It’s that time of year again… will you/did you get the flu jab/vaccine while pregnant?

[Brandi1234]

Hi all, due to get mine this afternoon but am in two minds about it.

Currently 19 weeks and never had the flu in my life but want to get the jab to reduce chances of getting the flu to keep baby safe from possibly getting a high temp if I did contract the flu.

But of course my mind is overdrive about getting a reaction the the jab, one of which is possibly a high temp!

Worried about everything as it’s my first after mc last year.

Would love to hear your thoughts/experiences around getting the jab while pregnant.

Thanks x

[Hiyaaaaaa]

I had been invited by GP to take flu vaccine this winter during pregnancy. I had it in 34 weeks. I never caught flu but my reason was same as yours to take one this time.

[HollyT7]

I did with my first but wasn't in time for my second baby whilst pregnant but having it next week, breastfeeding and babe will be 6 weeks xx

[Hidden]

Hiya, I had mine last week at 15 weeks. Apart from feeling a bit under the weather the next day I was absolutely fine, I didn't get a temperature or any flu symptoms - just felt a bit tired really. Like you I was quite anxious about it but it was fine x

[Seb9]

I had my flu jabs and whopping cough vaccine with both my pregnancies, with my 2nd baby I also had my covid vaccine at 20ish weeks and booster. I also had an extra tetanus jab, because I hit my finger with a metal hammer.Baby was/is fine and just hit 14months old.

I didn't have a fever with any of the jabs, for my 1st covid one I took paracetamol just in case, but was absolutely fine. I didn't bother with any of the others, but had some on standby just in case.

The good thing about have the flu vaccine, instead of having actual flu is that you can monitor your temperature and take paracetamol, whereas the first you might know about having flu would be having a temperature 😁

[Jess1981]

hi. I had flu vaccinations with both my daughters. Had no side effects. I also had whooping cough and covid vaccinations with my youngest daughter who is coming up 9 months and totally healthy and fine. I saw it as giving her extra protection and they wouldn't offer vaccinations to pregnant women if they weren't safe. If you get a fever paracetamol is safe to take I also had a private flu vaccination even though I'm breastfeeding still and was told it was totally safe. IXx

[Bigblueskies]

Hi

I’ve had flu and whooping cough vaccines with both my healthy pregnancies. I also had both the Covid vaccines during the second pregnancy. I also had two losses but I never had any vaccines with those.

I don’t think there is any medical evidence to link non-live vaccines to loss. In fact I was too paranoid the other way around. I was worried too much after my losses that if I caught the flu, Covid or whatever that would cause another loss or problems with the pregnancy. So I was pushing to have them asap. I felt more reassured to have newborns with some protection too, breastfeeding doesn’t always work so any immunity before is a bonus.

Both my pregnancies were fine, had straight forward births and healthy babies. So the vaccines didn’t affect anything for me. I had some side effects but they were minor and lasted 1-2 days such as a sore arm, a headache, feeling tired and having a very slight temperature.

[Emdog87]

I had flu jab with both of my pregnancies which was fine. Last winter I was invited to get another COVID jab as I was pregnant, I was really in 2 minds about getting it, I was so scared of having a reaction but I did get COVID when I was 20 weeks pregnant and it was horrible, the later you are in your pregnancy the risks of COVID are worse. However last year there was a variant spreading like wildfire, so I thought it would be better to get the jab rather than risking getting the virus in my final trimester.

It really is a tough one, I asked so many mums and everyone has different opinions. I guess just do your research before making a decision. I was absolutely fine when I had my jab but it wasn’t the first one I’d had.

Xx

[Twiglet2]

yup got it at 20weeks along with whooping cough as standard (never had it before) and all was fine it’s a very well tested vaccine with pregnant women been getting it for years and years xx

[Emma672]

I had the flu jab and covid booster while pregnant last December, and the whooping cough jab around 18 weeks, with no side effects. Baby was born this August and I got covid in July, but we were both fine. For me, I think the risk of being poorly from flu or covid is worse than any potential side effect from the jabs x

[Brandi1234]

Thanks everyone your input hs really out my mind at ease.

Went ahead and got it yesterday and thankfully so far so good!

Interesting to see how many also got the whooping cough vaccine at the same time. It hasn’t been brought up at all by my GP or midwife. It seems everyone got it at different times of their pregnancy, I wonder if it’ll be recommended for me at a later stage.

[M_fox]

whooping cough should be offered anytime after 16 weeks. My midwife forgot to tell me and when I finally asked I was 32 weeks but got it anyway as there was still time before delivery to protect the baby xx

[Hidden]

I’ve had three vaccines (whooping cough, covid, flu). No issue with any of them and currently 35 weeks pregnant. My view was to get as much immunity into baby as possible as it will be a winter baby and I will have a c section so will be in hospital for a couple of days. Quite glad now as suffering with a horrid ear, nose and throat bug so just thinking that if I do get flu or covid hopefully they will also be milder. Best of luck with your decision. xx