Flu shot while pregnant?

[AllyandJack]

Ladies, have you gotten a flu shot while pregnant? My first OB (he recently passed and my appt with my new OB is Monday) said I should have one, but not until after 13 weeks.

Well, that's going to be mid-December. What if there aren't any left? What if I get the flu before then?

I've never had a flu shot. I usually DO get the flu, but I never have terrible problems - I just get in bed, pop Tylenol, and wait for it to go away.

What are your opinions? Yay or nay to the flu shot during pregnancy??

TIA for sharing all your experience.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I probably wouldnt.. I just had 2 babies back to back and did not get the shot with either.

 

[kerrynic78]

I am 31 weeks and my OB told me to definitely get one.

 

[mtemm]

I didn't get one either time I was pg. I have never had a flu shot, actually. Haven't had the flu in over 10-15 years. I do get colds every year, but never the flu.

 

[mrsltg]

Hi Carla-

They generally say second trimester because the baby is essentially done forming and then is just growing. The actual 'flu' not just a bad cold will likely have you sick for at least week and then another week to recover. When my dd got it she was sick for two weeks and then took another two before she was active and herself again. Wait until your second trimester and ask your doctor what they think at the time.


Good luck!
Erin

 

[helenabear]

Mine said nothing about not getting it. I actually got mine a few days before I found out I was pregnant. I was told not to worry at all since it's on the list of okay'd boosters that they allow (just looked in my packet)

If you usually get the flu, having a sustained fever can be very bad for your body. I was told anything above about 101 for more than a day is something they really do not want you to get. My doc office actually has a sign right now saying the flu shot is available for all expectant mothers. I was told that they want you to have it if you are going to be pregnant in your second or third trimester in the height of the flu season. Since ours starts around Christmas here, I am glad to have gotten it. From all I have read, all studies show teh shot to be safe and have caused no rise in percentage of any bad things happening to fetuses while given in the first or second trimester. I said that poorly, but I'm sure you understand what I mean

 

[katerkat]

I didn't get one when I was pregnant. But then, I never got it when I wasn't, and Russ hasn't had it yet either. I was in my second trimester in mid-September.

If all you did was lie in bed and pop some Tylenol, you probably didn't have the "real" flu.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Personally, I'm not getting it. I've never gotten a flu shot before, and generally am not sick during the winter. The OB recommended it, but also said it wasn't a big deal if I didn't get it.

Jen

 

[cats7494]

Yes - I did get one when I was pregnant. I was pregnant last year during the flu season as well. It is recommended because if you do get the flu it can risk your and the baby's health...rising body temp...etc...
Good luck and congrats on upcoming baby!

 

[EthansMom]

I always get a flu shot and got one when I was pregnant with DD. Like your OB, mine recommended waiting until after the first trimester.

If there isn't any availability of flu shots in mid-to-late December, then practice good hand washing and avoid people whom you know (or suspect) are ill. A mild flu shouldn't harm you or the baby, but illness makes it difficult to take care of yourself (eating, exercise, etc.) in all of the ways that you should.

Also, if you haven't already gotten one, ask for a list of approved and not-approved over-the-counter medications. With my first pregnancy, the OB gave me a pre-printed list which was great!

 

[helenabear]

Carla,

Just because I was curious. I looked up more. The CDC states that it is safe for anyone who is pregnant at any time. I found a forum where a few nurses and other people in the medical field state the reason why they don't want to give it out in the 1st trimester is due to the higher risk of miscarriage and don't want you to blame yourself on that one if it does happen.

Again I had mine at about 4-5 weeks pregnant at a health fair at work. They had risk forms to sign with people who should not get it and my doc said it was fine. So I think that should be your call on whether you get it or not.

I've gotten it pretty much annually since my mom had cancer when I was 16. I haven't had the flu since (knock on wood) and I would think the risk of elevated body temp would be worse. It takes several weeks for the shot to become effective which would probably not be as helpful for you with the flu season.

I know you have a new doc, so I would run it by them, but most in the medical field say it is safe for the first trimester and they want you to be inoculated if you are going to be pregnant during the height of the flu season.

 

[golfgal]

I would say that if you could pop a couple tylenol and that is all you didn't have influenza. With influenza you usually have a HIGH fever, 103, 104 high, severe body aches, like you hurt so bad your HAIR hurts type aches. It would NOT be good to get the real influenza while pregnant. Even getting a shot in December will reduce your chances of coming down with influenza. Depending on where you are and when the flu usually hits your area, getting a shot in Dec can be good. I know the flu hit our area really late, March, last year and people that had gotten shots in early Oct ended up coming down with the flu. Those that got shots in Nov/Dec were fine.

 

[GraysMom]

I got a flu shot when I was 6 months pg with DS. It was the first time I had ever gotten the shot, but it was highly recommended since I was pg in the winter and DS would be born in late January (no fun to get the flu and try recovering from giving birth with a newborn to take care of, is what I figured). I also taught First Grade, so there were lots of germs floating around my classroom and the school in general. I didn't have any problems with it except the injection site was a little tender when I tried to sleep on it that first night. Good luck.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

The flu shot has mercury in it. I would never expose my baby to that. The flu shot doesn't even protect against all strains of the flu.

I am not getting one. I find it incredibly silly and confusing that we are told not to ingest certain types of fish because of mercury, but injecting mercury straight into your bloodstream is a-ok? Whatever. And a few years ago, pregnant women were NOT supposed to get the shot. Now they are? It's suddenly safe? Give me a break.

 

[carrie s]

I got the flu shot while I was pregnant.

 

[Sonya]

I got mine. The nurse said that she would give them after 9 weeks, just to be sure

 

[coolbeans]

I had the flu shot with both of my pregnancies. I HATE needles, totally HATE needles..did I mention I HATE needles!

 

[MosMom]

I just wanted to say Congratulations! I didn't know you were pregnant! Fantastic news!

 

[HamTown]

Had three pregnancies, two flu shots. I hit 2nd trimester right at the beginning of flu season each time (we're very consistent ). I would definitely get the shot. My last OB's office had a special supply (non-thimerasol I think) just for his "pregnant ladies" and kept them just for us even in the midst of the shortage a couple years ago. Ask your OB's office what kind they have and if they will give them in the office (with my 2nd child, the office didn't give flu vaccines or my Rho-Gam, very annoying).

I had never gotten the flu shot (or the flu) before my first pregnancy, but I've only missed the shot once since then. That year I got the flu! Nursing with the flu is not much fun, but being pregnant with the flu would be 10x worse!