Flu Shot?

[westisleflower]

Just as a disclaimer, I am not an anti-vaxer. My child will receive all the vaccines they are supposed to get (small pox, measles, etc.) My question is specifically about the flu vaccine. I'm not against it at all, just need some advice/opinions on the matter.

My doctor recommended I get the flu shot (as she does every year) but I've actually never gotten it. More than a few people close to me told me the only time they have gotten the flu is when they decided to get the flu vaccine. I've never had the flu and never questioned getting a flu shot until now. I went to Dr. Google and saw conflicting reports about the flu vaccine being great for the baby's immune system, and that there has been no solid proof that it is does anything for the baby whatsoever. I know it won't harm the baby I just really don't want to get the flu on top of the nausea and fatigue I already have if its not necessary. I just need some advice. Maybe some moms who have been through this before? Thanks!

[kittenzilla]

I got the vaccine last week, as did DH and DS. I've had the flu before, and the idea of getting it while pregnant when you're so limited on the meds you can take is reason enough for me to get the shot, for whatever varying amount of protection it will give this flu season.

[athn64]

First, the flu shot doesn't give you the flu. It can give you flu like symptoms, but "the flu" is used for almost any poorly feeling illness, that I doubt your friends actually got it.

You may get flu like symptoms, I don't normally. I do get the flu shot every year anyways because I have a weakened immune system and I'm more susceptible to it. That's actually why they suggest pregnant women get the shot too. It's not for the baby, but as a pregnant woman you have a compromised immune system since your body is trying to protect the fetus. So you are at a higher risk to get the full blown flu than you normally are. I'd say it's a better trade off for a possible few sick days, versus full blown influenza.

[frecklesnbrains]

Get the shot. The flu shot does not (and cannot) give you the flu because it is made from a killed virus. Many people say they get the "flu" the year they get the flu shot and did not actually get the true influenza virus but instead one of many, many different viruses that can give you flu-like symptoms. However, only the flu virus has the potential to cause life-threatening complications in pregnant women and newborn babies (the other ones will just make you miserable). It is true that babies under 6 months should not get the shot, but that means the only way to protect your baby is by protecting yourself (you make anti-flu antibodies that get passed on to the baby through the placenta).

Also watch your sources online. You can find pretty much anything you want to but you should go to a respected source. Here are a few reliable sites:

www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/10-flu-myths
www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/default.htm

My personal anecdote: I've gotten the flu shot every year for the past 10 years (it's required for my work) and I've never gotten the flu. My husband has never gotten a flu shot because he always used to say he "never gets the flu". But last year he got the flu which was complicated by pneumonia and he had to be hospitalized and missed over a week of work. Guess what? This year he got the shot!

[birdhut]

I wasn't going to but now that I'm pregnant I will. There is a specific one they give pregnant woman though. I can't remember what it's called. Is it preservative free? I got it last time. I taught kindergarten and was more worried about the high fevers that can be dangerous. I still ended up getting some sort of bug and ended up in the hospital from dehydration. It could of been a lot worse if I had gotten the full blown flu though.

[mymilkshake]

I would definitely get. I also have to get it every flu season for work and I plan to get mine this Wednesday!

[sandandsea]

I'm getting the pregnancy safe shot. I have a feeling I'll be throwing up enough because of the pregnancy that o definitely don't want the flu too!!

[westisleflower]

Thanks for the advice ladies. I'm going tomorrow to get it after work since I have Thursday off and can get over any symptoms if I have any. Just one more question, is there a specific pregnancy safe shot I should ask for like sandandsea mentioned?

[sandandsea]

Oct 13, 2015 10:16:00 GMT -5 westisleflower said:

Thanks for the advice ladies. I'm going tomorrow to get it after work since I have Thursday off and can get over any symptoms if I have any. Just one more question, is there a specific pregnancy safe shot I should ask for like sandandsea mentioned?

Yeah, I forget the specifics of it - it's definitely not the mist and I think it doesn't have some preservative in it that other ones may.  I just asked the pharmacist to confirm.

[high5]

I had the flu shot a couple of days ago and am happy I did. I think the risks of the flu scare me more as I did a bit of research before I got it.
Good luck

[lakecountrygal]

I got mine a week ago when I took DS for his. My Drs office highly recommended it, especially to young children and pregnant women as well as the elderly and those who work with vulnerable people.

[vlinder]

I asked about this at the OB today and was given a flu shot pretty much right then and there.

[regal]

My doctors and midwives all recommended it with my first two. I'll be getting it again this winter.

[adeb9562]

Yep. Definitely got the flu shot as did DD. Not worth the risk of potentially getting the flu.

[bgkc4]

I am suffering from day 3 of a cold as I type this. I'd heard pregnancy could weaken the immune system, but I wasn't taking it super serious. Let me warn you, it's real! I have no idea how I got this cold and it's awful because I can't take most of the medicines I would usually take to treat it. Once I get better, I am definitely getting the flu shot. If a little cold is making me this uncomfortable, I could only imagine the flu.

[GOmamab15]

I got the pregnancy safe shot a couple weeks ago and I'm glad I did.
I wish they had a shot for the common cold!

[jlabbe1123]

Oct 18, 2015 12:13:45 GMT -5 bgkc4 said:

I am suffering from day 3 of a cold as I type this. I'd heard pregnancy could weaken the immune system, but I wasn't taking it super serious. Let me warn you, it's real! I have no idea how I got this cold and it's awful because I can't take most of the medicines I would usually take to treat it. Once I get better, I am definitely getting the flu shot. If a little cold is making me this uncomfortable, I could only imagine the flu.

Same here! This is what prompted me to take a test early to see if I was pregnant. I haven't had a cold in 10+ years & feel like hell. Didn't want to take anything until I found out & sure enough I was right. Hope you feel better soon!

[vivela]

I've only gotten the flu shot once and my body didn't really love it, so I've skipped it since then. This year I'll definitely get one. A few days of being kind of tired and headachey is NOT as bad as the flu. My husband got it last year and it is no joke. I have a pretty good immune system, probably from working with kids, but pregnancy is going to affect that.

[Andrea]

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

[titania]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

I asked my OB about that when I was there on Friday and he said that MH didn't absolutely need one this year (but I def. did need one).  I'm trying to convince MH to get one anyway, but we will see how that goes.  

[Andrea]

Oct 19, 2015 9:51:42 GMT -5 titania said:

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

I asked my OB about that when I was there on Friday and he said that MH didn't absolutely need one this year (but I def. did need one).  I'm trying to convince MH to get one anyway, but we will see how that goes.  

That is the battle that I am trying to figure out if it's worth fighting. I get sick at the drop of a hat, a minor cold for him turns into bronchitis for me so I guess I will ask when I go see my doc.

[jaykemp]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

Mine will because he can't afford to get sick. But he got his last year too because Little is a December baby. This year we're all getting it.

[westisleflower]

Just a mini-update I got the shot and the only symptom I got was a little runny nose for half a day, I call that a win in my book! As for DH, he says he will get one but hasn't yet, I'm not gonna push him on it, next year when the baby is only a few months old, you'd better bet I'll make sure he does it.

[chriskoo]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

I will be getting one soon and asking DH to get it as well. I don't think he's had it before but now seems like a good time to start!

[sandandsea]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

Yes, but they has a company come to their work and administer them for free.   He got the flu and pneumonia last year and it was no joke.

[greysonsmom]

I got it today at my OB's office. I don't want to get off my couch.

[birdhut]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

Mine will be because he has an auto immune disease and the office he gets his remicade in makes it mandatory to get it. However, I don't think they would need to if you get yours. He might bring it home though and you could get a not as serious version.

[lakecountrygal]

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

DH is required to because of his profession. He is a paramedic and is constantly dealing with sick people so his work requires it and pays for it.

[Andrea]

Oct 19, 2015 20:01:13 GMT -5 birdhut said:

Oct 19, 2015 9:48:04 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Are your husbands/partners getting the flu vaccine as well?

Mine will be because he has an auto immune disease and the office he gets his remicade in makes it mandatory to get it. However, I don't think they would need to if you get yours. He might bring it home though and you could get a not as serious version.

That's the issue, I have asthma and his little not serious versions usually kick my ass.

[birdhut]

Oct 19, 2015 22:30:12 GMT -5 Andrea said:

Oct 19, 2015 20:01:13 GMT -5 birdhut said:

Mine will be because he has an auto immune disease and the office he gets his remicade in makes it mandatory to get it. However, I don't think they would need to if you get yours. He might bring it home though and you could get a not as serious version.

That's the issue, I have asthma and his little not serious versions usually kick my ass.

Yeah I get it I have asthma too. I had the upper respiratory flu the year before I was pregnant with DD and it was awful!! That for me made me realize how important it was for me to get the shot while I was pregnant. I'm still concerned though because they are chosen based on what they think will be around and last year there was so much going around about how they picked the wrong ones.