FLU Shot Advice

[*pixie*dust*]

I did not have a flu shot this year nor has my son. The one time I had one I was sick afterwards. (I have also heard there are mercury issue to consider??)
So my sister is pregnant with her 1st baby. She has let the family know that anyone that wants to be around the baby (due in February) had to have had a flu shot.

So do I get DS and I flu shots to appease my sister? I am not sure how I feel. I called the doctor's office and they are out. They said it is optional and I should do what I thought was best.
What would you do?

 

[eeyoremum]

I would say it is not your sisters business if you have the shot or not. I know it is her baby but you have some say in what you put in your body.

I too had a bad reaction to the flu shot. I will never get it again nor will my children.

I guess you have a few choices

1) get the shot

2) don't see the baby

3) lie and say you got the shot

 

[C.Ann]

The exact same thread was posted last year, but can't remember who posted it..

The deal here (I live with DD and her family during the winter), is that my doctor insists they all have a flu shot - to protect me.. However, I have never - nor would I ever - insist that they do it.. Their bodies, their decision..

In your case, if you are uncomfortable with it, I would just tell the mom-to-be that you and your son will visit her and the new baby after the flu season is over..

There's really no way of her protecting her baby from the flu 100% (nor can I be protected 100%) without going into total hibernation.. I would bet my last dollar that when she takes her baby to the peds office for her first check up after she's born there will be people (and kids) in that office that have not had a flu shot.. Personally, I think she's being unreasonable and living in a fantasy world if she thinks her baby will only be exposed to people who have had a flu shot..

 

[clgwli]

Unless you are going to be in constant contact with the baby I do not understand why you need the shot. I have only done it if I am going to be in constant (nearly daily) contact with small children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system.

Your sister is very much out of line IMO. Staying away when ill and washing hands should be more than plenty. I would never force someone to get a shot like that.

That said not all flu shots have mercury in them. Those that do have such teeny tiny traces of it that it isn't dangerous. Also the flu shot does NOT make you sick. If you got sick after it wasn't related to the shot. Yes you can feel a little run down as one can feel after all vaccines but it cannot make you sick. If you caught the flu you were exposed to it prior to the shot

 

[Laura]

I did not have a flu shot this year nor has my son. The one time I had one I was sick afterwards. (I have also heard there are mercury issue to consider??)
So my sister is pregnant with her 1st baby. She has let the family know that anyone that wants to be around the baby (due in February) they had to have had a flu shot.

So do I get DS and I flu shots to appease my sister? I am not sure how I feel. I called the doctor's office and they are out. They said it is optional.
What would you do?

I'm due in February and I have no intention of telling my family this. They'll have to wash their hands for a little while at first, and if they get sick they'll probably have the sense to stay away as it is.

I've had the flu shot, so I'll give my daughter immunity for 6 months after birth. That lasts the baby through flu season.

Real medical info here:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20080917/pregnant-moms-flu-shot-protects-baby

 

[tinatark]

Our really good friends said that, too. We stayed away for about a month - but let me tell you how ticked I was to talk to her on the phone and hear about how cute the waitress said the baby was!

It really caused a big rift in the relationship (her dh and my dh are best friends, have been for about 25 years) - took awhile to heal.

Of course, later, her dh asked my dh why he didn't set him straight when it was happening! They were freakily paranoid parents, at first, anyway.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If you believe it was the mercury derivative thimerasol that caused your problems, you can request a thimerasol free shot. Hopefully you can find somebody who has it. I can completely understand where she is coming from. The flu can bevery dangerous to babies and those who have contact with newborns are considered a high risk group for getting the flu shot.

This is something you will have to work out with yor family. Let her know your reservations and your difficulty getting the shot. See if you all can come to an agreement.

 

[CathrynRose]

I did not have a flu shot this year nor has my son. The one time I had one I was sick afterwards. (I have also heard there are mercury issue to consider??)
So my sister is pregnant with her 1st baby. She has let the family know that anyone that wants to be around the baby (due in February) they had to have had a flu shot.

So do I get DS and I flu shots to appease my sister? I am not sure how I feel. I called the doctor's office and they are out. They said it is optional.
What would you do?

Lame.

No, I wouldnt do anything to my body to appease anyone.

Besides the fact that the baby is going to still have immunity from the mother by the time "Flu Season" is over.

If it were me - and this may not be popular - I'd lie. You know if youre sick, right? I would hope you wouldnt go holding the baby and such, if you were under the weather.

 

[kpm76]

Well, just as you have a right to decide whether or not to get the shot, she also has the right to limit access to her child. Personally, I think she is being a bit unreasonable but her choice I guess. I would make the decision that is best for your family and accept the potential consequences of your decision. However, I would not lie about getting if you have not as another poster suggested.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I did not have a flu shot this year nor has my son. The one time I had one I was sick afterwards. (I have also heard there are mercury issue to consider??)
So my sister is pregnant with her 1st baby. She has let the family know that anyone that wants to be around the baby (due in February) they had to have had a flu shot.

So do I get DS and I flu shots to appease my sister? I am not sure how I feel. I called the doctor's office and they are out. They said it is optional.
What would you do?

I would not get a flu shot. I certainly hope your sister did not get one while pregnant either. We do not get the flu shot here.

 

[clgwli]

I would not get a flu shot. I certainly hope your sister did not get one while pregnant either. We do not get the flu shot here.

Why? Not everyone believes vaccinations are evil. Flu shots are safe for pregnant women.

 

[kpm76]

Lame.

No, I wouldnt do anything to my body to appease anyone.

Besides the fact that the baby is going to still have immunity from the mother by the time "Flu Season" is over.

If it were me - and this may not be popular - I'd lie. You know if youre sick, right? I would hope you wouldnt go holding the baby and such, if you were under the weather.

Not always the case. Sometimes you are carrying something but it does not manifest itself right away. However, it can be spread even if you don't "feel" sick yet. The OP has the right to decide whether or not to get the shot but lying is not a solution.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Unless you are going to be in constant contact with the baby I do not understand why you need the shot. I have only done it if I am going to be in constant (nearly daily) contact with small children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system.

Your sister is very much out of line IMO. Staying away when ill and washing hands should be more than plenty. I would never force someone to get a shot like that.

That said not all flu shots have mercury in them. Those that do have such teeny tiny traces of it that it isn't dangerous. Also the flu shot does NOT make you sick. If you got sick after it wasn't related to the shot. Yes you can feel a little run down as one can feel after all vaccines but it cannot make you sick. If you caught the flu you were exposed to it prior to the shot

This is 100% false. It is dangerous to many people. There are plenty of people who have bodies that cannot process heavy metals and any amount is dangerous to them.

 

[kpm76]

Why? Not everyone believes vaccinations are evil. Flu shots are safe for pregnant women.

Exactly. And it was recommended by my Ivy League educated OB

 

[*pixie*dust*]

I would not get a flu shot. I certainly hope your sister did not get one while pregnant either. We do not get the flu shot here.

Yes, my sister did get the shot. I was surprised that she is "requiring" it for those that want to be around the baby, as she has never been really worried about that kind of stuff before.

Not sure how I feel. A little like I am being guilted or blackmailed by her.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Why? Not everyone believes vaccinations are evil. Flu shots are safe for pregnant women.

I do not believe vaccinations are evil but thanks for assuming. I have done the research. They are not as safe as you think.

 

[clgwli]

This is 100% false. It is dangerous to many people. There are plenty of people who have bodies that cannot process heavy metals and any amount is dangerous to them.

And if you know that you should get the thermosil free shot. Which if you read my post you will see I said that it exists as well. I highly doubt that it is dangerous to *many* though. Some? yes. Many? No. If I am wrong please point me to percentages of the population that has issues with even trace amounts of metal in their body.

Until then I will listen to this link
http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm

Sorry I wasn't wise enough to tell you that unless you have known issues the trace amounts aren't dangerous. Kind of like saying that flying isn't dangerous for most but there is always the exception to the rule. But for the most part both are equally as safe to the average American population.

Then again I have a feeling you are anti-vaccination so this conversation is probably 100% pointless.

Just don't go putting people down for doing things that they believe in as you did in your post.

I know I sure do not do that. I consider that kind of thing to be rude.

 

[Laura]

I do not believe vaccinations are evil but thanks for assuming. I have done the research. They are not as safe as you think.

I'd rather get a flu shot than A) get the flu while pregnant and B) have my daughter get the flu as a newborn. In both situations, each person has decreased immunity vs. the typical adult. But you're a little late to warn me. I got my vaccination several weeks ago.

My DH has gotten flu shots every year because he's diabetic. He's also gotten the pneumonia vaccination. I've gotten the shot a couple of times if I'm going to be around a person undergoing chemo. Weakened immune systems suck.

But in this case, the baby has immunity from mom, so no need to make the whole family get shots.

 

[clgwli]

I do not believe vaccinations are evil but thanks for assuming. I have done the research. They are not as safe as you think.

I have done research too thank you very much Being in the medical world for a while made me big into medical research.

 

[Fishbone†]

Flu shots are safe for pregnant women.

I don't believe that can be said with absolute certainty. There are some serious concerns / questions I would like answered before I take that chance.

I'm due in February as well, and won't be getting the flu shot. Whatever did newborn babies do before the shot existed? How did they survive the visitors?

That said, I guess I wouldn't lie. I think her request is over the top, but I may have some requests that my family feels are over the top (I don't know what they would be, but they could exist), and I would like them to abide by them or at least be honest with me about how they feel.