DD might have the flu....WWYD - get the shot or see if I get it?

**chody47** · August 10th, 2012, 04:52 PM

So, it appears DD might have the flu (to be confirmed Monday). The doc recommended that if she has it and I am not sick on Monday, to get the shot. I'm trying to work out what would be more risky for the baby, me getting the flu shot or possibly getting the flu....

Does anyone have any opinions/links to information?

I'm trying to do some of my own research but thought I'd jump on here too in case anyone already knows.

**xXHopeXx** · August 10th, 2012, 05:02 PM

Do you know what flu it is? I wouldn't risk the shot if it were me TBH. I would just make sure I keep taking panadol to avoid fevers and what not, but I've also heard different things about the flu vax not being very good.

DH got his for work about 9 months ago and he still contracted influenza A, nasty version of it too.

Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks

**chody47** · August 10th, 2012, 05:04 PM

They think influenza A......

**AliBaby** · August 10th, 2012, 05:20 PM

I had influenza A about a month before I fell pregnant. It wasnt good but I managed to get through it. I was in bed totally down and out for a week though so I really hope you dont get it. TBH, when I did have it, I wished that I had got the flu shot - I have every other year so i was kicking myself.

I am not sure on the flu shot while pregnant. What does your doctor say about the risks? I dont think I would get it while pregnant, but that is me personally. Hope your DD is better soon

**xXHopeXx** · August 10th, 2012, 05:28 PM

That's what we all had, our version (may be different here in NSW) was rather nasty, I had a few days of nasty fevers and could barely keep them down, and it does knock you for 6 afterwards, but there was no difference in severity between myself (no vax) and DH (vaxed)

I guess the problem is viruses mutate all the time, so there's no guarantee it'll work. But then, one the of chances you take I spose

ETA: I didn't mean that last comment to sound narky by the way! I just meant that from my family's experience and the fact that viruses mutate all the time, it's the gamble of hoping that the vax you're getting will be effective against the flu going around. I hope it didn't come across the wrong way! Sorry

Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks

**Tuesday's Child** · August 10th, 2012, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure how effective it would be. If your DD does have flu, you've already been exposed. The vax may result in less severe symptoms for you if you do get it, but I don't know that it would have enough time to be effective.

How far along are you? (I'm on my phone so can't see your ticker). I think it's generally recommended during the second trimester.

Then there are other things to do to boost your immune system - olive leaf extract, lots of fruit and veg, especially green leafy veg.

**NicNac** · August 10th, 2012, 10:20 PM

I'm nineteen weeks pregnant and had the flu vax in the first trimester. Two weeks ago DD, DH and I got influenza A (confirmed through swab). It was seriously nasty and went straight to my chest. The doctor wanted to give me Tamiflu, which I declined, but wow, I've never been sicker with the flu. DH was also vaccinated- he ended up with pneumonia.
I tend to agree that if your daughter has it now, you've already been exposed to the virus, and the horse may have bolted.... It's a hard decision to make, and there are no guarantees with vaccination- hope you beat the bug!!

**Heaven** · August 11th, 2012, 08:06 AM

No I would never get the flu shot. Especially while pregnant.

**Frangipani Lou** · August 11th, 2012, 08:26 AM

IMHO I'd err on the side of caution especially because of where you are in your pregnancy. The vax changes each year and I'm not convinced that it's enough time for long term effects to be documented, especially in pg women.
If you do get sick, I'm sure it won't be pleasant, but it's probably better than not knowing clearly how it could effect your bubs now and in the long term.

**PumpkinZulu** · August 11th, 2012, 09:23 AM

I would not risk the flu shot while I was pregnant, or at all.

**Taurean** · August 11th, 2012, 09:49 AM

I had the flu shot in both pregnancies. It's perfectly safe according to my doctors (one of them a friend from playgroup who I trust immensely) and my OB. And with the horrid strains doing the rounds at the moment, I wouldn't think twice about if I were pregnant now.

A friend of ours has just been released from hospital after a week in ICU with Influenza A and pneumonia. Another friend feared for her 8 year olds life last month as he was severely ill with what turned out to be influenza A too and turned into pneumonia too. He was at the children's hospital twice.

Another Perth lady was on the news here just this week on life support with Influenza A. She's had her foot and several fingers amputated already and they're not sure she'll survive.

A close friend has the flu now too and her doctor insisted her hubby and her 18 month old get the flu shot the day she was diagnosed (yesterday) as she said its just far too risky this season.

Yes, it's a nasty, horrid flu this season and I'd be doing anything possible to avoid it. Sorry for the rant but I can't believe how bad it is this year. It's frightening.

**Floweryfields** · August 11th, 2012, 10:09 AM

I wouldn't have it while pregnant, actually I wouldn't have it not pregnant either. For me, the fact that it covers only some of the thousands of strains of the flu makes it pretty worthless. I had the flu shot one year on the insistence of an employer and have never been so sick - constant sore throat and cold cycle every 2 weeks for the entire winter which never happened to me before or since.
Normallly healthy adults really don't need it in my opinion.

**Rumpleteaser** · August 13th, 2012, 08:17 AM

I had the flu shot in the second trimester for both my pregnancies, and both my babies are fine. The fluvax would take about 2 weeks to get full cover, so if you catch the flu from your DD, the fluvax will not protect you anyway in the next fortnight. If you do not catch the flu from your DD and get the fluvax, it will offer your baby protection while you are BF.

I get the fluvax every year and have never had a case of the flu. This does not mean you will not catch a cold or get a chest infection as there are thousands of viruses that can cause these type of illness. Flu is just the more severe virus.

**BellyBelly** · August 13th, 2012, 09:17 AM

Check out the article on the main site (pregnancy section). Do you know that every year, they guess pick 3 strains of the hundreds circulating to see what to put in the vaccine, before the flu season even starts? And a huge study found vitamin d3 to be more effective against flu than the flu vaccine? Its very hit and miss and so much you need to know before you put guesswork into bodies. Oh, and studies show health care professionals have a pretty low vaccination rate. Article will tell you why.