Flu Shot

I've never had a flu shot and I've never had the flu (knocking on wood). When I was pregnant with my daughter 4 years ago, it was recommended that pregnant women NOT get flu shots (according to my OBGYN). This year, my doctor wants me to have one because I'm pregnant. However, he said it would protect me from contracting it and passing it to the baby while he's in utero. The baby I'm having on October 10th. Before the start of flu season. I told him I would prefer not to have it but he still asks me every visit. He obviously thinks I should get it but I see no reason.

My bigger concern is my 4-year-old who is now in daycare for the first time. What's everyone's opinion on the flu vaccine for kids? My daughter has never had a flu shot either so I'm wondering if I should have her get one now that she's in daycare (especially with a new baby in the house). Thoughts?

There was a recent medical article saying there is some protective advantage to babies whose mothers got the flu shot while pregnant. I'm planning on asking my OB about this next week. I get the shot at work almost every year, but have no experience with kids getting it. Good Luck.

If the OB says its ok and with your due date so soon I'd go for it, especially with the other one in day care.  I just got mine yesterday- granted I'm old enough to be a grandma now

Original Post by sunquest76:

There was a recent medical article saying there is some protective advantage to babies whose mothers got the flu shot while pregnant.

This is the point my doctor was making. However, my doctor's office is not beginning flu shots until 10/13 and my c-section is scheduled for 10/10 so this benefit will not effect me.

I see your problem. Whether or not you get it won't help baby, but maybe having your 4yo "shot" will prevent the whole family from getting sick. I have no help for you, sorry.

I have had my daughter in daycare now since she was a baby.  Yes we have had the running noses and coughs...but never the flu.  But every kid is different...Tegan has always been a healthy baby.

As for getting the shot when your pregnant--it just doesn't make sense.  Your going to have the baby before it is even needed.  IF you don't want the shot don't get it. Simple as that.

My doctor kept asking me if I wanted to test for downs and stuff.  I told him no...more than once.  But he kept asking.  I think that they have to. 

I work in the healthcare setting and you need to know exactly how much FLu vaccine to order.  So maybe he was just making sure?

My whole family (me, husband, both kids) gets the flu shot faithfully every year.  I just feel better about having that protection.  I would just hate that the one time I didn't get it was the year my kids went down with the flu.  Young children and older people, and those with compromised immune systems should get vaccinated every year.  Plus, the flu is not just a really bad cold; it puts people in the hospital and worse.

No thank you! I am not taking any vaccines, nor will my 5 your old or the new baby. I have already signed necessary papers for both to NOT be given any immunizations. I don't have faith in a vaccine cultured from disease and injected into a healthy person's bloodstream. The flu vaccine is especially pointless though. It does not cover a broad spectrum of the virus as it varies and mutates each year. They simply go by the previous years most widespread strain and create a vaccine the for the current year. Your chances of still contracting it are about the same. Besides, exercise and diet are 100 times more important in protecting you from the flu than a shot. If you do get it, don't medicate yourself to death. Suffering through it using natural remedies and rest allow for quicker recovery and allow you body to do it's job without the drugs slowing it down. Besides, to have an effect on the baby, you would need to have the shot weeks before their birth.

 Those of you who haven't already informed yourself about newborn vaccines and childhood immunizations; PLEASE DO SO! You are essentially allowing others to dictate your health and the risks are tremendous. Your body is yours and your children are yours to protect. You should want to know everything you can before simply allowing modern medicine to tell you what to do. The choice is yours! 

Vaccinations are derived from those carrying the illness; such as flu, HepB, MMR...and others are cultured in the blood of animals or aborted fetal tissue. I personally have both moral and religious problems with this. Just the thought of injecting a newborn with a Hep B vaccination is nauseating. Is it to allow you to one day tell your child that having sex with whomever is ok because they got "the shot"??? It just seems ludicrous to me.  I know I am ranting, but I really do feel very strongly about vaccinations and there being forced on people as necessity.

I an a nurse in an extended care home. I get the flu shot every year, pregnant or not. However, its not for my own health, its for the patients. They are very frail and bringing flu viruses into the facility would literally kill them. I have two children and have never gotten flu shots for them. If you teach them proper handwashing and coughing techniques ( into the inside elbow, not the hands), most viruses can be avoided. Furthermore, the flu shot isn't garanteed to work and is only effective on predicted viruses. They also don't prevent any gastro-intestinal viruses (stomach flu). I don't think there is a lot of statistical data on pregnant women who get the flu shot but I personally havn't had a problem with it.

As per Shill's comment on the hep B shot. Hep B is not usually transmitted through sex, Hep C is. You can get Hep B from anything like food or a cantaminated surface on an open wound. It can greatly reduce your lifespan and quality of health. If you leave the country, get vaccinated. The healthcare industry usually requires it to even work in a facility. There are too many risks. Besides, vaccines are far less harmful than the crap they put in processed foods or shampoos and beauty products.

Oops. Thanks Hmindel for that catch and correction.  Don't want to confuse those two.

Plus, I am in 100% agreement about the processed foods, shampoos and beauty products. I avoid as many as possible that are not locally and organically made or non pasteurized. The chemicals people consume daily are just as harmful if not more than a vaccine. I'm glad I am surrounded by an area rich in farms that are certified organic and hormone/pesticide free and provide great products. That will keep you healthier than any shot! My only real bad habit is the shampoo/conditioner I use. I've tried changing, but the natural products I have tried all were horrible on my hair. Being a hairdresser probably makes it harder for me to say no to a product that works well. I use Matrix Biolage, but no additional products beyond shampoo/conditioner. We all have our vices.

Now that we've gone off topic, hahah. I wish I lived in more of a farming area. I live in northern British columbia and have a very short growing season. We have to import all our fruits and veggies from other countries. I wash everything but I know it doesn't get rid of all the junk. I guesse thats why I'm more pro flu shot. Living up here makes it harder to access organic foods and I believe all the chemicals reek havock on our immune systems. I hope, Bier, that some of the info has helped.

I'm in the military, and I have to get the shot or inhale the vaccine every year. They reccomend that children under the age of five and adults over the age of 65 should get it every year, and those with immune problems.

I would ask the pediatrician and the day care facility if they require that the kids have updated flu shots every year.

Original Post by shill:

No thank you! I am not taking any vaccines, nor will my 5 your old or the new baby. I have already signed necessary papers for both to NOT be given any immunizations. I don't have faith in a vaccine cultured from disease and injected into a healthy person's bloodstream. The flu vaccine is especially pointless though. It does not cover a broad spectrum of the virus as it varies and mutates each year. They simply go by the previous years most widespread strain and create a vaccine the for the current year. Your chances of still contracting it are about the same. Besides, exercise and diet are 100 times more important in protecting you from the flu than a shot. If you do get it, don't medicate yourself to death. Suffering through it using natural remedies and rest allow for quicker recovery and allow you body to do it's job without the drugs slowing it down. Besides, to have an effect on the baby, you would need to have the shot weeks before their birth.

 Those of you who haven't already informed yourself about newborn vaccines and childhood immunizations; PLEASE DO SO! You are essentially allowing others to dictate your health and the risks are tremendous. Your body is yours and your children are yours to protect. You should want to know everything you can before simply allowing modern medicine to tell you what to do. The choice is yours! 

Vaccinations are derived from those carrying the illness; such as flu, HepB, MMR...and others are cultured in the blood of animals or aborted fetal tissue. I personally have both moral and religious problems with this. Just the thought of injecting a newborn with a Hep B vaccination is nauseating. Is it to allow you to one day tell your child that having sex with whomever is ok because they got "the shot"??? It just seems ludicrous to me.  I know I am ranting, but I really do feel very strongly about vaccinations and there being forced on people as necessity.

 Are you going to home school your kids? Many school district will not allow un-vacinated children into their schools because of the risk to the other children. Things like the Mumps, Rubella or Measels can devestate a school, and could kill many children. Especially those not protected from it. Even Rotovirus can kill a baby. The vaccine won't prevent the baby from getting it, but it will severly lessen the degree of the illness.

Not trying to bash or wag my finger, just wanted to bring up that point. The vaccines will protect them for the rest of thier lives. I'm not one for automatically using anti-biotics or OTC, but if I can prevent my child from getting the Mumps as a teenager/adult then I will.Our families choice, though

I have never had a flu shot, but yesterday at my midwife appointment, she advised me to do so, and I did.  My shoulder is still sore!  She told me that the high fever you can get from the flu is really dangerous for pregnant women.  Also, our immune systems are way lower than usual.  The vaccine she gave me was a "dead" vaccine, so there's no danger of me getting sick from it, or my baby.  She also recommended my boyfriend get one too, just to be safe. 

I don't think we'll get them every year, but I'm trying to do all I can to stay healthy while I'm pregnant though this winter.  I never get sick.  I exercise like crazy and eat really well, but I didn't want to take any risks.