opinions on the flu shot - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[kellybeth]

i've never even heard of those. had to google.

the stress over the pushy doctor the other day has made me consider a midwife. i really have no idea what i'm doing.

being pregnant is so strange. i just want to stay locked in a sterile room.

i had some really horrible allergic reaction in february that put me in the hospital. i couldn't see, breathe, or walk. my entire face was swollen shut, it was so scary. and it started as a little itchy spot on my neck. i think it may have been from chia seeds (needless to say i'm terrified of them now) but i also cleaned out a storage shack on our property that was full of mice feces. i breathed in a lot of that horrible yuck. i was thinking of getting an allergy test, but i have no idea if it's safe during pregnancy, or what they even stick me with.

[HouseofPeace]

poor Kellybeth!!!

i also have strong allergic reactions when pregnant- the hormones sometimes cause crazy reactions and even extreme facial swelling just like you describe.  the allergist thinks it's type III- estrogen dependent angioedema (started as one small itchy spot, then spreads and looks like the Will Smith in "Hitch" when he gets the food allergy).  but they could never pin it on one allergy- it's supposed to be very rare, but the dr said i was his second case, so it was obviously not as rare as reported...  the body does crazy things when pregnant!  

i've generally had very mild reactions to the stomach flu (was once in the house with 7 people down with it, and my son and i did fine, but he was solely breastfeeding), and also been exposed to the flu w/out getting it.  generally, i am the one who doesn't get sick even if everyone else gets something.  usually i start juicing and drinking chicken stock without realizing i'm treating myself.  

so what are the preventative medicine measures the mamas are going to take?

[kellybeth]

i have no idea what that means! google is such a great resource.

i juice every day as a "snack" and also make fresh apple or carrot juice in the mornings with breakfast. i get a lot of vitamin C and vitamin D, as well as B6 & B12 with my diet, and i've definitely been uppping it more since i've been pregnant. my skin, hair and nails are fabulous! of course prenatals help!

it's funny how when our bodies start to feel a little blah we immediately crave something to alleviate the icky. making soup stock is a great thing in the colder months. mmmmm soup!

[loveandgarbage]

During the winter I do cod liver oil, elderberries and lots of probiotics. I also found the magic bullet for when I'm coming down with a cold-- it works almost every time to stop it:

http://www.amazon.com/Propolis-Echinacea-Throat-Spray-Ounces/dp/B0014AT7OU

[kellybeth]

echinacea purpurea root is a great preventative medicine but not very helpful if you're already sick. I love the earthy taste of it and pair it with elecampane root for a sore throat with some vit C rich botanicals for a nice tea and occasional cough syrup.

[etsdtm99]

I make a elderberry echinacea syrup (raw local honey base) for flu/cold prevention int he winter (and also take cod liver oil)
 

[Chloe'sMama]

Staci- what is the recipe?  I have a bunch of elderberries that I froze waiting to make a syrup for the kids.  I have not done it yet.

How much do you give the kids?

[etsdtm99]

Originally Posted by Chloe'sMama 

Staci- what is the recipe?  I have a bunch of elderberries that I froze waiting to make a syrup for the kids.  I have not done it yet.

How much do you give the kids?

1cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries 

3 cups water

1 cup honey

1/2 cup dried echinacea (optional)

boil water, add elderberries, simmer for 45mins (usually about half uncovered, half covered, otherwise too much evaporates) - remove from heat and add echinacea, cover and let it steep for 15-20 mins -  then mash berries (in water) and strain out the solids - i use a cheese cloth bag and squeeze it to get as much juice as possible out but make sure you wear gloves or it will stain your hands purple!!

pour half cup honey in a mason jar (a quart jar probably, to be sure you have room for it all) add about 1 cup of your elderberry juice and combine, then add the other half cup of honey, stir again then add the rest of the liquid  - if you add the entire cup of honey at once it is harder to mix it together.. 

i give the little kids a teaspoon at least once a day, 2-3 times if they are sick or have been exposed to something -  my 6 yr old (weighs 50+lbs gets about tablespoon a day) adults take 2 tablespoons ..  my kids LOVE this syrup and beg for it they really miss it in the summer..  I on the other hand can't stand it unless i water it down  ..  its soooo sweet..  but the honey acts as a preservative and also has all those nice honey benefits ..

[kittn]

Originally Posted by etsdtm99 

1cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries 

3 cups water

1 cup honey

1/2 cup dried echinacea (optional)

boil water, add elderberries, simmer for 45mins (usually about half uncovered, half covered, otherwise too much evaporates) - remove from heat and add echinacea, cover and let it steep for 15-20 mins -  then mash berries (in water) and strain out the solids - i use a cheese cloth bag and squeeze it to get as much juice as possible out but make sure you wear gloves or it will stain your hands purple!!

pour half cup honey in a mason jar (a quart jar probably, to be sure you have room for it all) add about 1 cup of your elderberry juice and combine, then add the other half cup of honey, stir again then add the rest of the liquid  - if you add the entire cup of honey at once it is harder to mix it together.. 

i give the little kids a teaspoon at least once a day, 2-3 times if they are sick or have been exposed to something -  my 6 yr old (weighs 50+lbs gets about tablespoon a day) adults take 2 tablespoons ..  my kids LOVE this syrup and beg for it they really miss it in the summer..  I on the other hand can't stand it unless i water it down  ..  its soooo sweet..  but the honey acts as a preservative and also has all those nice honey benefits ..

Love this recipe. I also found a great one for cough elixer with raw honey . Making some lemon marmalade for sore throats as well. 

we don't do vaccinations here. I have had 2 children have reactions to different ones. my 8 year old suffered a vaccine injury and he has never been the same. so needless to say I wont be doing the flu VAX. I had also read that now the regular flu and H1N1 were together now and the H1N1 has been linked (i don't know how closely) with miscarriage 

[cierra159]

I'd say, absolutely not on any vaccination while pregnant. Check out dr. Tenpenny and what she says about the flu shot. Xx

[mama.nesta]

I have to say that my view on vaccines changed after living in a third world country and visually seeing the damage that can result from not having a simple vaccine early in childhood....just saying.  I work as an elementary teacher and will definitely be getting the flu shot, though I will wait until November..thanks Brambleberry for the info on single use bottles, though I think that is pretty much the norm at this point it is still important to make sure.  

[mama3blessings]

I'm not planning on getting it either and neither will my kids get them. We homeschool so the risks are lower anyways.

[typebug]

I thought the rule of thumb even in mainstream medicine is no vaccines once you are pregnant. When I went in for my first appointment the dr raised an eyebrow over the fact that I have no immunity to some stuff on my blood test but they said, oh well just stay away from sick people and said it was too risky to do a vaccine now. I breathed a big sigh of relief because they had no intention of pushing the matter. They had no idea I've had no vaccines in my life and I would have been very upset if they'd got that out of me and given me a lecture. I started at a new clinic and they have the same rule. 

[katiesophie]

I will not be getting a flu shot (and never have).  Luckily, I have always been fairly healthy, rarely getting sick.   I haven't been sick with the flu or anything worse than a cold in years.  I have worked in early childhood education for over six years (on and off for ten) and I believe this has helped me build up a pretty strong immune system .   Some people that I know who have gotten a flu shot have become sick with the flu, others don't.  The same with people who haven't gotten a flu shot. It seems to depend more on your immune system.  

Whatever you decide, don't let them bully you!

[Chloe'sMama]

Originally Posted by etsdtm99 

1cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries 

3 cups water

1 cup honey

1/2 cup dried echinacea (optional)

boil water, add elderberries, simmer for 45mins (usually about half uncovered, half covered, otherwise too much evaporates) - remove from heat and add echinacea, cover and let it steep for 15-20 mins -  then mash berries (in water) and strain out the solids - i use a cheese cloth bag and squeeze it to get as much juice as possible out but make sure you wear gloves or it will stain your hands purple!!

pour half cup honey in a mason jar (a quart jar probably, to be sure you have room for it all) add about 1 cup of your elderberry juice and combine, then add the other half cup of honey, stir again then add the rest of the liquid  - if you add the entire cup of honey at once it is harder to mix it together.. 

i give the little kids a teaspoon at least once a day, 2-3 times if they are sick or have been exposed to something -  my 6 yr old (weighs 50+lbs gets about tablespoon a day) adults take 2 tablespoons ..  my kids LOVE this syrup and beg for it they really miss it in the summer..  I on the other hand can't stand it unless i water it down  ..  its soooo sweet..  but the honey acts as a preservative and also has all those nice honey benefits ..

Hurray, I am making this right now!  Making a double batch to give my sis one of them too.  Very excited.  I got this recipe from my sister for a tummy syrup too:

http://www.granolababies.com/blogs/granolamama/6382130-herbal-syrup-for-tummy-aches

I think I will make it next, but I don't have all the ingredients, so I need to find the Blackberry leaf.

Hope everyone is still feeling good and not having any colds!

[kellybeth]

i feel great!

i am worried about taking the kids that i nanny to school now after a sign on the door today said there is diarrhea & vomiting from both of the classes. the little one is sneezing his head off (long stringy green snot running down his face included) which is enough to make me weary.

[amymccarty]

Our family is now anti vaxxing... I have done much research after suffering serious problems after havign the H1N1 shot when I was pregnant with my last... Due to the vax I went into labor at only 33 weeks and ended up spending 40 days in the hospital and could have lost my baby... Will we ever pump poisioness chemicals into our family again.... no not ever...

[eminvc]

Originally Posted by JessNP 

Ugh - I don't know what to do! I think I'm going to read up on it some more. I just wish the darn shot didn't always make me sick. I am pretty much guaranteed a fever, fatigue and muscle aches for a good 3-5 days after the shot. On the other hand, getting the actual flu is much worse. The problem is that we really have no idea what this winter will bring. This past winter of 2011-12 had one of the lowest rates of the flu ever, while the previous winter of 2010-11 was one of the worst. 

Last time I had a flu shot, I drank chocolate milk right after and took Advil right away, on the recommendation of the nurse (well, she said any snack in general, which I interpreted as chocolate milk :)  I got it at about 4:30 in the afternoon, then went home, had early dinner, went to bed early, and never got that fatigue/achiness that I typically get w/ flu shots. Worth a try.

I will definitely be getting a flu shot--I work as a counselor at a college, see 8-20 students a day, many of whom come in w/ their sick kids or come in very sick themselves. My body just can't handle the daily attack on the immune system. The first year I did this job I was anti flu shot, and I got not only the flu, but three sinus infections (one per month in Jan, Feb, March). Since I started getting the flu shot I generally only get a cold once per season. That's my anecdotal "research."

[kellybeth]

this post from healthy bitch daily came up today. doggy dna flu shots. just wrong.
 i have made my decision (way before this post and the dog dna thing came to light) that i will not be getting a flu shot. never have, never will.

[Jenny01]

Just thought I'd share this article that I came across this morning:

http://avivaromm.com/flu-vaccine-in-pregnancy-whats-a-girl-to-do