The flu shot and pregnant women

[basilico]

I'm currently pregnant and with each pregnancy, the nurse gets upset with me at every...single...appointment for not getting a flu shot!  My Dr. is great so I wouldn't switch just because of her.  She always tells me that they had a pregnant woman end up in the hospital because of the flu (she mentioned dehydration) and I guess she expects me to be scared into getting it. Yeah right.  All the pregnant women they deal with and only one goes to the hospital from the flu.

 Anyway, does anyone have a link to the percentage of pregnant women hospitalized due to the flu?  Or just any good links about the flu vaccine and pregnancy?  I'd like to have some up-to-date info to give her.  Maybe it will get her thinking, or just get her to lay off me haha.

[Mosaic]

I'm googling but still can't find the % of pregnant women who get the flu vs % who need hospitalization. That said, pregnant women who get the flu did have higher rates of severe illness (i.e., require hospitalization) versus non-pregnant women, so I don't think slinging statistics back and forth will really help you here.

Your best bet may be to just shut down the conversation. Tell her that you understand her concern but that you've made a well-researched decision for the benefit of yourself and your baby.

[basilico]

Thank you for checking.  I couldn't find much on avoiding the shot when pregnant.  It seems that every site is just spewing the same old thing: how its not harmful at all and if you don't get it you are risking your pregnancy. 

With the nurse, I tend to just let her say her thing, nod my head, and attempt to get on with the appointment.  I'm not one for arguing with people anyway :)

[andisunshine]

I got Influenza while pregnant with my first.  It wasn't pleasant and it really sucked to cough so much with a belly but I survived.  I didn't get dehydrated and end up in the hospital, either.  I didn't and wouldn't opt for the vax in subsequent pregnancies.

[threenorns]

i had the flu when i was pregnant with my oldest - mine (like all of them) was an ultra-high-risk bec of placenta praevia totalis so i was absolutely forbidden to cough.  they kept me doped up on a cocktail of cough suppressants, painkiller (codeine), and an expectorant and i didn't end up in the hospital with that, either (the bed rest was because of the PPT, not the flu).

i should add that we didn't even HAVE the 'flu shot back then.

[basilico]

Thank you both for sharing.  I'm glad you both were ok in the end.  I think it is ridiculous to give pregnant women ANY vaccine.  They give you a list of things to avoid, yet want to put all sorts of chemicals into your body.  I just get annoyed by this nurse for thinking my informed decision is not worthwhile. 

[Minerva23]

Originally Posted by basilico 

Thank you both for sharing.  I'm glad you both were ok in the end.  I think it is ridiculous to give pregnant women ANY vaccine.  They give you a list of things to avoid, yet want to put all sorts of chemicals into your body.  I just get annoyed by this nurse for thinking my informed decision is not worthwhile. 

Maybe just tell this the nurse next time you go. You are absolutely right, no pregnant woman should receive a vaccine.

I found this article http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3025805/ here cover the topic quite well.

It is a bit lengthy but very informative though quite technical. Not even scientist are 100% sure how a pregnant woman's immune system works so why does anybody believe that a vaccine has no effect on the fetus. It is absolutely beyond me. My OB would have never given me any vaccine and I was pregnant when the swine flu was rampant plus I was working at a pharmacy then.

[emmy526]

I think you should tell her firmly next time that from now on the discussion is closed, and if she brings it up again, you will file a complaint of harassment,  due to your asking the subject NOT be brought up again.   That should keep her quiet.  

Originally Posted by basilico 

Thank you both for sharing.  I'm glad you both were ok in the end.  I think it is ridiculous to give pregnant women ANY vaccine.  They give you a list of things to avoid, yet want to put all sorts of chemicals into your body.  I just get annoyed by this nurse for thinking my informed decision is not worthwhile. 

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by emmy526 

I think you should tell her firmly next time that from now on the discussion is closed, and if she brings it up again, you will file a complaint of harassment,  due to your asking the subject NOT be brought up again.   That should keep her quiet.  

  Or maybe if you're not ready to be that confrontational, you could just smile and say, "No, thanks. You know, there's really no need to keep checking with me every time - you've made your position very clear to me, and I assure you that if I ever want it, I know where to get it.  Thanks."  More smiling. 

I had to deal with the same thing when pregnant, and I found a sort of "don't call us, we'll call you" approach to be helpful. 

eta - I think your efforts to educate her, though well-intentioned, are just going to be spinning your wheels.  That's why I'd just focus on deflection.  If she's already a broken record, she's not going to change, ykwim?
 

[basilico]

Thanks for the replies!  I agree. I know she is already set in her ways with the flu shot and there's no way she will be changing my opinion so its best to just end it there.