flu shot?

[rockgirl]

Did you get the flu shot while pregnant? :md: If so when? My doc says anytime is fine but I am nervous about the entire situation. There is so much controversy on the web... it's driving me mad!

suggestions???

Hmm, haven't thought about it for this year.

I did get a flu shot during my second pregnancy sometime in the late 2nd or early 3rd trimester, if I remember correctly. Are you concerned about the thimersol? I did not get a thimersol free shot. I have mild asthma and figured that the risks of having the flu outweighed other risks. Just my two cents, though.

I've heard it's fine, but I also have a friend of a friend who SWEARS that it caused her miscarriage. I guess there is still a small dose of mercury in the shot, and she miscarried w/in 24 or 36 hours of getting the shot (this after having the heartbeat confirmed, after which the percentage of chance for an early miscarriage goes down greatly).

My dh has never been a proponent of the flu shot. He says there are too many strains and the likelihood that the shot has the right combination is v. small. Taking those two things into account, I do not plan to get a flu shot while pregnant.

[rockgirl]

When to get it, thimerosal issues, should I get it at all, as a teacher I am extra high risk category, doctors all say get it, others say its no big deal. DH wants me to get it and I have every year since I began teaching. Now carrying a little one, I hate getting worked up about something as simple as a flu shot. It's just frustrating and I worry too much and don't want to screw this kid up before its born! I am sure it is going to be fine... and I will laugh at myself for getting worked up...

In the past, there has been a thimersol free version but not every drs office has it. I might cost more. You could wait a few weeks and track down the thimersol free version as a compromise.

although there are studies linking mothers having flu during the first trimester to increased incidence of schizophrenia. !

geez! we can't get a break for ANYTHING!

teaching is definitely a high-risk profession for germs! perhaps Nellie's solution is best - thimersol-free and wait a few weeks 'til you're out of the first trimester.

[migirl]

I had a flu shot while pregnant with Jack and it was fine.

[Momo]

When living in MI my OB advised me to get the shot, so I did...@ 40 weeks guess who had the flu??? Needless to say DH and DS came down w/ it as well, so I had to ask OB & God to put off delivery until we were all better! It's a good thing DD was "snug as a bug"...when I was 42 weeks she was still comfy so that's when OB said repeat* c-sec.


*(DS was breech and they weren't able to flip him)

[DCJenn]

I think the key thing is that the flu can kill you. that's a whole lot more certain than "maybe cause this" or "have heard that".

and healthcare providers, teachers, and all of the others of us who are constantly exposed to the little petri dishes that are kids or the big petri dishes that are sick people- it's definitely something to keep in mind.

Although of all of the shots to get while working with the public- Hep B is the most vital, I'd say. Followed by chicken pox- especially for adult men who have never had the pox.

Jenn

[Gwendolyn]

I think the key thing is that the flu can kill you. that's a whole lot more certain than "maybe cause this" or "have heard that".

No flaming intended here, just a question: really? I have never (knock on wood) had a cold/flu that has kept me out of work/school longer than a day. I know it is the last thing you want to do while pregnant... I didn't get it because I didn't want to obsess about it and I had never had a case that was so severe that I was incapacitated, let alone at death's door. I tend to be of the same camp that the shot won't exactly protect you, so why bother?

That being said, and I guess what I am getting at is that it seems like it is not a deal ether way, so you should do what makes you most comfortable... right?

I've only had the real flu (not what people call a flu) once and it was miserable -- I think I missed at least 3 days of work. I think that was in a year that the shot didn't match the disease(s) very well. Can't remember if I had a shot.

But yes people do die from the flu. Usually older people or ones with other compromising health conditions. The flu a few years ago was really bad. I can't remember the exact number but I want to say 8 children in Colorado died from the flu. Not all had chronic conditions or were below age 2 (two higher risk categories).

[Gwendolyn]

O.K. right, I know people die from the flu...I mean healthy people in their 20's and 30's living in middle class conditions?

I am not trying to be a stinker...there is just so much crap to needlessly scare pregnant women...

I think you're right -- it would be unusual. It was with the cases in Colorado (I don't know about all, but it wasn't just sick kids or those w/o access to health care, etc).

That one year was just a bad one for the flu. I do know a pregnant woman who got it and cracked some ribs or something like that from coughing. Whether being hugely pg contributed or not, I don't know. Made for a fun L&D. :!

[Stella]

Pregnant women -- especially those in late pregnancy -- are at risk for complications from influenza, or "the flu," even if they are healthy. The most thorough study of influenza-related illness during pregnancy was reported in 1998 (1). This study examined the effect of the flu on pregnant women during 17 previous influenza seasons.

from http://www.pamf.org/flu/preg.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu shots for all women who will be pregnant during flu season. In North America, peak flu season is usually November to March. Because the flu shot is made from killed (inactivated) influenza virus, it is considered safe during any stage of pregnancy. However, pregnant women should not use the nasal-spray flu vaccine, which is made with live, weakened influenza virus.

from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/influenza/AN00651

I'll also ask SO's dad (IM doc) if he knows anything...



ETA: I have only gotten a flu shot once in my life that I can remember...and THAT was the one year in life that I've gotten the flu. SO gets it, I don't. He is usually sick more often than me. Go figure!!! If you don't, just keep some hand sanitizer at your desk and use it all the time.

[Gwendolyn]

cracked some ribs or something like that from coughing. Whether being hugely pg contributed or not, I don't know. Made for a fun L&D. :!

I can't imagine how horrible that must have been!!