Preggo & Flu Shot

This years flu shot is mixed with the H1N1 and last year hundreds of pregnant women had miscarriages right after receiving the vaccine. Flu vaccines don't work! I know a few people who never had the flu and then when they got the shot, they were sick for a few months after and then would get the flu every year. Let your body fight off the illness. God made it that way.

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Congrats on your pregnancy! I have never had the flu shot and have 4 children. I wouldn't and never did consider even getting a flu shot while pregnant and I was pregnant through cold/flu season with all of them and with my first, I was teaching kindergarten. I boosted my immune system with vitamin C & D, stayed hydrated, exercised and ate a well balanced diet.

I encourage you to check out Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's website before you get the shot. She has done extensive research on vaccines and namely the flu shot. Only you can decide what is best for your body and baby. Best of luck to you.

Peace,
J.

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I am a chiropractor and have had three pregnancies, and high risk at that. That being said I had to see a perinatologist instead of a plain old OB. They asked me about the flu shot and I proceeded to ask him this, "Why do you tell me that I shouldn't eat fish because of the mercury, but yet you want me to get the flu shot which is loaded with mercury." He did not know the ingredients in the flu shot and that was a surprise to him. With that being said, you can use your own common sense, but I strongly agree with the person who said to research it and Dr. Mercola is a great site for researching all kinds of things. Just educate yourself and on both sides of the issue and then make your decision.
Good luck with your decision.
One last piece of info and this is by the top epidimiologist in the country. With each 5 consecutive flu shots you are 10% more likely to develop Alzheimers due to the aluminum in the shot. There is also formeldehyde and ethelene glycol in all vaccinations. I don't think that is too good for a developing baby.

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With all due respect to those who think immunizations are dangerous, be careful you are not getting false information. The flu shot does not contain mercury. It is safe for pregnant women. You won't be able to get the flu mist (nasal) because it is a live vaccine. I got my first flu shot when I was pregnant with our first baby and have had one every year since. I've never had any side effects other than a sore muscle at the injection site. Remember pregnant women and children have compromised/immature immune systems and can't fight viruses as easily as healthy adults. Working in a daycare you will be exposed to more than most adults are. If you do get the flu while you are pregnant, treatment options will be limited because many if them are not safe for pregnant women ( even simple things like over the counter decongestants).

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I wouldn't take the flu shot while pregnant. It hasn't been around long enough.

I like the name Brennan or Houston.

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I have gotten a flu shot already. I am 20 weeks pregnant. My son turned 3 on Wednesday, and I will get him a flu shot as soon as I can. I also had a flu shot while I was pregnant with him, in 2007.
The risks from the flu itself greatly outweigh your risk of complications from the vaccine. When I had the shot I had no side effects at all, not even soreness at the injection site. The flu shot injects a dead virus. It cannot give you the flu. People who say they got the shot then got the flu either didn't actually have influenza, or had been exposed before their vaccine became effective. It can take about 2 weeks to have full protection.
My recommendation is to get the shot, but whatever you decide please get your information from a reputable source. I have read at least one "study" linking the flu vaccine to an increase in miscarriage that was totally bogus, the title was something like "Flu Vaccine Caused 3587 Miscarriages & Stillbirths". The "science" was terribly flawed and proved nothing. Just because 2 events happened in a particular time frame doesn't mean that one caused the other. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet, posted by people with some agenda or another.
I know that many people are worried about the inclusion of H1N1 in the vaccine, but I'm not one of them. H1N1 is a strain of influenza. The seasonal flu vaccine is, as it always is, a trivalent vaccine (a three component vaccine) with each component selected to protect against one of the three main groups of influenza viruses circulating in humans. This year that happens to include an H1N1-like virus. There is nothing new about the way they designed the H1N1 vaccine that would require more testing. It is a strain of the flu and should be treated as such in terms of vaccine information.
I am personally much more worried about my family contracting the actual flu than I am about the infinitely more rare chance that there are complications from a vaccine. I am especially concerned to have a newborn in the house at the tail end of flu season.

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The flu shot has mercury. They have not tested this shot on pregnant women. Every pregnant woman who takes this shot is a guinea pig for the pharmaceutical companies. Yes, they are testing it on you and your baby. You have a developing baby in your womb. Mercury destroys nerves. Is it worth the risk to your unborn child to add this toxin to your body while he or she is developing major organs, brain function, eyesight, hearing, etc? I would never, ever, do this to my baby. It isn't worth it. Instead, boost your immune system. Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of fresh water. Cut out sugar and white flours from your diet (sugar destroys the immune system), take Vitamin D3. Get as much sunshine as you can. Wash hands consistently. Wipe runny noses with kleenex and throw that away. Make sure the kids cover their mouths when they sneeze. And, don't let parents bring sick children to daycare. Be rigid about that policy. Flu shot, not so much.

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I would HIGHLY recommend that you do some research before getting the flu vaccine. Here is just one of the MANY articles that can be found to help encourage you to optimize your vitamin D instead of getting a flu shot that does nothing but line the pockets of big pharmaceutical companies.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/0...

Dr. Mercola has numerous articles showing scientific fact about the lack of flu vaccine efficacy.

I wish you and your new baby the best. How about the name Dathan?

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I got the flu shot while i was pregnant but regretted it. I did not and wouldn't ever get the H1N1 vaccine which is included in the flu shot this year. I wouldn't recommend getting it.
As for names, I like Levi and Hunter. I just named my new son Tristan.

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All the reputable sources strongly suggest getting a flu shot while pregnant and when a person's work means being around young children. There are many less than reputable sources that state otherwise. Be careful what you read on the internet. Just because a person uses the title "Dr." does not mean they are a reputable source of "scientific information".

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I am a believer in the flu shot. My family got Influenza A when my "baby" was 6 months (got the shot, but the strains were wrong) and it was horrible. We got H1N1 last October, because the shot didn't arrive in our area until February. Both caused a bare minimum of a week missed of work/school, per person, and another 2-3 weeks after that of time when you needed an early bedtime, couldn't really run around, and the house did not get taken care of. Since you run a daycare, you would be shut down for probably a minimum of 5 work days. That said, I got the combo shot this year about a month ago and reacted to it. I felt achy, and exhausted, and slightly feverish, for about 36 hours. That said, it was WAY better than getting influenza, especially since influenza has, in our house, always brought a HIGH fever (104 and above) and I can't have that, pregnant. I also can't deal with my kids being that sick this year, either pregnant or with a newborn. Finally, I will say that I was fighting off a HORRIBLE cold when I got the vaccine, and I knew it. I even debated about saying, hey, my kids and husband have all been sick this week, can I wait a few days for the vaccine? But I didn't. This is the first time--ever--that I've had ANY kind of reaction to the vaccine. I also had my DTaP shot at the same time, so I'm pretty sure my immune system was just way too overloaded. So...I'd wait til a time when you're pretty sure you're healthy and well-rested, and perhaps get the vaccine on a Friday, in the event it makes you feel a little off. But, in my opinion--totally worth it.

Oh--and if you're concerned about mercury, a lot of clinics have stopped giving the flu shot that includes mercury. Mine hasn't given it in the last couple years, and we attend a small town, small name clinic. If you're concerned, ask your doc.

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Request the shot that doesn't have thimerosal (mercury) in it.

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I am surprised to read that so many moms didn't get the flu shot. I don't understand that - I have had the flu shot every year since college (after I got the flu so badly that I was hospitalized), and have had the shot during both pregnancies. I have had the H1N1 shot twice. It is made exactly the same way that all other flu vaccines are made; there is nothing exciting about it.

Especially since you are around young, germy children all day with your business, you should get the flu shot. Can you imagine being pregnant, running a daycare, AND having the flu? (Especially since you won't be able to take any of the really effective medications...) What a nightmare that would be! Definitely protect yourself.

As far as names go... I like Grant. I know it's not super-trendy, but I still love it!

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There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the flu vaccine and I highly encourage you to do your own research above all else. That being said, there has been no significant reseach done on what the flu shot does to the developing fetus inside of a woman's body. And remember, just because you get the flu shot does not mean you still won't get the flu. My mother got the flu shot last season and got a terrible case of the flu a few weeks later. She said it was the worst flu virus she ever got. The BEST thing you can do for your baby and your health is to strengthen your immune system. Eat as many fresh organic fruits and vegetables as you can, take an omega supplement/flax seed/hemp seed oil, stay away from harmful toxins in processed foods and meats, and relax as much as possible. Stress weakens your immune system more than anything else and can make you prone to sickness. There are so many other options to protect yourself and keep healthy than are far more beneficial to you than the flu shot. Your body is very smart machine, treat it well and you won't have to worry about getting sick.

Check out the National Vaccine Information Center site for more info: http://www.nvic.org/

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I personally would not get the flu shot, especially while pregnant. Here is from the package insert from the flu shot:

"8.1 Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with FLUVIRIN®. It is also not known whether FLUVIRIN® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. FLUVIRIN® should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

Someone had mentioned they knew someone who got H1N1 and had a miscarriage, well I know someone who had a miscarriage within hours of getting the H1N1 vaccine. Honestly, who knows what to believe. It comes down to what YOU personally feel is best but you do need to arm yourself with unbiased information. I'm always amazed at how people will research the heck out of strollers but not what is medically being done to themselves or their children.

As for me, I have not seen scientific proof that the flu vaccine works. The information is out there that the years where the strains have been wrong or the year (2004 I believe) that there was a shortage of flu vaccines, there were no more deaths than any other year.

Best wishes on your decision and congrats on baby #2.

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I was Pregnant last year when all the H1N1 hype was out and I didn't get either shot. My Dr. strongly encouraged it, and talked all about the CDC reccomendations for it. I still declined the shot and I never got sick. Just heartburn, lol!!

I just found out last week, I am pregnant again and I will not get the flu shot this year again.

Congats on your pregnancy and I like the name Brody!!

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I got a flu shot during both my pregnancies at the recommendation of my ob/gyn. I also work at a nursing home, and they are extremely pro-flu-shot there. A few people mentioned a concern about mercury -- my flu shots did not contain mercury. Ask about it -- I don't think it's too hard to come by the mercery-free kind (and its getting more an more popular/easier to find because so many don't want it!).

Haven't read the other posts so not sure if I'm repeating.... but isn't it mandatory/highly recommended to get a flu shot while pregnant?

I had never had one either and got one while pregnant. Haven't had one since.... good luck!
Re: trendy names... I love Grant :)

Definitely get a flu shot, especially being around kids all day. You don't want to suffer through the flu in pregnancy. As for names, how about Cooper, Carter, Cal, Quinn?

i think they strongly suggest a flu shot when your preg.an doing daycare-this one this year has it all in one boost-h1n1 etc,...but you need to really chat with your dr.i get one every year-i work on a property with alot of kids an not so clean an healthy ppl.i skipped it one year..i was never so sick in my life...i had no side affects from the shot.

I never got it when I was pregnant with my son (and I was around small kids), but I also never get the flu shot. Your doctor is definitely going to "recommend" it, but there is something in it for them, so I'm not sure that's a good enough reason in my book. My mom gets horrible flu like symptoms after getting the shot (which would be miserable for you if you got them too), so for me, it's worth "taking my chances". Again though, that's just my opinion!

As for names, I say look at the Social Security's website and see what is popular/trendy right now. You could also go to baby naming websites and put your son's name in. They will come up with names that sound right with his! Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations on your second baby! I too am pregnant with our second am at 15 weeks. My pediatrician suggested that I DO get the flu shot. I was pregnant through the flu season with out first child and got the flu shot then. I recall feeling fine that time around, so I am also considering getting it this time. My only concerns this time is that they have combined a few strains of influenza into the shot, including H1N1. I chose not to get the H1N1 shot this past season when it became available so I still have some reading to do.
I think I might suggest for you to get it because of the daycare that you run. Being around all of those kiddo's! Especially the school aged kids, it's hard to tell what they might bring home from school with them! I too care for children in my home (4 plus my son) and this past flu season we passed the flu around my home 3 times. Not fun! Chances are we will all have the shot here in my home just as a precaution!
Brayden is such a great name! What about Parker, Preston, Austin, Ashton, Ethan, Dylan, Eli
Good luck, and congratulations again!

Oh- and maybe we could chat sometime about the childcare thing? Being pregnant and babysitting has really begun to take a toll on me, I'd love to hear how you do it and maybe get some tips or advice from you!!
Have a great weekend and take care!
R.

You should definitely get the flu shot, just not the nasal, because it is a live virus. I'm sure your OB would advise you to get one.

As for names, my suggestions are: Kaden (only if you want them to rhyme), Camden, Riley, Kellen, Liam, Mason, Jett or Jace.

Definitely get the flu shot. I'm six weeks pregnant and getting it next week. I remember how terrible and run-down I felt from a cold last time I was pregnant. I can't imagine what the flu would do to me.

I think considering you are around multiple children all day every day, you should definitely get the shot! For you and your baby! I got it when I was pregnant and I was fine. There was a slight soreness in my arm at the injection site for about a day, and mostly if it was pressed up against something. But I didn't get sick at all.

I have a friend who contracted H1N1 while pregnant and lost the baby just before her due date. I would get the shot!!

I have a friend who is a labor and delivery nurse, they have had many pregnant women die the last 2 flu seasons because of H1N1. For some reason, it attacks pregnant women harder and has a higher death rate for pregnant women. It doesn't matter age or health either - the last one was a 17 year old. Definately get the shot, any slight side effects you may or may not get are definately worth preventing you from getting this.