Pregnancy/Flu Shot

[pedi08]

I am pregnant with twins, can someone offer me advice on why not to get the flu shot?

[Bokonon]

This year's flu shot includes H1N1. Last year's H1N1 has allegedly been to blame for many miscarriages:
http://www.examiner.com/woman-to-wom...taking-vaccine

There is mercury in the flu shot. It is not recommended for infants under 6 months. A fetus is most definitely under 6 months.

The flu shot has not been tested for safety or effectiveness in pregnant women.

Furthermore, it doesn't work.
http://drtenpenny.com/the_truth_about_the_flu_Shot.aspx

http://www.naturalnews.com/029641_va...k_science.html

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/coc...269/frame.html

[carriebft]

I disagree with the many of the statements made by the previous poster.

There are studies on the flu vaccine in pregnant women, both on safety and efficacy. should there be more? yes, but we also do have some to look at. Here are a few:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20524915

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15846187

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18799552

latest study came out just a few days ago:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct...t-flu-20101004


There are thermerosal free flu vaccines (this is the mercury the PP is speaking of). About 50% of current stocks do not have this preservative:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxsupply.htm

[MountainMamaGC]

I have heard that in the studies on pregnant women, if they developed a fever after the shot they were no longer included in the study. I cant remember where I heard this and I am way to lazy to dig it up.

Things that are studied well in pregnancy and that are considered safe, should not be pregnancy Category C.

[danalyn]

"Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with fluzone. It is also not known whether fluzone can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. fluzone should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. It is not known whether fluzone is excreted in human milk. because many drubs are excreted in human milk, caution should be excercised when fluzone is administered to a nursing woman."

op, here is a quote directly from the mfr. of fluzone, the vax offered to me last week by my ob. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FLU VAX YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERING?

[ema-adama]

This is a topic that comes up regularly here.

Pregnant and flu shot

There are plenty more thread on this topic.

Is there are particular reason you feel you should get the flu vaccine? Or a particular reason you feel you shouldn't?

What are your concerns about the flu itself and the vaccine?

[NaturalBirthGoddes]

Personally? I would pass on it. Your babies are in the stages of creating their nervous system. So, what if the flu vaxes don't have thimerasol? Thimerasol is NOT the only ingredient that causes concern. The vast majority of flu vaxes have other adjuvents and ingredients that are NEUROTOXINS (not good for a baby whose nervous system is just forming) and immunosuppressants (also not good for a newborn).

I think it needs to be said that the studies that show the vaxes are "safe" mean simply that the pregnant woman did not miscarry, etc. There is no way to know if these drugs will affect the baby later in life. Most vaccines rear it's head later as the child begins to develop more. Learning disorders (you won't see that for several years), ADHD, ADD, Autism--most of these which are a neurological disorder and most likely will not be diagnosed until well after pregnancy/birth at which point...how do you trace it to vaccines?

So, I laugh when people say that there are studies that prove something is "safe" in pregnancy. Yeah, sure. Doesn't mean that it doesn't affect baby.

Your best bet is to avoid all vaccines in pregnancy, eat healthy, exercise, enjoy your pregnancy and use the time to research vaccines.

[carriebft]

I think its fine to discuss these studies and look at their shortcomings (also note we do have some that consider flu shot in pregnancy and development of autism later in life, one of these came out recently which I could link for you if you want to see it).

I just felt its better to have them out there than to accept the false idea that it has never been studied.

[heathergirl67]

Originally Posted by NaturalBirthGoddes

Personally? I would pass on it. Your babies are in the stages of creating their nervous system. So, what if the flu vaxes don't have thimerasol? Thimerasol is NOT the only ingredient that causes concern. The vast majority of flu vaxes have other adjuvents and ingredients that are NEUROTOXINS (not good for a baby whose nervous system is just forming) and immunosuppressants (also not good for a newborn).

I think it needs to be said that the studies that show the vaxes are "safe" mean simply that the pregnant woman did not miscarry, etc. There is no way to know if these drugs will affect the baby later in life. Most vaccines rear it's head later as the child begins to develop more. Learning disorders (you won't see that for several years), ADHD, ADD, Autism--most of these which are a neurological disorder and most likely will not be diagnosed until well after pregnancy/birth at which point...how do you trace it to vaccines?

So, I laugh when people say that there are studies that prove something is "safe" in pregnancy. Yeah, sure. Doesn't mean that it doesn't affect baby.

Your best bet is to avoid all vaccines in pregnancy, eat healthy, exercise, enjoy your pregnancy and use the time to research vaccines.

Would you mind sharing the research that proves that? TIA.

[Mama Metis]

I just wanted to say I am also mulling this over. I am TTC right now, so I think I will get the vax during my next period. If I turn out to be pregnant, I probably will not receive the vax.

However, getting the flu during pregnancy is also dangerous to the fetus. Flu is associated with a higher risk of schizophrenia, for instance:
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/39/10/1.2.full

So it's not so black and white! If you DO get it, it is important to ask for the single dose or prefilled syringe, NOT the ten dose vial, which contains the full dose of mercury. The single dose/prefilled syringe has the mercury taken out of it, so trace amounts remain, but it's certainly better.

Good luck with your decision!

[nia82]

You should write down pros and cons to the flu vax and ask a couple of questions: are you at particular risk from the flu (autoimmune disorder, asthma, something like that), is the risk of the disease higher than the risk of the flu (only you can answer that for yourself) and so on.

I never get the flu shot and surely not in pregnancy. I do not feel comfy with the risks of the shot, the low efficacy in many age groups, how they so often get the wrong strains and it is obsolete then anyways, the ingredients in it, the possible cytokine reaction triggered by the shot that is like getting the flu itself (google it, sorry I do not keep links); I really am not worried about the flu - just 2 years ago I was advised against getting a flu shot in pregnancy....

@ Mama Metis: Back home they do not recommend the flu shot in the first 16 weeks... So if you do get, get it after that time period. I know in the US they do not put time limits on it at all, but I also feel the CDC and docs here throw around vaccines like candy. Nobody ever feels like asking questions or being cautious.

[Skippy918]

I'm on the fence myself and I really hate when docs use scare tactics to get you to vaccinate. Right now I'm leaning towards no vax.

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by Mama Metis

However, getting the flu during pregnancy is also dangerous to the fetus. Flu is associated with a higher risk of schizophrenia, for instance:
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/39/10/1.2.full

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112301327.html

That's because the newest studies suggest the culprit may not be infections such as the flu per se, but pregnant mothers' immune reactions to such infections. Current guidelines recommend that pregnant women get a flu shot -- and the point of the flu vaccine is to set off an immune reaction. If the risk for schizophrenia is increased as a result of maternal antibodies, might protecting mom and baby from the flu raise the risk the child could get schizophrenia years down the road?

Bolding mine.

I interpret this to mean that we do not know if it is the the influenza virus that is linked to schizophrenia, or whether it is the immune response to influenza virus. If the latter, you are not minimizing your risk by getting the vaccine. In fact, you are ensuring that you have an immune response to the influenza virus, which could be a very bad idea.

Not enough is known. And certainly not enough is known to support such a policy as vaccinating all pregnant women. It might sounds like a good idea to get the vaccine to prevent the flu, but if the vaccine is creating the conditions (triggering an immune response) for an increased risk for schizophrenia in the child, the vaccine is obviously not such a good idea.

I am sure it is not that simple. The etiology for schizophrenia is definitely more complex than exposure of the pregnant mother to influenza virus.

But there is absolutely no evidence that the flu vaccine minimizes this risk.

[firewoman]

I'd rather go with the devil I know than the devil I don't know. Studies are so flawed and untrustworthy, IMO. Does the flu suck? Yes. Has the flu killed people? Yes. As for all the rest of it, efficacy of the immunization, immune reactions causing schizophrenia, damage to the developing nervous system of the baby....all of that is a big question mark. They can study and follow the pregnant woman for six weeks or so and then deem it as safe but for me that just isn't enough. Six weeks tells us nothing about long term safety and all the worries regarding the vaccine swirling around just aren't worth it to me.

If you are really worried about getting deathly ill from the flu do everything you can to avoid it. Wash your hands, eat properly, get plenty of rest, engage in moderate exercise and stay away from sick people. All of these things are SAFE for your babies and they actually DO WORK against the flu. Good luck and congrats on your babies!

[heathergirl67]

Originally Posted by NaturalBirthGoddes

Most vaccines rear it's head later as the child begins to develop more. Learning disorders (you won't see that for several years), ADHD, ADD, Autism.

Would you mind sharing that research?

[pedi08]

The dr's office is pushing it. I don't know the brand but they told me it has no preservatives. I can't avoid sick kids, I work at a school. I eat very well, can't exercise (restricted as a precaution) and sleep pretty good most nights.
Although I work in the school, I have never had the flu. I do get really bad colds however. I have never had a flu shot in my life and was fine through my last pregnancy without it. My son has never received it either, he is 2. The last two times I have gone, they mention it. The first time I said no thank you and they were disappointed and the second time they asked me to think about it so it made me scared.

[danalyn]

OP, please find out the name/mfr. of the flu vaccine your dr. is suggesting and read the mfr. insert. I'm interested in knowing, too.

[mamakah]

Originally Posted by firewoman

I'd rather go with the devil I know than the devil I don't know. Studies are so flawed and untrustworthy, IMO. Does the flu suck? Yes. Has the flu killed people? Yes. As for all the rest of it, efficacy of the immunization, immune reactions causing schizophrenia, damage to the developing nervous system of the baby....all of that is a big question mark. They can study and follow the pregnant woman for six weeks or so and then deem it as safe but for me that just isn't enough. Six weeks tells us nothing about long term safety and all the worries regarding the vaccine swirling around just aren't worth it to me.

If you are really worried about getting deathly ill from the flu do everything you can to avoid it. Wash your hands, eat properly, get plenty of rest, engage in moderate exercise and stay away from sick people. All of these things are SAFE for your babies and they actually DO WORK against the flu. Good luck and congrats on your babies!

Exactly what I was going to say!

[mamakah]

Originally Posted by pedi08

The dr's office is pushing it. I don't know the brand but they told me it has no preservatives. I can't avoid sick kids, I work at a school. I eat very well, can't exercise (restricted as a precaution) and sleep pretty good most nights.
Although I work in the school, I have never had the flu. I do get really bad colds however. I have never had a flu shot in my life and was fine through my last pregnancy without it. My son has never received it either, he is 2. The last two times I have gone, they mention it. The first time I said no thank you and they were disappointed and the second time they asked me to think about it so it made me scared.

I'm like you, never get the flu nor the flu shot. Even when I worked in a restaurant for 7 years touching peoples napkins, glasses, silverware, and snotty kleenexs left on the table, I never got it. When I was pregnant everyone was telling me to get the flu shot. I finally decided to do it, and asked my midwife about it. She looked at me like I was crazy and said "Why would you want that while you're pregnant? Do you have complications with the flu?" When I said that I never get it and never had troubles when I did once have it, she said no way to the shot. I wasn't questioning vaccines at the time, so I'm very thankful that she stepped in there. She would have given it to me if I had insisted, but when she said it wasn't a good idea it put to ease the instict inside of me that didn't want to do it. Sounds like you have that instinct too.

[JBaxter]

Originally Posted by pedi08

The dr's office is pushing it. I don't know the brand but they told me it has no preservatives. I can't avoid sick kids, I work at a school. I eat very well, can't exercise (restricted as a precaution) and sleep pretty good most nights.
Although I work in the school, I have never had the flu. I do get really bad colds however. I have never had a flu shot in my life and was fine through my last pregnancy without it. My son has never received it either, he is 2. The last two times I have gone, they mention it. The first time I said no thank you and they were disappointed and the second time they asked me to think about it so it made me scared.

I know what you mean. I worked in a dental office when pregnant with my first 3 children. I have never had the flu or the shot. Like you I have had a few bad colds/sinus infections/broncitis but never the flu. I eat healthy and take extra vit C & D3 wash my hands alot. I avoid any extra chemicals especially when pregant so so flu shot for us ( as a family). My mom, sister and brother are all nurses ( in the ER) and none have taken the flu shot. My brother did they year he was activated to Iraq but he had no choice. Oddly enough even though they take care of flu patients none have had the actual flu. Im also with the Devil I know vs the devil I dont or create.