regular flu shot & h1n1 shots.?

I'm 16 weeks on Monday and I'm not going to bother with it. My OB would literally have to force me to get it, which I don't see happening. The information packet that he gave me at my last check-up stated that clinical trials in pregnant women were not due to start until September of 2009 which is way too new to me! How can they tell us that it's safe when the tests were recently started? I really don't understand it.

The other reason I won't do it is that I work at an elementary school where there have already been confirmed cases of H1N1 and even more that were not confirmed. On your average day we would have at least 5-6 kids missing out of each class room that had 15-16 kids in them to begin with. My own kids have had a flu, which I'm sure one of them had the H1N1 but the doctor didn't bother testing for it, he would just tell me that she had a flu.

So because I've been exposed to it and because I don't want to put something in my body that has NOT been proven 100% safe, I won't get it.

Good luck with your decision!

Although H1N1 is new, the shot is made the same way that the seasonal flu vaccines are made each year, so the ingredients, other than the virus are the same. The flu shots often change a little each year as well in anticipation of what strands of the virus will be going around. That said, it is entirely up to you wether you wish to get the shot or not. i did not take the regular flu shot with my daughter because she was born well after flu season, but did with my son because he was born at the height of it. None of us have had the H1N1 because I am a stay at home mom and my kids aren't in day care, so there exposure will be pretty limited.

I had the regular flu shot. At first I declined it because I thought it would hurt my baby in some way. Then my Doctor told me that if you get it while pregnant it will immunize the baby from the flu for up to 6 months. I ended up getting the shot just because it is better for the baby. As for the H1N1, I haven't gotten the shot because it is such a new and dangerous virus.. so I don't know too much about it to trust the vaccine with my baby. I am not getting it out of fear. Im a wuss

Mercury is not good for you,but supposedly it is only a small dose which is not suppose to harm you.There are two types of h1n1. One is the shot which is a dead virus. The other is a nasal spray, this is a live virus. Most Nurses are not getting the vaccination. the only nurses who are taking it is because it is mandatory. With flu shots you run the risk of being sick for 3 days after the shot. With all vaccinations it is not good to take if you are not feeling well or have been exposed already to illness. if you have already been exposed to illness are or are feeling a little under the weather I would not take the vaccination, due to the fact that it only speeds the illness process along. If you are healthy and have not been exposed to any illness then It should be safe to take. You have to consider it is hitting the young and you do not want to get sick while pregnant, this could effect the baby and or be putting it in danger. If I were pregnant I would consider getting it for the babies sake but only the shot, not the live dose nasal spray. I would also make sure I was 100% healthy and have not been exposed for at-least 72 hours to any diseases. Most nurses have already been exposed to the illness anyway, and that is why they are staying clear of the vaccination. Just remember proper hand-washing is important. Wash your hands paying close attention to the fingernail beds for at-least 30 seconds. keep a small bottle of hand sanitizers on you when you go out. Buy a bottle of lysol spray and spray your door knobs to help prevent germs around your home. Wash with bleach water. The hospitals and nursing homes use mostly bleach water to clean and disinfect with. It is cheap and efficient. when You are using a public restroom, after washing your hands turn the water off with a paper towel. Consider the fact that most people hands are dirty and full of germs when they turn on the water faucet. when you turn off the water faucet with your hand after washing your hands, you have just put those germs back on to your hands. When using a automatic blow drier to dry your hands, use your elbow to turn it on. Most diseases are cut down by proper hand-washing. All illnesses enter through the eyes, ears nose or mouth so try not to touch your face unless you are 100% positive your hands are clean. Cover your cough is also important. One single cough can send germs up to 3 feet through the air.

There is mercury in a regular flu shot as well and they hae been suggesting pregnant women get that for years. I have heard both forms of the h1n1 shot are safe for pregnant women.

I am 15 weeks pregnant and have received both shots. My first OB is retiring in a few weeks so I had to find another. Before our last office visit he told me that he highly recommended me to get both and that the H1N1 is made the same way as the regular seasonal flu shot is. I have since begun seeing the new OB who highly recommends both of them as well. To each his own but I wish you the best pregnancy!

i have to say I am strongly against the swine flu shot but I did get it, mercury is bad yes but there have been studies that contradict the claims of it causing autism.My doctor was not going to give it to his woman but there are some valid points that he said and it changed his mind. It does help with babies that are born in the height of flu season so it gives them immunity. The other thing is its really not been tested to see the long term effects of the vaccine which concerned me all in all I did take it but under protest but I know my doctor is looking out for me and my baby .

Its really what you think is best for you.. you should not let anyone on the boards sway you either way do what you think is right and listen to your doctor he will only do what is best for you and your baby

the problem with the h1n1 is that it was never thoroughly tested.. and the last h1n1 vaccine led to major brain problems.. which weren't discovered until years later.

yeah mercury isn't good, but neither are the accelerators-adjuvants (like aluminum) they have been using to dilute the vaccine so they could spread it out to everyone

so it's a gamble.. if you trust your doctor, you should follow his advice.. since he knows you and has (hopefully) been your doctor for many years

yeah i've been told a lot of different stuff too, but i still got my flu shot and i plan on getting the H1N1 just to be on the safe side. i know its a new vaccine, but its worth it if it saves my child and myself's lives. personally if you really doubt the shot i would call your doctor or midwife and see what they say.

You are right, too much mercury is bad for the baby. But you need to weigh the risks with the benefits of getting the vaccine. I got one with the recommendation from my pregnant doctor, who got one as well. There is a reason that doctors recommend you get one. But basically, it comes down to your choice. You're the mom. This is just the start of hard decisions and choices you'll have to make in motherhood. Just really try to educate yourself and make the decision you think is right for you and your baby.