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Flu shot while pregnant
i just turned 35 this month. I had a flu shot 5 -6 days ago; don't know if it contained mercury or not or other perservative and I just found out today that I'm 4w5 days pregnant. I am so worried about the effects on my unborn baby with all the talk about autism, ADD, etc and the flu shot...in the first couple of weeks is critical since everything is forming.
Is there a greater risk of my baby having autism, ADD? Or since I'm 4 weeks 5 days is there something I can do to increase my chances of a healthy baby?
Is there a greater risk of my baby having autism, ADD? Or since I'm 4 weeks 5 days is there something I can do to increase my chances of a healthy baby?
Congrats on your pregnancy! Try not to worry. I've been researching this topic myself since my dr. recommended getting the shot--just to be extra sure it was okay.
Go to the Center for Disease Controls website. The CDC highly recommends the flu shot for pg women since the risks of the flu can be very harmful to the fetus.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
Also, I copied this from the same website.
"Is it safe for pregnant women to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal?
Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.
Additionally, influenza-associated excess deaths among pregnant women have been documented during influenza pandemics. Because pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and because a substantial safety margin has been incorporated into the health guidance values for organic mercury exposure, the benefits of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, of thimerosal."
Good luck with your pregnancy!
Melanie
Go to the Center for Disease Controls website. The CDC highly recommends the flu shot for pg women since the risks of the flu can be very harmful to the fetus.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
Also, I copied this from the same website.
"Is it safe for pregnant women to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal?
Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.
Additionally, influenza-associated excess deaths among pregnant women have been documented during influenza pandemics. Because pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and because a substantial safety margin has been incorporated into the health guidance values for organic mercury exposure, the benefits of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, of thimerosal."
Good luck with your pregnancy!
Melanie
I'm not sure about the effects. All I know is better not take the flu shot when pregnant. I had to go for mine on 10/7 when I thought I might be pregnant so I didn't go. 3 days later I had a positive test.
Doctor told me to avoid all medication when not prescribed for pregnancy reasons, also the simple painkillers etc.
Doctor told me to avoid all medication when not prescribed for pregnancy reasons, also the simple painkillers etc.
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