone regularly during flu season! If you're like me, you use it out in public after touching door handles, cash, surfaces, etc. and that thing picks up tons of germs throughout the day.
Please, please, please everyone get your flu shots! It really helps protect those that cannot get them (for whatever reason that may be). Like @grebretso mentioned, the worst that happens is that it won't work for which strain is around and then you would've gotten sick anyways (except it will be less severe if you had gotten the shot). I won't go into details, but a mom from my first BMB experienced a horrible tragedy relating to this. I can't stress enough how important it is for you, your baby, and others.
Count me in for the flu shot. Despite hating needles I get it every year. I will jump through hoops to get it. I completely respect those who chose not to for whatever reason, but for myself I cannot think of a good reason not to. I like avoiding illness!
I’m one of the few people who had a really bad reaction last time I got the shot so I cannot get it. I’m nervous about it but will be vigilant about hand washing and sanitizing. DH got the shot (he works in an elementary school) and we will be having DD get it too at her two year check up. Hopefully ‘herd immunity’ will protect me and baby or at least put us less at risk.
I am required through my employer to get a flu shot - I work in an acute rehab hospital. We had an awful flu season this past year. I already got my shot, my kids will get theirs whenever their MD office has them in stock, and I’ll need to tell Adam to go get his at the pharmacy or Target soon
@allthingsgo Being vigilant will take you a long way. H got the flu over a long weekend last year, so we were both home (in our small apartment) for three days of his flu. I miraculously escaped unscathed. Good luck to you!
@hnbergeron - correct, norovirus is entirely different. But having had both the flu and norovirus while pregnant, both are terrible and I'd do anything to avoid feeling like that again and ending up in the hospital. I didn't mean to cause confusion - they're both just terrible IME while pregnant.
Re: Weekly randoms 10/1-10/5
ETA: if memory serves, this thing about the flu and tdap for everyone who was gonna hold the baby the first few weeks was something our ped said when we went for the consultation visit while I was prego. So maybe you can ask at your ped consultation about it, and once it's the baby's doctor's medical directive, it's not on you!
That was a particularly nasty flu year and we were able to keep everyone from getting sick.
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
Also, not attempting to provoke anything, I think I am being confused but last I heard norovirus has no relation to the flu. So a flu shot won't do diddly squat for it. Am I mislead?
There’s no harm in getting the shot though, worst case scenario it just doesn’t work, which is no worse than not taking it. If it does work though, the more people have gotten it, the better it’ll protect those who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons. With the common cold, norovirus etc, you’ll just have to be vigilant with hand washing.
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
H is a doctor, so between the two of us, it takes all hands on deck to make sure we don't get sick each year. Flu vaccines (already required for anyone in healthcare), hand sanitizer, and being very vigilant about washing hands all.the.time. usually saves us. I get chapped hands every year from washing my hands and using alcohol sanitizer so frequently. But it's worth it to avoid the flu.
Pro tip: remember to sanitize your cell phone regularly during flu season! If you're like me, you use it out in public after touching door handles, cash, surfaces, etc. and that thing picks up tons of germs throughout the day.
put us less at risk.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
Flu/roto/noro are awful enough as it is when you’re not knocked up.