Flu Shot During Pregnancy

[MamatoPeach]

One family member and one friend recently had a baby. They both received the flu shot during pregnancy. Both babies had to be taken to NICU directly following birth due to pneumonia. (this was new for me, i didnt know babies could be born with pneumonia). One baby had to be ventilated, the other is still on IV antibiotics and was on oxygen for a while. ??

Complication of flu shot during pregnancy? Oh wait, who knows???? No research was done before they started injecting these new moms, they are the research.

[Ophelia]

Hmm, I never heard of that either. I did get the flu shot very early on in pg (I was nervous to get it and nervous not to get it - i know better now), I'm assuming the low mercury kind because the nurse said it was the 'baby' shot.

My understanding is that pregnancy is contraindicated for the flu shot on the flu shot inserts, and that it has never been tested on pg women.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Ophelia

Hmm, I never heard of that either. I did get the flu shot very early on in pg (I was nervous to get it and nervous not to get it - i know better now), I'm assuming the low mercury kind because the nurse said it was the 'baby' shot.

My understanding is that pregnancy is contraindicated for the flu shot on the flu shot inserts, and that it has never been tested on pg women.

I wouldn't be quick to assume it was low mercury, since they give the full-mercury versions to infants all the time.

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

Before I researched vaccines I did ask my med-wife if i should get the flu vax while pregnant. She shrugged and said, 'Do what you want," and thankfully, I just never got around to it.
I would be wary of any vaccine during pregnancy, obviously, but the flu shot especially would scare me.** Influenza during pregnancy significantly increases (by 700-400% !!) risk for developing schizophrenia (for babe) in later life, and my understanding is that they do not understand the mechanism by which this happens-- so I would want nothing flu-related floating around in my system at all. (http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/...es/000458.html)
I *might* consider the flu-mist a few months before pregnancy *if* it were historically more effective/better matched to the year's flu strain. But that's as far as I would go.

** I can't find the book on amazon now, but I recently read a memoir in which the author's mother receieved a tetanus shot while pregnant, had a severe (whole body swelling) reaction, and eventually gave birth to a baby with severe mental/physical abnormalities. She was eventually institutionalized (sorry for no source, here-- it was an old and apparently not too popular memoir since it was on the free table at the library, and that anecdote is the only thing I remember from the book)

[Ophelia]

Originally Posted by emma1325

I wouldn't be quick to assume it was low mercury, since they give the full-mercury versions to infants all the time.

Yeah, I know, I wonder if I can go back to the clinic and find out from my records. I've been wanting to get both mine and DS's heavy metal load tested, but I'm still nursing and read it skews the results. Luckily he seems mostly OK, although has wheat/gluten issue, and may have some slight sensory/sensitive issues (although he is high spirited so it could just be a part of that).

Influenza during pregnancy significantly increases (by 700-400% !!) risk for developing schizophrenia (for babe) in later life,

I have read this too and it REALLY scares me because DH's mother AND aunt and possibly grandpa (now deceased) have it. I don't know if the flu shot itself is the same as getting the flu, even though it's the inactivated virus.

[medusaatemydog]

i think the idea of getting a flu injection is crazy... and i definitely believe that this is nothing more than experimentaion... most pharmecuticals on the market are still in an experimental stage, and i am not just talking vaccines. Loopholes allow them to do this... the simple act of an oral agreement, even without your full understanding of what the pharmecutical is allows situation like that to occur... doctors and pharmecutical companies are escaping liability increasinly....and they call themselves ethical.. but they have pharmecutical companies that are richer than many countries and governments making all the rules.... governments do not care about individuals and this is a good way for them to experiment at no cost to them... but to you and your family... your just a number... or a "coincidence". This is a business.... your an expendable commodity... maybe i sound bitter, but all that has happened in the past 10-15 years of my life concerning doctors, i am in awe about how and why , it's all so out of control... it's sad and very disturbing... i wanted to be a doctor once but i cannot treat people like lab beagles