Ok so after speaking to my MW about it she said the chances of me getting it before the baby arrives is extremely slim. However today I got a letter asking me if I would like it and if so I can have it at my docs this Saturday!!!

What do I do!! I'm confused now!! Whats your thoughts on it girls???

Carly 38+4
xxx

Personally i hoped i would have the baby before the doctors said anything to me, im now a week overdue tomorrow and have so far not had a letter off them. However 3 of my friend have already had swine flu so it definately around me...im gonna have to tell them to stay away once baby arrives.

I have heard somewhere that due to you being near the end of your pregnancy, by having the jab it wont offer your baby any protection eeek i just dont know what the best thing to do is!

Sorry not much use!

Fi 40+6

I just got my letter today about making an appt. Not sure if I will. Seems pointless now, and don't want to feel ill this close to having baby. I know it's not a live vaccine but prob still can have some effect on you. Hmmm . . . decisions, decisions. x

I've decided not to have it with me being so close to baby arriving, I know with flu jabs you can get some flu symptoms after and I don't want to risk being ill when LO arrives! and not only that my midwife said that it hadn't been tested on humans only animals! (how true that is I'm not sure!) so personally I don't want to risk anything!

38+4

Hey looks like im on my own here! I had it on Monday and the only side effects I have had so far is an achy arm wich im pretty sure is norm when having a vaccine. Been to the midwife today and she said she rekons I have made the right choice wich put my mind at ease. All the usual checks were done today and baby seemed happy and active. The mw assured me even though i was near the end my baby would still share some immunity. For me the proven risks of swine flu outweigh the speculated risks of the jab.

Hi

I was told yesterday that our doctors received the vaccine yesterday, have thinking about it for a long time, have decided that if i'm offered ot before junior comes then i'm going to have it. the way i see it, this may be the only time i'm going to be offered it, and reading the blurb that was on the main pregnancy page earlier has re-affirmed this. And as it is not a live vaccine there is no risk of developing the symptoms afterwards. even though i'm on maternity and have very little contact with other people, my hubs is still working and could still potentially come home with it. Just my opinion, totally personal choice

sarah
37+4

I'm going to leave it, I've got a cold anyway (just a bit bunged up and a sore throat when I first wake up, nothing bad) but having had the seasonal flu jab in the past I've been turned away with symptoms like this and told to return when I'm well. Therefore I can only conclude that it'd be a bad idea to get the jab while I'm already run down, I need to shake this before I go into labour anyway or I'll have no energy! Tbh, I just want more excuses not to have it...

Em 37+2 x x x

Hi Girls,

Thanks for your mixed opinions.... has helped me decide! I'm not going to have it - having a good read on the internet this morn I read a few things like...

1. it can take 2 weeks to give you immunity (i'll prob have baby by then)
2. If you get side effects may compromise your eneergy levels for labour
3. Its only been tested on 380 pregnant women and has not reached the end of its clinical trials yet.

There are a lot of positive reasons too. I think if I had another 6 weeks to go I would have it but being soooo close to having baby I'm going to leave it.

How are you girls all feeling today??

Carly 38+5
xxx

Very difficult choice this but Im not having it, I have mixed feelings on all injections and the fact they can not trial drugs on pregnant women means unless I felt very threatened by it I will wait.

The cases have dropped significantly in my area but it depends were you live, I dont know anyone thats had it or got it so I feel safer at the moment.

Very much a personal choice, when baby arrives will be paranoid Im sure! Nothing been mentioned at my surgery either.

Inka xxx

Due tomorrow, come on baby xxx

I'm with you Carly, as my baby was due yesterday I don't really see the point in having it as hte baby won't get any of the benefit.

Saying that though I've been pretty dead set against it from the beginning for some reason, I've not done any research or anything, just don't fancy it!

Emily xxx
40+1

The letter I got today says its even more important to have it closer to the end and if you are going to breastfeed then you will pass on some protection to your baby. I've also heard that some hospitals offer it after the birth to mums so that you are protected then and pass on protection through breastfeeding but not sure about that rumour. I'm going to book - appt is for the 14th but I get to see doctor on monday so will check with him too. The risks of the swine flu in late pregnancy are far more scary to me than of a dead vaccine.
Lentil 36+6

I think it is really difficult for them to say whether or not it helps as it has only been trialled on limited people and normally drug trials take years, not months. It could have side effects that we won't see for years or months, the risk of swine flu is the same as flu, and all babies get colds so we'll all be panicking in a few weeks time aanyway! Swine flu doesn't really put you at risk or your baby - i would like to remind everyone that we were all gonna die of bird flu not long ago.......!!!! lol! It's individual choice at the end of the day, but my choice was instant - you are not injecting me and my baby with anything that you have no idea on side effects later in life !!!!!

Im not having it. I have done some research and I have spoken to some people who test vaccines etc and they dont feel itsbeen tested enough period let alone on pregnant women, plus like EmilyB I have a cold and by time I shake it he will be more or less here anyway!

Em 38 + 4 x x

Lenitl - that's really interesting. Funnily enough, if that was the option I think I'd be more inclined to take it. God knows why, but passing the immunity on through my breastmilk just sounds a little less risky than straight into my body across the placenta to the baby. I have absolutely no basis for this feeling, but I'd be much more open to having the jab if the baby was already out!

Em 37+3 x x x

I declined it yesterday based on not knowing the effect on the baby (although I am 38 +3) and baby is quite developed. The baby would probably be fine but if anything happened I would never forgive myself knowing that it was because something I had. If i wasn't as far along i may have given it some more thought - oh and they are not giving appointments until Tue when I will be 39 weeks anyway.

I haven't been offered it but I'm not having it. Got this far through my pregnancy with no problems at all (touch wood) and I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened coz of the swine flu jab. They can give any injection to me that they want, after baby comes out!

As for the benefits being passed onto baby through breastfeeding, i'm not gonna breastfeed anyway so wont make any difference.

Nici
39+4 xxx

Ive not been offered it either and wouldnt expect to be cos our gp is absolutely useless. But thats another story.

I too though am not keen on having it, based on their not being any long term research on it. I also "heard" that those in the labs arent even having it... could be pure speculation. But without any hard core medical facts due to lack of time for testing, my view is that a lot of it is speculation, which brings an element of risk. Thats my opinion though.

Besides, I too am still trying to shake a cold and really need my energy levels to boost back up to go into labour any day now. My mum had the vaccine a week ago and she said it left her feeling tired so thats another reason i dont want it. Plus, Im not one to normally opt for the annual flu jab anyway.

xx
39+3