snailien: I'm not willing to put my baby in danger of actually getting the h1n1. The chances of it causing complications in pregnant women are pretty high. A lady in Florida is in a coma and in critical condition and her baby has died because she contacted the h1n1. The hypothetical side effects of the vaccine scare me less than the actual danger of contacting the virus.

I do not just go out and get these things blindly. I've weighed the facts and considering the non-adjavant version of the vaccine is made exactly the same as the regular flu shot it's not like they have only been giving that for a short time. It's been considered safe for pregnant women.

Also, it's not just the government that is saying the vaccine is safe. It's also health professionals. My doctor strongly recommends it as he's seen first hand what the virus can do to pregnant women.

So what you're saying here is basically that people should ignore the FACTS of all the women who were pregnant and have died with the H1N1? It's not the government saying this it's the truth. My cousin is a nurse and she says every doctor she has talked to that she works with suggests getting the vaccine for pregnant women.

I think you have the right to refuse the treatment but I think it's wrong that you're trying to scare people away from getting it.

Hold on a minute Meldmac! I was not directing this at you, nor am I trying to scare people. I am putting something out there for people to consider, alternative to what the media tells us.

I do not want to put my baby at risk either, and I personally am doing that by not having the vaccine and I believe the risk of catching the virus is slim and having complications, even slimmer. If you look at the statistics, that is a fact.

I am not debating the fact that there are risks either way.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "....but we must remember that most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8175241.stm

My Dr and midwife have both said they would not have it themselves and although they had the vaccine they would not be pushing people to have it.

Not true: I am a doctor (a medical geneticist who specialises in prenatal care and teratogenic effects of drugs, amongst other things). I have seen 2 pregnant women die with my own eyes, and 3 more are in the intensive care. It's totally in your right to not get the vaccine, but please stop spreading misinformation: you are doing no one a service.

1 in 10 pregnant women who get it (based on our Canadian statistics) will end up in the ICU: I do NOT consider this "slim" risks.

There are no real risks associated with vaccinations in pregnancy (the same ingredients other than the specific viral strain, including the adjuvant, have been used for YEARS in seasonal flu vaccine which is routinely administered to pregnant women), and I'm sick and tired of fear-mongering and anti-vaccine advocates trying to convince people otherwise.

Sorry, I'm really upset right now, it may be my hormones talking, but I've seen people die of preventable diseases constantly for the last 10 years (measles, rubella, polio, etc...) because their parents chose not to have them vaccinated. The risk of death with H1N1 in pregnant women is REAL. Your Dr. and midwife are the exception to the rule: by far, the vast majority of health care professionals are able to see this and recognize that one cannot compare this real risk of death to a theoretical risk of vaccines that has been discounted over and over again.

And one more thing: with our years of experience with vaccination in pregnancy, there has not been ANY associations with increased risk of congenital defects, so PLEASE stop making assumptions that vaccines are like thalidomide. The thalidomide tragedy led to much stricter testing being required for drugs and pesticides before they can be licensed: THIS INCLUDES ALL THE INGREDIENTS USED IN VACCINATIONS, which are the same as the ones being used in the H1N1 vaccine.

As I said, if you are anti-vaccination, by all means, it is within your rights to be. But please stop spreading misinformation that may lead to tragedies in other peoples lives.

Sorry for my rant everyone, I'm am honestly TERRIFIED by the deaths and horrible illnesses wrecking havoc amongst the pregnant women who contract H1N1 and really hold this close to my heart right now...

CJ

Very well said meldmac: I don't know of a single health care professional who feels that there are more dangers associated with the vaccine than with contracting H1N1. I work in a huge hospital: we've had assembly meetings at since last May, and all 1000 physicians are completely on board. All pregnant doctors and other health care providers jumped on the vaccine as soon as it was made available.

CJ

We are now in November and I have had the regular flu TWICE since I got pregnant (the second time my temp went up to 38 C). I don't think getting the Swine Flu is such a stretch for me. I have done a lot of research and the risk seem pretty real from what I have read. While every single doctor I have been to has recommended that I take it, none have been pushy and all have encouraged me to do my own research and come to the right conclusion for me. This I have done.

Hi im 10.5 weeks pregnant..scheduled to get shot tomorrow..the risks of not getting the shot are way to high.. many pregnant women have died from the swine flu.. it's scary...I work in a school and can't wait to get vaccinated!

I know your post wasn't directed at me personally. However, I'm a little tired of people misinforming others.

It's not just the risk while the baby is in the womb, it is very dangerous for a newborn to get the h1n1 virus. If you do not vaccinate yourself your baby has no protection. I'm not willing to chance this.

As for the risk of catching the virus being slim, that's not true at all. Anyone who goes out in public has a chance of getting h1n1. The risk of getting the virus is just as high as getting the flu. Unless you plan on sitting home and not going anywhere you have a chance of catching it.

Ok, after weeks of 'do I, don't I?' I have decided to have the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine offered by my surgery. I'm booked in for Tuesday.

My doctor said that a huge 10% of women who have caught swine flu whilst pregnant have ended up in intensive care. When there is no real evidence as to whether the vaccine is harmful to the feotus and since I have an 18 month old daughter to think of, the vaccine is my best option - I can't take the risk of being seriously ill or worse, and leaving my little girl.

I had the vaccine on Tuesday - excluding my sore arm i feel fine! I also feel reassured that i can continue to get the bus to work every day and not have to be worried about people coughing and sneezing all over me. I now know i am protected and in turn protecting my baby when they are born. My family GP, midwife and practise nurse have all had the jab and also all said that they would themselves have it too if they were pregnant.

I think I am now leaning towards getting the vaccine again. I have not received any information from my doctors/midwives about this. Should I expect to get a letter inviting me for this vaccine, or would I have to ask to have it??

I am so torn in my decision for this.. it is the added medical history of my asthma that keeps nudging me to get it, esp as my asthma has increased since I became pregnant.

But I do tend to believe all I am told and one minute I feel scared into getting it, the next I feel scared into not getting. I just wish there was some consistancy in the information I am being given.

Do you think it would be ok to ring my midwife to talk about this or would that be a waste of the midwife's time?

xx