question for those who are pregnant or ttc

[Alphabetsoup]

DH and I are thinking about starting to ttc soon....I work at a university and have not had a flu shot in years because everytime I got it, I spent most of the winter sick with various infections. This year i've just been taking my multi-vitamin, 2000mg of vit. C a day and 2000 of D3...and I haven't had anything more than a slight allergy sniffle (lasted maybe 8 hours).

That said, we are thinking of ttc soon-ish and I'm wondering if I should get the flu shot, or not...get the H1N1 vaccine or not..etc...

For those that are ttc or pregnant...did you get the seasonal or H1N1 vaccines? What did your docs recommend? Any side effects? Anyone been pregnant and have one of the flus?

Also, is there a link between flu during pregnancy and austism in children?

Thanks!

Soupy

 

[DMickey28]

My OB recommends it. Most do. They do not, however, pressure me to get it. I have choosen not to. I have never had a flu shot. I was pregnant with DS at the same time in 2006/2007 and everything was good. I do believe that I had H1N1 this summer and that DS has had it as well. We are both fine.

You need to do what is comfortable for you. Honestly, someone told me that you should treat the H1N1 vax the same as you would the regular flu shot. It would have been in the regular flu shot if it was as abundent when they were making up the flu shot for this year. Since we never get the flu shot, that made my decision to not get the H1N1 vax.

I also am a SAHM and DH works out of the house so our exposure is controlled. If I worked AND DS was in daycare I might consider it. Even when I was pregnant with DS and working it never crossed my mind to get the flu shot.

Good Luck on TTC!!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I am about 33 weeks preggo and I got the swine shot when I was 6 mos preggo. My OB was very adament that I get it and since he is a high risk specialist and very well thought of in the community for his skills I, of course, did what he told me to lol. The shot didn't hurt at all, I barely even felt it. The only side effect I had was a small cold (runny nose, cough, etc) which may or may not have anything to do with the shot (the cold lasted a few days). Heck I have two other kids that constantly bring viruses home so they could have been the cause lol.

As for the regular flu shot, no I didn't take it. The only time I have taken it was when I was preggo with my last daughter and I got a horrible case of the flu FROM THAT SHOT!! I asked my OB and he said I didn't have to take that, but pushed me into the shot room to get the swine shot lol.

As for the autism thing, I have no clue as I don't have any experience with autism.

Hope that helps!

 

[creativeamanda]

Autism has NOT been linked to the flu shot for mothers while pregnant. I am the autism specialist for the local school district. The links to vaccinations have been when children received certain vaccinations and the CDC now says there is not a link there, either.

As for the flu shot itself, the sickest I ever was with the flu was when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I got the flu shot that year.

You do what your doctor suggests, though.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The flu shot is made by different manufacturers and they are not all exactly alike. There is a latex free/mercury free seasonal flu shot available, but you usually have to know to specifically request it.

My friend got the seasonal flu shot while pregnant and is convinced that led to her son's autism, but there will never be a way to really know.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't ever get the flu shot and have never been told by any of my docs/midwives during pregnancy.

My OB whom I just saw today still hasn't recommended H1N1.

I have not heard a link between mom getting vaccinated and baby. The only connections I have heard are in a direct innoculation to a baby/child.

If you would consider the shots anyway, I would probably get them.

I am phobic of needles so pretty much avoid any needle unless it is strongly urged to do the procedure.

But I will say that my morning sickness is bad enough (and worse each time) that I can't take any pills. Once you are unable to take all the extra vitamins if that were to happen, then your immune system isn't being benefitted as soon as your body metabolizes all that.

So if I wasn't needle-phobic and knowing my history, I would do the shots as a precaution. But alas--needle-phobic so I'm not volunteering my arm.

As for autism--they do not know what causes it, but I've never heard of contracting the flu as being a link (but I'm assuming you forgot the word "shot" in which case, I haven't heard a link their either.)

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I've seen articles and proper documented research that argues both ways...
1) Flu (not the shot, but the actual flu) in pregnant women may cause autism in the fetus

and

2) Getting the flu shot while pregnant may cause autism in the fetus.

That is why I was asking. I'm debating whether or not to get the seasonal vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine, both???? Neither....I'm trying to decide. I'm somewhat concerned about getting flu while pregnant as I already have high blood pressure, and I've been reading that pregnancy already puts more stress on the heart and lungs, that a respiratory infection (like flu) can cause some serious complications for the mother and potentially for the fetus.

The thing is, we are planning to start trying soon, and if we got lucky I'd be in the early stages of pregnancy during the rest of flu season. I'm concerned about getting the flu during that time period. That is why I was wondering who had the shot while they were pregnant... and who had it prior to getting pregnant.

I'm leaning toward getting the shot prior to getting pregnant (like in the next week). The downside there is that I'm heading to Disney on the 18th of December and am worried that I may react badly to the shot. The last time I had the flu shot I was sick all winter with one thing after another...

So many decisions...*sigh*

 

[justhat]

If you were to get the shots now, then conceive a child, it would be no different than if you had actually contracted the seasonal flu or h1n1 flu prior to conception. So essentially there would be no impact on your pregnancy or child.

Having said that, I am 30 weeks pregnant and got the seasonal flu vaccine at about 24 weeks and h1n1 vaccine at 27 weeks. My OB strongly recommended all his pregnant patients to get both, as did every physician I know. I was/am fine. While I obviously cannot yet guarantee that my daughter will be fine, I did get the seasonal flu vaccine while pregnant with my other children and they are totally fine.

Additionally, my OB's office also recommended that any woman planning on TTC should get the DTaP booster as there is a rise in pertussis, which can be particularly harmful during pregnancy. I did get that in March and conceived this child in May. My OB himself didn't suggest this (I saw a different dr for my routine annual exam) so I don't know if that is his stance or not, but 2 other OBs in his office recommended it so I got it.

 

[justhat]

Just to clarify, the flu shot, whether it is seasonal or h1n1, does NOT give you the flu. It simply can't. It is a dead virus. If you were to get the flu mist, the live virus, then yes, it is possible to contract the flu. Not, however, from the shot.

Obviously you could still contract the flu, as the shots only protect against certain strains, but it would not be the result of getting the vaccine.

 

[locolala]

I got the seasonal flu vaccine back in the beginning of October, so before I got pregnant or right around when I concieved. I recieved my H1N1 shot last week. All of the doctors and nurses at the Naval hospital are strongly encouraging it for TTC and pregnant women, because pregnant women are approximately 6 times more likely to have complications.

 

[bedillamouse]

I will just quickly post that I had a horrible case of the flu when I was pregnant with my 1st DD....I had to go to the ER for IV fluids for dehydration....very scary but my DD is fine. I have also heard that the H1N1 is dangerous for pregnant women so if you're thinking about it maybe get the shot just to be sure before you get pregnant....could you wait until after your Disney vaction to get the shot ...that way you don't have to worry if you think you'll get sick from the shot. Maybe put off TTC another month just to give yourself some time with the shot and vacation situation??

Regardless of what you try to do....good luck and have a great vacation!

 

[mrs_hower726]

I'm TTC right now and I didn't get any shots nor do I plan on it. The only time I ever had the flu is the year I got the flu shot. What I am doing though is taking pre-natal vitamins and watching my diet and exercising. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just to clarify, the flu shot, whether it is seasonal or h1n1, does NOT give you the flu. It simply can't. It is a dead virus. If you were to get the flu mist, the live virus, then yes, it is possible to contract the flu. Not, however, from the shot.

Obviously you could still contract the flu, as the shots only protect against certain strains, but it would not be the result of getting the vaccine.

Just another tidbit in case other pregnant moms are reading and considering--we can only get the shot form of the vaccine once pregnant and not the mist.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have never gotten it and my OB does not reccomend it.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and have had both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot. My OB recommended it as did my general practitioner. As a teacher I'm exposed to everything under the sun germ wise, and never get proper notification as to "what" is in my classroom, so it was a reasonable step to take in protecting both myself and my baby's health. I have also gotten the seasonal flu shot during previous pregnancies and have never had an issue.

While I have not had the flu myself this year, DH had H1N1. Which means I was exposed to the germs but never exhibited signs of it. And like I said, I'm a teacher and have had plenty of kids out with flu like symptoms, but aside from a cough and runny nose prior to the shots I haven't had any issues health wise.

 

[justhat]

RangerPooh - My husband had h1n1 too (or at least we think) and he was very, very sick. Temps over 103 for a few days, terrible cough, achiness, etc. I was vaccinated for it (and he should have been as a physician, however he missed the clinic then got lazy about getting the shot and then got sick) and was barely sick. I had a mild temp for about 24 hours, mild achiness, then got over it all within a day. So it could have just been luck, but I think the vaccine helped me stave off the level of illness my husband reached, thank gosh.

And LisaLovesPooh brings up a good point. If you want the mist vs shot, get it now before you conceive as once you are pregnant you no longer get the mist as an option.

 

[monkeybug]

I waited until I had received both shots before TTC. My concern was less about the flu, and more that often times co infections can result from the flu and require prescription meds. Last time I got a sinus infection I had to have two rounds of antibiotics and the second round was class C (which they try not to give pregnant women). I don't like the idea of taking meds. while preggers and I know a lot of people who have had the flu and ended up with a prescription for bronchitis/sinus infection/pnemonia, I figured having the shots first would help reduce the risk of getting on of those. Plus the flu with out Sudafed, mucinex, and ibuprofen? No thanks!