Interesting acrticle on swine flu in UK:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8159488.stm

Hi Snailien,

Thanks for that, but (just to alert people) i think the stats in it are pretty out of date (july 09). There's some updated (from this tuesday) advice on the NHS Choices website at http://www.nhs.uk/AlertsEmergencies/...cflualert.aspx which is useful, but doesn't give very specific data on the pregnancy issue.

i'm still undecided!!

I'm having the vaccine tonight. I already have a 4 year old and cannot risk leaving him without a mummy!

no no I will not be getting it, it's not only immediate side affects I am worried about it's developmental problems that nobody will know about for another 10 years when these babies are growing! I seem to remember a drug called Thalidomide given out in the 60's, they said that was safe too! Uuum no thank you.

I'm leaning towards not getting it here in the US. I work in a small office that is good about sick employees staying home, and thats the only people I really see daily.

I am too worried about side effects years down the road, autism, especially. For that reason, I may not even get the regular flu vax. If I did get one or the other, I'd get the regular flu vax before swine flu.

I just don't trust vaccinating while pregnant....

[QUOTE=kermie219;3549311]no no I will not be getting it, it's not only immediate side affects I am worried about it's developmental problems that nobody will know about for another 10 years when these babies are growing! I seem to remember a drug called Thalidomide given out in the 60's, they said that was safe too! Uuum no thank you.[/QUOT

In all fairness that was in the 60's and what with all the modern technology etc nowadays I don't think that is an option at all. Plus the H1N1 vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine which is given to pregnant women without any problems.

There is some useful data on general swine flu stats here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/data...flu-cases-data

I know it's not specific to pregnancy but puts it in perspective.

Is anybody in a situation similar to myself?

My partner doesn't want me to get the vaccination but I am leaning towards getting it, but of course worried about any long term damage to the baby.

My partner says no because it hasn't been tested in pregnancy etc. and he also says he couldnt cope with a child that was born with problems - he isnt great with helping out with our healthy son now - so cant imagine what he would be like with an unhealthy one!
This is going to sound awful lol but he has also indirectly said that he and our son would have to cope if I were to die from swine flu (charming!) but our relationship would break down if we had a baby that had major developmental problems and he doesn't want to increase this risk.

It scares me so much to think about what would happen to my son (who is very much a Mummies boy) if I were to die, and I would do anything to try to protect him - so if that means getting a jab that would increase my chances of miscarriage then unfortunatly I would have to do it. My son who is here now, comes first untill this baby is born.



Anyway - what I would like to know is:

how do we research this? What information do we read and believe?

what are the theoretical side effects to the baby?

if you had it done in the first trimester would the 20 week scan pick up any problems from the vaccination?

What are the reasons for having it done after the first trimester? Is it because miscarriage is less, or is it because the major organs are formed so there is less chance of these being effected?

This whole mercury thing - do I need to ask the doctor/nurse about this - do any of the vaccinations in the UK contain the mercury that stays in the body and causes problems?


If anyone can point me in the direction of info for the above answers Id be grateful

It has been tested in pregnancy. The only difference being with this vaccine and the regular flu vaccine is that it's a different strain. They make the h1n1 vaccine the same as the regular flu shot. Also, adjavants have been used for years in vaccines for pregnant women.

I had the vaccine about three weeks ago. My doctor highly recommended it.