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PG Ladies: Flu Vaccine Poll
This has been a controversial issue in the news, but how many of the pg ladies here are getting (1) the regular flu shot (2) the H1N1 flu shot? I've *never* gotten ANY flu shot in my entire life before and my OBG is recommending it for all pg ladies, but I think it's probably b/c it's been recommended by national health officials. I don't even think the swine flu is that bad but then I heard that just the flu, in general, affect pg women differently and is more serious.
I'm scared of the H1N1 vaccine b/c it's on a fast-track and there aren't any studies of long-term effects, etc. I don't even know if I want to get the normal flu shot either but at least it feels safer. So I'm curious what you ladies are doing and any thoughts on the issue as well...
Re: PG Ladies: Flu Vaccine Poll
I'm not getting either. I have never had a flu shot before and don't want to get my first when pregnant (b/c I'm not sure if I would have a strange reaction - I usually get pretty feverish after vaccines in general, every since childhood).
I do not work in an environment that would put me at any greater risk (i.e. not in a hospital or school) so I will just continue to wash my hands frequently, stay away from people/places that have confirmed flu/swine flu, and take my vitamins.
If I were to get a flu shot I would make sure it was the version w/out the mercury/thermisol additive.
As for H1N1 I'm still not getting it, but I have seen promising studies that the vaccine is just like a normal flu shot (not a mega dose or 3 part shot) so I probably just do some due diligence and ask questions about additives and side effects and then make an informed decision that I felt was best for me and my family.
I'm not pg (yet!) but I always get the regular flu shot, so I plan to again. Being a teacher who sees over 400 students a week, it just makes sense for me. Plus, MH is doctor, and he see sick people all day, too. Both of us bring things home all the time, and ever since getting the full-blown flu (I was out of work for a week...it was awful, almost worse than when I had pneumonia) a few years ago, we both always get the shot.
I do agree with concerns over the new H1N1 vaccine, though. I don't usually like to try things that are just barely newly developed. We'll see what my OB/GYN says when I do (hopefully soon) go to see her.
I got my first flu shot ever when I was pregnant with Maya. No reactions, no big deal.
I debated for awhile on whether or not to get it (my work was doing free flu jabs) and finally decided that the health risks to the baby if I caught the flu outweigh any potential side effects caused by the vaccine.
I think I am going to get the swine flu jab.
I have had the flu shot once before...many years ago.
I got mine last week at my at my 21 week appt. (since I was OOT for the 20 week appt.)...I decided to do it because I have a huge convention for work in 2 weeks (with 7,000 delegates from all around the world coming to town for 10 days) and figured that if I am going to be exposed to the flu, that would be the time.
I asked my doc about H1N1 and she said they've not done enough trials on PG women and that it won't be available here until November anyway. She didn't recommend it.
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I thought I should also add that I did discuss it with the midwife at my last appt. and she said she totally felt comfortable with my decision after I explained my reasoning. She said she sometimes helps mothers make a decision and gives them more info about it if she feels that it would be beneficial but for me she didn't really see any reason to push it.
She was actually not recommending the H1N1 vaccine at this time (even if it was actually available).
I'm totally on the fence still! I really can't decide. I never get a regular flu shot and haven't been sick in 11 years. But when I do get sick, it's awful. Being pregnant and a health care worker puts me in the super high risk group, but I work in NICU so I won't be exposed at work like nurses who work with adults.
I have read somewhere that babies of women who had the flu shot got sick less in the first 6 months of life than those whose moms had not received the shot. So that makes me kind of want to get it.
I asked my doctor about it but she didn't really say either way whether I should get it. She just said they'd have it available. So at my appointment next week I'm going to discuss it with her again. Sorry, I'm not much help and I actually didn't vote since I'm undecided.
I've been getting the flu shot for the last three years, since my MIL was diagnosed with colon cancer. I work at a hospital and my bebe will be born in the height of cold and flu season so I'll definitely be getting both.
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I am so on the fence about this, I'm not sure what I am going to do ( I did not vote btw). Working on airplanes and being exposed to up to 500 people a day on planes plus the people in the airport terminals puts me at a much greater risk. At the same time, I really do not trust these vaccines. I don't even takes meds very much in general. It's been over a year since I've taken anything more than a cough drop, no tylenol even.
Until I decide, I'm washing my hands as much as possible. Not putting my hands in or near my mouth or eyes. I'm now using some antibacterial stuff where I used to never use it. I am getting plenty of sleep and if I feel the least bit run down, I've been calling in sick (I don't feel bad for doing so either). I'm trying to eat super foods to help my immune system. I carry masks and gloves with me in case I'm stuck on a plane with someone who seems ill. I won't go near them without it. I've only had to use it once so far. I wouldn't take the persons trash without putting on gloves. Then when she came back to the back galley to b!tch me out for embarrasing her, I put on the mask and made the problem worse. I don't feel the least bit bad about that episode either. Every passenger around her that wasn't related to her agreed with me it seemed. What else can I do to keep myself healthy beside stay home or take a risky shot?
Anyway, did you guys ever watch that Will Smith movie where they find a cure for cancer but the vaccine turns everyone into zombies? It was a good movie IMO! Not that that would happen in real life but H1N1 talk reminds me of that movie
it can be really bad if you get the flu while you are PG so to me the benefits definitely outweigh the risks. I got the flu shot yesterday. hand washing is still the best prevention but I also work with a lot of different people and aerosol exposure is also a possibility. I also plan to get the H1N1 vaccine - every year the "regular" flu shot is made based on a new strain (the virus is isolated from other parts of the world before it migrates/makes its way to the US) so it is different every year and technically "new" each yr...the H1N1 is just another strain of the flu and thus should be made w/the same technology so I don't see how it is that different from getting a regular flu shot every year. I think the media is really making all this H1N1 stuff a bigger deal than it is actually...and think the regular flu shot is more impt than the H1N1 shot since there are still more deaths this flu season from the "regular" flu strain
just my 2 cents
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
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I did not get the flu shot while I was pregnant but wish I had because it transfers to the baby as well. Infants cannot get a flu shot until they are at least 12 months and if they get the flu before then, it can be lethal. Luckly, the flu shot also transfers during breastfeeding so I got one at my 6-week post-delivery check-up.
This year, I plan on getting both the regular flu shot as well as H1N1. DH is also going to get both.
DS is definitely getting the flu shot. I also want him to get H1N1 but want to talk to my pedi for her recommendations for timing of the shots. His 12-month appointment is in a couple weeks so the timing is good for H1N1.
Here is a great article by Dr.Sears about the H1N1 vaccine.
I'm not PG, but I do want to share a little info with you ladies:
I'm a pharmacist at women and children's hospital and am certain that being pregnant makes you more at risk for complications when pregnant. We've had two deaths in pregnant ladies so far (both of which had H1N1 confirmed). Their babies were delivered via emergency c-sections and are doing fine. Both of them had no prior history that would have made them at a higher risk and in general were normal women in their 20's and 30's. We also have had our fair share of pregnant women landing in the ICU with respiratory distress due to H1N1. It's a constant struggle as a pharmacist balancing the risk of giving life-saving medications to the mothers while trying to balance the risk to their developing babies. It's hard to say if these children will develop normally or will have unforeseen developmental issues due to fetal exposure of medications with unknown pregnancy risks.
With this said, I highly recommend getting the H1N1 vaccine for those of you who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
That's so sad re the pregnant women, you mentioned, who have died. Not that ANY of the other deaths from H1N1 are any less sad but...
That's the roll of the dice I guess...we don't yet know the risks to the unborn child. It's scary going in blind like that. I guess it comes down to the weigh-up of the risks to the life of the pregnant woman (if she contracted swine flu) vs any unknown potential risks to the unborn baby from the vaccine.
Interestingly, I just had my cousin contact me on FB re. me thinking of getting Maya vaccinated against it. The company she works for are helping with the testing. She told me they are still doing the testing on the vaccinations for kids under 10. When I told her I'm considering it for myself too she said "It's fine for pregnant women. They are recomending you go and get it done now".
Thanks for sharing all your thoughts and/or experiences ladies. It's been very helpful.
AndreaMing, thanks for letting us know the dangers that you've seen from your experience as well.
I also talked to my OBG (who I met for the first time) today. I liked her a lot and she also highly recommended both vaccines. I'm planning to get the flu shot (which I was leaning towards anyway) in a couple of weeks and I'll probably get the H1N1 one sometime after that but I will definitely keep an eye on the news for any adverse effects b/c they apparently started testing on pg women about a week ago or so.