FLU SHOT

[Neffi211]

Hey I just got an email from baby center saying it's important for pregnant women to get flu shots....how many people out there are planning on doing this? I have not ever had to flu, or had a flu shot!

[sugabeanzs]

I got the flu shot when I was preggers. I totally recommend it! If you get the flu while you are preggers it is horrible (my friend had it) and you can get dehydrated, get contractions from that, and end up in the hospital. It does not harm the baby...oh wait now that I say that...I think there was something that you do or do not get it in the first trimester...I forget...ask your OB.

[chelly180]

I got the flu shot at my OB appt last month, I was 22 weeks. My arm was sore for a few days but I did not develop any symptoms. I read an article that said if pregnant women get the flu shot atleast 1 month before delivery the baby can have some limited carry over resistance to the flu. This is important since babies cant get immunized for flu until 6 months.
If you do get symptoms, it is NOT the flu. It is your body's reaction to vaccine and it gets run down when you are trying to develop the antibodies. You can get tired, achy, mild fever but it is not actually the flu. I believe the flu vaccine they give to pregnant women is either dead or only part of the virus...not a live attenuated virus.
Hope this helps-
Michele

[CT_Michele]

Neffi- get the flu shot. I got one last year for the first time b/c I was working in a school and exposed to alot of germy kids. 3 months after getting the shot, I got pregnant and they told me to get one(but I already had it). I had to get one again this year b/c my baby is under 6 months old and can not get one herself, so I need to make sure she won't catch it from me or dh. Dh and I had no side effects from the shot.

[esperanza]

Hey Neffi! so good to see you doing so well 20 weeks...wow! I sometimes pick in the Feb thread to read your stories. I'm so happy both of us are on this side now

About the flu shot, I'm on the same boat as you. I've never gotten one, and my midwife has not recommended it I'll ask her at my next appointment. I didn't even think about it until folks brought it up in this forum. Let me know what you decide.

Thanks to the two Micheles, and sugabeanzs for sharing your stories. I'll think about it.

[Neffi211]

Well I have my appt scheduled for next Thursday for my Flu shot...hope I feel okay after.....

[iriecricket]

I was adamantly opposed to getting one but my ob and the nurse were pretty persistent. As others have posted, the immunity is passed to the baby in utero so that's what encouraged me to get the shot. It's been about two weeks and I've had no side effects yet.