Lord knows we don't need ANOTHER pig-boy running around the house

September 9, 2009 1:27 PM

YANMD-Filter: Going for my first ever prenatal exam (@ 8 weeks) and will most likely be encouraged to get the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. Should I?

I am in my late twenties and am pregnant with my first child. I have never had a flu shot before. I have heard all about how people, specifically pregnant women, should get the swine flu vaccine when it's available. I also have heard that the vaccine may be more dangerous than the flu itself.

Normally I would probably pass on the vaccine but since I'm pregnant I do not want to do anything (or not do anything) that will put my baby at risk. What's a worried first time mom to do?

posted by lilgoyl to health & fitness (20 answers total)

If you're not willing to do the research yourself, you're not qualified to make the decision. Listen to your doctor.

By the way, the answer is an absolute yes.
posted by saeculorum at 1:34 PM on September 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Also I would like to add that I have read this thread but was wondering if others had more current opinions.
posted by lilgoyl at 1:36 PM on September 9, 2009

Where have you heard that the vaccine is more dangerous than the flu? By the way, if you do contract influenza (swine or other) while pregnant, YOU are in real danger. Not just your baby.
posted by peep at 1:41 PM on September 9, 2009

One could argue that by polling the mefite crowd, she is, in fact, doing her due diligence BEFORE her exam.
posted by siclik at 1:43 PM on September 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

I spoke with my wife (Who is pregnant with our first) and she said without a doubt consult your doctor. If you are encouraged too, then I would feel like it would be best too. If you do not trust your OB, maybe it is time to switch?
posted by NotSoSimple at 1:48 PM on September 9, 2009

Being pregnant, your immune system is suppressed. So, influenza is not safe swine or otherwise.
posted by sundri at 1:50 PM on September 9, 2009

"A CDC analysis shows that pregnant women are more likely than the general population to develop severe disease after infection with the pandemic H1N1 swine flu virus. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, with an unusually high death rate." cite

Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections in Three Pregnant Women --- United States, April--May 2009

"However, evidence that influenza can be more severe in pregnant women is available from observations during previous pandemics and from studies among pregnant women who had seasonal influenza. An excess of influenza-associated deaths among pregnant women were reported during the pandemics of 1918–1919 and 1957–1958. Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported following previous influenza pandemics, with increased rates of spontaneous abortion and preterm birth reported, especially among women with pneumonia. Case reports and several epidemiologic studies conducted during interpandemic periods also indicate that pregnancy increases the risk for influenza complications for the mother and might increase the risk for adverse perinatal outcomes or delivery complications." cite
posted by rtha at 1:52 PM on September 9, 2009 [4 favorites]

The only way the vaccine is more dangerous to you than the swine flu is if you're allergic to eggs.

Go here. Then go here. Finally, go here.

And then get the shot.
posted by cooker girl at 1:52 PM on September 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Where have you heard that the vaccine is more dangerous than the flu?

Perhaps she's referring to the last national swine flu "epidemic"? If I'm informed correctly, it looks like only a handful of people were hospitalized for that strain while over 1,000 contracted Guillain-Barré through the national vaccination program.
posted by siclik at 1:55 PM on September 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

I am pregnant and just spoke to my doctor about this last week. She wants me to get both the H1N1 vaccine and the regular flu vaccine, and she was pretty adamant about it - but then again, I am a teacher and thus quite likely to be exposed to the flu. I trust her completely, so while I've never had a flu shot before, I'm going to listen to her advice. Doing just a bit of research only further convinces me.
posted by katie at 1:56 PM on September 9, 2009

I also have heard that the vaccine may be more dangerous than the flu itself.

It is not.

Normally I would probably pass on the vaccine but since I'm pregnant I do not want to do anything (or not do anything) that will put my baby at risk. What's a worried first time mom to do?

Get vaccinated for the flu.


Note: I suspect you will not, in fact, be offered the swine flu vaccine at your exam given that there is no swine flu vaccine available to the public yet. You may be encouraged to get the regular vaccine, which you should do.

I'm not sure what else to write. If your doctor isn't convincing, what can we say?
posted by Justinian at 3:13 PM on September 9, 2009

Oh, I should comment that I'm also talking about the regular vaccine in my comment; since there is no swine flu vaccine yet, I obviously can not comment on how safe it is. I can say that I expect it will be much safer than the flu, but that's only an expectation.

But the regular flu vaccine is far, far safer than the flu. As in: The regular flu vaccine is quite safe while the flu is very unsafe, particularly for a pregnant woman.
posted by Justinian at 3:17 PM on September 9, 2009

It's best to listen to the advice of your doctor.

If you're concerned about different risks, ask them what risks there are, and then, with your doctor, compare, evaluate and rank the risks of different courses of action.

But consult with your doctor. They're there to make sure you and your baby will be healthy.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:34 PM on September 9, 2009

What's a worried first time mom to do?

If you don't feel you can trust your doctor's advice, you should find another doctor.
posted by Meg_Murry at 3:48 PM on September 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

I have yet to see my doctor about my pregnancy (I just recently found out). I am trying to find out as much information about this subject before I see her. I like to be well informed instead of just doing what my doctor tells me to do. This is just one way for me to research this subject.

Thank you for your answers.
posted by lilgoyl at 3:58 PM on September 9, 2009

I heard this report on NPR last month about how much more severely the swine flu had hit pregnant women who were studied. I'm not entirely sure I would trust your local doc on this, because they may not have read up on the most recent cases, but I would trust the CDC and the College of OB & GYN who are urging all pregnant women to get the H1N1 Vaccine.
posted by saffry at 4:51 PM on September 9, 2009

The swine flu vaccine is not available to the general public. It is currently in clinical trials at multiple locations in the US. Although pregnant women are one of the groups being targeted for vaccination, since the risk is higher, they are only taking women in their second and third trimesters. You have some time before the vaccine will be available to you. (Mrs. Procrastination is an epidemiologist who is informed about the trial process through her work).
posted by procrastination at 6:28 PM on September 9, 2009

I was pregnant this time last year and my OB told me to get a flu shot. I couldn't get one at my local regular doc because of mercury, so I got it at the OB.
posted by k8t at 2:49 AM on September 10, 2009

I just had a swine flu scare at 36 weeks pregnant and it was very scary-it would have been much scarier in early pregnancy when delivering me if I got sick wasn't an option. In defense of OP, my doctor and midwife, both of whom I trust, had a difficult time figuring out the correct protocol for treating me.

Yes, I would get the vaccine.
posted by purenitrous at 8:58 AM on September 10, 2009

I just happened to hear today that, in round numbers, pregnant women constitute 1% of the US population, yet so far they have made up 6% of lab-confirmed novel H1N1 cases and 8% of H1N1 deaths.
posted by lakeroon at 6:50 PM on September 10, 2009