Forum 3rd trimester

flu shot

14 replies

tammi
Hi Katie, I also got the flu about two weeks ago. I went to the doctor and had to take antibiotics that are safe for the baby. I lay in bed for a few days and asked if it was necessary to get vaccinated later in the winter, and she said I'd better not do that.

But something else: the OB-GYN did recommend getting a shot against whooping cough since it's making a comeback in many countries, so I'll get that done within a week.

Love, Tammi

Replies

  1. Mommy-Of-Nyana #2

    Hi Katie, I'm almost 27 weeks pregnant now and had this done on my midwife's advice (about 2 weeks ago). It's not a big deal if you don't get it, since there are indeed antibiotics that aren't harmful to the baby. But I was told I should really get the Boostrix vaccine (pertussis) between 28 and 32 weeks. Sometimes they give it right after birth, but then the baby isn't protected, and you can still pass on the virus even if you're not sick yourself. That's really bad for smaller babies. Your baby will get vaccinated against pertussis at 6-8 weeks... I'm getting mine done at 29 weeks so the baby can benefit from the vaccination and already have some protection at birth.

    Greetings.

  2. Dani #3

    I got an invitation at work for the flu shot, but just like every year, I’m skipping it.
    I’m not in a risk group (or if I were, being pregnant should count as a risk), and I’ve never had the actual flu, so no, not this time.

  3. Cin #4

    Never had this during my pregnancies, and now I haven’t received any advice about it either... Or is this only for people in a risk group or something???
    I don’t know if I’d even do it myself... I don’t think so.

  4. Mommy-Of-Nyana #5

    I’ve never had this during my pregnancies and haven’t received any advice about it either... Or is this only for people in the risk group or something???
    I don’t know if I’d even do it myself... I don’t think so.


    I also thought this wasn’t necessary, but my gynecologist said I could do it because I’ll be heavily pregnant in winter anyway... My friend at my brother’s and sister’s school (they’re 11 and 12 years younger than me) didn’t get any advice about it either, and she went to ask her doctor. She ended up having to get the flu shot, but the Boostrix was already too late for her; she’ll get it right after her baby is born...
    (You can fully cancel the Boostrix and the flu shot too) My GP said that as a pregnant woman, I’m part of the risk group and that I should cancel this entirely

    Lots of love
    Cin

  5. Olivia-Anna #6

    I wouldn't do that, it wasn't recommended to me either.
    But honestly, I don't care much for all that (unnatural) poking anyway; I haven't been vaccinated for anything and I'm convinced I get much less (never!!) sick than others who do.
    Also, I was quite surprised to read the following
    in the book "You and your baby" by Moeders Voor Moeders:

    "Most ailments you might experience during your pregnancy are harmless. Even if you get sick or have a cold, your baby will usually suffer little from it.
    Your child has their own blood circulation and often suffers more from the medication you take for the illness than from the illness itself."
    But it is really a personal decision!!

  6. Mommy-Of-Nyana #7

    Hi Olivia-Anna:

    You're absolutely right that it's everyone's own decision..

    I just did it because, well, it's my first baby and you don't know any better, right..?

    Now, I normally never get the flu shot, nor any other vaccinations, because I always end up feeling sicker from them than if I hadn't had them at all—I'd get through the winter perfectly healthy... But of course, that's an experience we'd have if we were to have a second child..

    I can actually believe the book quite well... And of course, I think this also stimulates the little one's immune system.. I never really take anything unless I get a real headache, then I take my Dalfalgan, although sleeping usually helps more anyway... I do suffer from severe migraines, but mostly just sleeping helps more than all those painkillers and other stuff...

  7. Lexie #8

    Never heard of it (except during the Mexican flu, and even then I didn't get the shot) and I also find it odd to get vaccinated for the flu when you're not in a risk group. You'd really have to have very high fever for a long time for the flu to be dangerous for you and especially your baby. Was your pregnancy the only reason the doctor recommended the flu shot?

  8. Anonymous Guest #9

    Hey Katie,

    my GP recommended getting the flu jab two weeks ago and I did it, and I have no regrets! It can't do any harm! You can still catch the flu, but it'll be in a milder form.
    It's not too late yet, you can still get it.

    Greetings

  9. Anne #10

    No advice here either from the midwife to get the flu jab. My mom called me last and she started talking about it too. She said she got an invitation to get the jab. The info she received advised pregnant women to get the flu jab. That's why she pointed it out to me, saying it might be a good idea. Honestly, I didn't ask the midwife about it further because I personally think it's nonsense. Most people around me who choose to get the flu jab end up with flu-like symptoms as a side effect So no, no flu jab for me!

    Love,
    Anne

  10. boontje004 #11

    I got the flu shot invitation, like in previous years. That's because I'm in the risk group. I have asthma/bronchitis that's been under control for at least a year now.

    I'm not going to get the shot. The reason is that you never know exactly what's in it. And as is well known, the flu virus changes every year, so they can't guarantee you won't catch it. Opinions on whether to get it or not are divided, as you can read. I'd mainly listen to your own gut feeling. Don't do it because the doctor wants you to, but because you want to.

  11. Cin #12

    Got a call yesterday on the mat for a 5-year-old boy! He’s totally fine otherwise and not in any risk group... I called right away... saying this doesn’t really seem right to me... (I probably wouldn’t have done it either!)
    But I could tear it up and he was taken out of the system... I wouldn’t do it either!

  12. Kim Guest #13

    Hi Katie,
    Can I ask what you ultimately decided regarding the whooping cough vaccine? I'm facing the same dilemma and can't figure out what's best—whether to get vaccinated during pregnancy or not.
    Best wishes,

  13. madelene #14

    I’d never take it myself. I get offered the flu shot every year from work, but I always choose not to take it. You still have the choice for your own body, and I’d rather make the choice myself whether I take something or not.

    I still believe that a body should build its own immunity.

    People take in too many things and think too little for themselves, and that’s a shame because it’s about your own body.

    I agree with what Olivia Anna describes above.

    I’m also not really into shots and vaccinations unless they’re necessary, of course. Otherwise, not at all.

    I’ll tell you even more: when the American flu broke out and everyone was nagging and pushing to get their kids vaccinated, I didn’t join in.

  14. madelene #15

    My niece did it with her daughter and she got a really bad rash right away, half an hour after the injection. She couldn't sleep for 3 nights, red, sore bottoms, screaming from crying.
    I came to her and saw the severe rash on her little bottom, so pitiful.
    She immediately said, I wish I hadn't done it like you, she regretted it.
    I hadn't done it and my children had nothing, no flu, just healthy.
    I just mean that and then all that fuss over having to do it.
    So I'm not so for all that poking in a healthy body.
    Greetings, Madelene

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