 Maternal Related Forums
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| debra_maine 10/21/2004 | . | As I've told you, my ob/gyn said to get the shot anytime. So I call my reg. doctor and am told by the nurse that the State of Maine guidelines say not to give it earlier than 14 weeks. I am 8 weeks, so they won't give it to me. I can get it here at work (I work in a healthcare facility) but don't know what to do. Why would the state forbid earlier than 14 weeks and my ob-gyn says anytime. Am I better off taking my chances with getting the flu or getting the shot early? HELP!!!! |
| manman 10/21/2004 C1 | debra | I have always heard that you should wait till after your 13wks to get the flu shot, I was surprised when I read your post yesterday that said your doctor told you to go ahead and get the shot. I am 29wks and I could get the shot, but I choose not to. They say the shot can make you sick, and have flu like symtoms. I know I don't want to be laying around feeling like I have the flu because of a shot. I think I'll just take my chances and hope I don't get it. I personally would wait till after 13wks if you really are wanting the shot. Take care.... Mandy |
| Kassimom 10/21/2004 C2 | debra-maine | HHmmm...that is a tough one. Since you work in the healthcare industry though, aren't there some people around you that you could ask? I knwo it would just be an opinion at this point but if you have 10 Dr's telling you to get it and only 1 saying not to, at least it would help you make a more informed decision for yourself. Or vice versa. I would say there are ways to avoid the flu should you decide to forgo the shot, like washing hands often, being overly concious NOT to put your hands in your nose or mouth, carrying handy wipes to wipe down shopping carts and door handles....But in the health care industry, you have a little more exposure to things such as the flu than the average person. |
| hther 10/21/2004 C3 | . | I would call your OBGYN and tell them what the guidelines were that were told to you. I have seen it on the CDC site say generically 'any woman who will be pregnant during the flu season'. Obviously, no timeframes are given there. I did find this though on Ivillage: Question: I am eight weeks pregnant. Can I get my flu shot this fall? Is it safe or should I skip it this year? Answer: According to the Centers for Disease Control, all pregnant women who will be beyond the first trimester (12-13 weeks) during flu season should get a flu shot. Also, a pregnant woman should be vaccinated regardless of stage in pregnancy if she has an underlying medical condition -- such as diabetes or heart disease -- that would place her at increased risk should she get the flu. There is no harm to a nursing baby if the vaccine is given while breastfeeding. The only contraindications to the flu shot are previous adverse reaction and allergy to eggs. Other people besides pregnant women who should get flu shots are people over 65, people with a chronic medical problem, and health care workers; see your doctor for specific guidelines. |
| debra_maine 10/21/2004 C4 | . | My doc's nurse called the CDC and they said not till 14 weeks, so he gave me misinformation. I guess it used to be anytime. So glad I checked. There you have it. I'm either waiting or going without. |
| Niki73 10/21/2004 C5 | . | That's a scary thought that your obgyn had the wrong info! I'm not going to get the shot I am 26 weeks now and I just hate to take anything while pregnant. Yes I have heard also that you do have a change of getting flu symtoms and with my luck I probably would! |
| debra_maine 10/21/2004 C6 | . | I would've gotten it already if they had it here at work. I don't know what made me call my reg doctor to have a back up. I must have a guardian angel. I was told that if you are diligent about washing your hands and use that Purell disinfectant gel, it's almost as good as getting the shot. And I do feel better about not putting anything into my body. |
| momttc 10/21/2004 C7 | deb | so great. I got the flu shot last week! what can happen? my infertility specialist said it was ok, who would better know then a dr that specializes in high risk pregnancy? on top of that I spoke with 3 nurses. I'm not to worried. anyone know the risk? i mean it's too late now... i got it at 5w. just like to know. momttc I still agree with the whole thing about high temps. If you look up online you'll find virus as one of the HUGE factors in birth defects. THis first trimester is critical. |
| debra_maine 10/21/2004 C8 | momttc | I don't know what happens if you have it earlier. That is a good question. I feel like I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. You might want to call the CDC and ask them the risks of having it before 14 weeks. |
| susanelizabeth 10/21/2004 C9 | flu shot for babies | What about babies? I know they recommend it for babies 6-23 months old cause they are in the high risk category.... My little girl (8 months) got her first shot last week and according to her ped, babies need the shot 2 times - 30 days apart but they said by mid-November when she needs the next shot, it may be gone.... I know I should be glad she got the one shot but I'm still nervous. Anyone think the 1 shot is enough? |
| christie2004 10/21/2004 C10 | . | I don't know about the pediatric issues, but I think the not getting the flu shot issue before 12 weeks is one of just being careful, not that there is any known risk. That is the highest risk time during gestation, and I think they just want people to limit any exposure that they can. I don't think there is any absolute contraindication or it would be more clearly or forcefully stated. Probably it is more about preventing lawsuits. If something happens and someone miscarries or has a baby with a problem after getting the shot early, they could try to blame the flu shot even if it had nothing to do with it. |
| jennimom 10/21/2004 C11 | . | Thanks for bringing this up, I was beginning to wonder about it as well. Like Deb, I am 7.5 weeks and have been wondering if it is safe to get and whether I should get one. I will ask the dr next week to see what they say. My inclination was to wait another month, but then there might not be any vaccinations left . . . . Ugggg. Jenni |
| wisegirl 10/21/2004 C12 | . | Whats weird is my Dr has the opposite opinion, she believes there is a higher risk in the 1st trimester if you get the flu, because of the high temps and the not being able to keep anything down. She recommends getting it if your pregnant at all. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldget.htm according to that site they say all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season, is a priority group. |
| christie2004 10/21/2004 C13 | . | I think you'll still find docs who think it is ok, and docs who don't. Again--must not be clear cut, or the answer would be simple! So probably it is ok either way. This year IS especially worrisome as there are limited supplies. I figured I could get one being in a high risk group, but my doctors office can't get any yet, and doesn't know when they will get any. Can't even get it through the hospital as a direct care healthcare provider! Our hospital has divided the employees up into priority groups of it's own--ER and the med surg floors are high risk, and OB and OR are not, so we won't get any till December or January. Oh well-I'll be back home by the end of Nov so it looks like I won't get one, either. |
| tresmathews 10/21/2004 C14 | . | I just found out that our entire family falls in the high risk area because of DD's lack of IgA Immunoglobulin's. I will deffiantly be getting one for DD and myself. Now it is up to DH wether he wants one or not but I think he would rather have it than be sick again this year. |
| Kassimom 10/21/2004 C15 | tresmathews | LOL Bless you for leaving it up to your DH for getting one or not. I forcefully suggested to my DH that he get one. Actually it went more like "if you want to hold your son, you will be vaccinated". He calls statements like that my "motivational speaking" LMAO |
| tresmathews 10/21/2004 C16 | Kassimom | Well my Dh is so hard headed that even my suggestion would make him do the opposite so I told him the doc suggested it lmao. It makes things easier that way. |
| Kristen26 10/22/2004 C17 | . | Hi everyone. I called my OBGYN and let her know that by the time I reach 14 weeks (Nov 1st), my hospital may be all out of the flu vaccine. I'm a nurse and I'll most likely be taking care of patients who have the flu. My doctor said to go ahead and get the vaccine. I hope this doesn't confuse some of you more. I'm going to wait as long as I can before I get the vaccine, but I think it is really important that I have it, even if it is a little earlier. I've read that pregnant ladies are more likely to suffer from complications from the flu such as pnuemonia. Yikes, don't want that! |
| Kassimom 10/22/2004 C18 | tresmathews | LMAO-Now that is creative. "Honey, the DR said to do it!" Hey, that excuse comes in handy for the post partem thing too...."Honey, he said no nookie just yet. It's still healing down there!" I know a lady who used that excuse for almost a year!! But then her Dh got wise and called the Dr himself! LOL My nurse friend next door said "Use the nurses" when I was so concerned about all the people wanting to be at the hospital and come home with us. She said they don't mind beign the bad guy and ordering people to leave when they see "that look" on a new mom's face! That look that says "GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF HERE SO I CAN REST!!!!" LOL |
| tresmathews 10/22/2004 C19 | Kassimom | I know Dh and I are already arguing about when the baby comes. We just had a friend that had her baby and the phone was ringing off the hook at the hospital while she was in labor. I told DH that if that happens with us I am telling them to stop all calls. He got mad and said well what if somebody needs something important. My response was well whats more imporant them needing something or your child. He made me so mad.GGGGGGRRRRRRRRR MEN! |
| dorey 11/4/2004 C20 | . | Hi, I was just 14 weeks pregnant on Monday and I am now eligible to get the flu shot in my town. I have been thinking that yes, I am definitely going to get the shot, until i came up with this quote from an article: There are four drug manufacturers for this year's flu vaccine. The product package inserts published by the manufacturers state the disclaimer that "Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with influenza virus vaccine. It is also not known whether influenza virus vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman...Although animal reproductive studies have not been conducted, the prescribing health-care provider should be aware of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices...The ACIP states that, if used during pregnancy, administration of influenza virus vaccine after 14 weeks of gestation may be preferable to avoid coincidental association of the vaccine with early pregnancy loss..." Additional reading and phone calls to the manufacturers confirmed that all four flu vaccines contain thimerosal, a mercury derivative preservative banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in over-the-counter (OTC) drug preparations because of questions over safety. (Federal Register: April 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 77)][Page 19799-19802]. On July 7, 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the United States Public Health Service (PHS) issued a joint statement that because of the "neuro-developmental effects posed by exposure to thimerosal", "thimerosal-containing vaccines should be removed as soon as possible." The PHS and AAP recognized that because of thimerosal in vaccines, some children would be exposed to "a cumulative level of mercury over the first six months of life that exceeds one of the federal guidelines on methyl mercury." Hospitals around the country responded this summer by halting the administration of the thimerosal containing vaccine for hepatitis B at birth, deferring vaccination until the baby is older and more developed. What about my beloved little baby that isn't even developed enough to live outside the womb yet? I hope this doesn't scare anyone, it's just that now, I really don't know what to do!!!!!!!! I had a stomach bug the last 2 days and it really wasn't fun. I can't imagine what it would be like to have the flu. I have a toddler...so i worry...... | [Thread closed to new comments] |
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