Flu Shot While Pregnant?

We have to get the flu shot here. Which has probably been the best thing so far. My 15 year old got the flu a week and a half ago and now my 10 year old has it. I got the shot 2 1/2 weeks ago and I have not been sick and I am the one taking care of my boys. They also put me on Tamiflu last week since my son tested positive just for safe measures. I feel fine. :) I know a lot of people though who dont want it and I say everyone does what they feel is best and thats what is best for them. I never have gotten a flu shot before either so I am happy I did so far.

Hi,

I am a school nurse/teacher, and am exposed to sick kids frequently.

I got my flu shot last week.  I will get the H1N1 vaccine as well.  I choose to get the vaccine without the Mercury.

I was on the fence about the H1N1, until I read this statistic out of the 100 pregnant women in the US were hospitalized  with this flu 28 died. 
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/10/0 1/28-pregnant-women-have-died-from-swine-flu-cdc.html . 

Best wishes in your decision.

My question is (Just skimmed the article - I am at work) but are these women dying as a direct result of the flu or are they letting it go too far and it is turning to pneumonia? The one artlcle that I read stated that people aren't getting into the Dr in a timely fashion and the flu is turning to pneumonia and that is what is making them so sick - so if you go to the Dr at the first sign of cold/flu you can get the tamiflu and measures can be taken to prevent it from going further. ALso - it didn't mention if these women had comprimised immune systems or if they had pulmonary issues (asthma etc) that would lead to a great chance of being seriously affected by the pneumonia. I don't know - I am so on the fence about all this!

Usually it seems that they die from complications ie pneumonia, however it appears that they did not necessarily have any underlying medical issues.  I figure even if I was to be aggressive about treatment, I may not absorb PO meds in the same way as someone who has not had RNY. 

My aunt is a nurse manager in a local hospital, there have been 3 H1N1 cases in her ICU(not pregnant) 2 died, 1 lived. They were trached, put on ventilators, 24 hour dialysis, all of that requires medications that are not fetus friendly. 

It is really a tough decision as a mother, I have two children and they will be vaccinated as they are every year. Being pregnant complicates the issue.  I also look at it as I am due in January, if this will allow be to pass some immunity on to the baby who can't be vaccinated it is a plus. 

Good Luck with your decision.

we had our flu shots last month.  We will be getting the H1N1 shot if made available to us.

I'm in school full time and my daughter goes to daycare and my son goes to a school each day while I am in school.  hubby is in the army (and already had his flu shot as well).  so yea. we're getting ours.

I think part of the issue with it gettings so bad before people realize they have it is that it (from what I understand) starts like a cold and then by the time you realize you are that sick, it might be too late.  I am on day 9 of something.  I never had fever though so I am assuming that it isn't/wasn't the flu.  it went from general aches/chills for 2 days to vomitting/diarrhea for 1 day and then sinus issues since then.  today is the first day since last Wednesday that I've felt human.  the ob even had me taking Tylenol cold and sinus.  and yes I did see my OB once during this illness and called once.  they weren't at all concerned that it was more than seasonal crapola.  sucks.  

Everyone has to do what they feel is best for them, that's all you can do.

My DH has already had his seasonal flu shot.  Both Savannah, Skyler and I have appts. next week for our seasonal flu shot.  We will all be getting the H1N1 when is becomes available here.

To me the benefits out-weigh the risks in my opinion.

As far as autism being linked to vaccines, I'm not sure but I did hear on Good Morning America that autism is not linked in anyway to the flu shot or H1N1

HTH
Ash :)

Hey Sara...

Like everyone said....it is a total choice and you have to do what is right for YOU not everyone else....

I have never seen any evidence about autism and the flu shot....and I agree with a few others...the shot outweighs all of the risks to me...I have been a big believer in the flu shot...like someone else said..the flu shot does not giv you the flu...it is made for what strain they think it will be and if you get the flu it could be a different strain...I fought pretty hard last year to get mine at work in my third trimester as the company that came to our office did not want to take the risk...lol....anyway, I did it for me and for Nathan as he would not be able to have one until he was 6 months old....

Anyway, we will be getting both.....Nathan was recently diagnosed with asthma so it is in our best interest to not risk anything more with respiratory....too risky for me....

Again, it is all  your decision....make it your choice :)

HTH,

Ann

I can say that I have gotten the flu only twice in my life.  Once in college (which I survived just fine) and once my ENTIRE family got it about 4 years ago.  Let me tell you, it was the absolute worst experience I have ever had.  I could not adequately care for my children.  I had toddlers at the time and they weren't fed often enough, changed often enough or supervised to the level that they should have been.  But we were stranded and did the best we could under the cir****tances.  My friends and family could not (and some actually simply would not) come help us for fear of getting it themselves.  Thankfully, we all came out of it, but I swore I would NEVER be in the position again where both my husband and I were too sick to care for our kids.

I respect those who choose not receive flu shots, but if you're on the fence about it...please everyone take into consideration what YOU would do if your ability to care for your kids were compromised so severely.  I would have NEVER thought my friends and family would say no when we called for help, but that's exactly what happened.  I don't blame them, or hold it against them, but it was something I never expected to happen.

I got the Flu shot and willl e getting the H1N1 in a couple of weeks but I am a Hopsital nurse and am regularly exposed to patients who have both so, in my case, its pretty obviously more dangerous not to. If you don't think its a good idea then just take extra precautions to avoid exposure. But here's something to think about, The link between Autism and the vaccine is a theory but the fact is that thousands in the US die (mostly infants, elderly, and immunocomprimised) from complications related to the flu (the regular one) every year.  I'm not trying to scare you into vaccinating, I'm just saying its something to consider.