So in light of the recommendations that all pregnant women should have the H1N1, or seasonal flu containing H1N1, vaccine I was curious as to how many women here have actually ever had the flu when they were pregnant. This isn't for any statistical or scientific reason....just trying to get an 'understanding' of what the chances are of actually getting the flu when pregnant are. laugh

I might as well go first. smile

I have NEVER had the flu when pregnant.

i have never had the flu ever...

Nope never had the flu when pregnant. Never had a flu shot... But i was due in August 09 in the ype of the swine flu.... I have had the shot since having my son and both my kids have had there shots and get there follow up one on Tuesday.

i have never had the flu ever...

Lucky you....off to go shoot myself now. PMSL

Just kidding...I have had the flu 3 times, including H1N1 last year (well we are pretty sure as they weren't testing every case by then).

When pregnant with DS in 2005 I was hit hard with the flu. Spent a week and a half in bed mostly sleeping. Since then every flu season I get the flu and pick up nearly every cold all year round - but only since my first pregnancy. Before 2005 I couldn't even tell you the last time I was sick! With DD in 2008 I again got the flu bad, and like my first pregnacy onwards have continued to get every cold and flu type illness going around.

So on that note does anyone recommend vitimins etc that I should take lol???

Lucky you....off to go shoot myself now. PMSL

Just kidding...I have had the flu 3 times, including H1N1 last year (well we are pretty sure as they weren't testing every case by then).

it always skips me. ds had the flu last year (negative for swine). dh gets it every year. only ever had the flu injection once when i was 22 and i am 33 this year.

I know Vitamin C is good....must be, I get plenty of that. LOL Apparently A,D and E are good as well plus zinc. I think some of the health food stores sell a 'immune boosting' multivitamin but I've never taken it so can't comment on its effectiveness personally.

I had a bad flu the other week and still getting over it this is maybe my second one this pregnancy. While pregnant with DD i got the flu a few times. Im a flu and cold magnet lol. I have also picked up gastro with DD and this one.

Had the flu in 4 pregnancies (2 of the pregnancies resulting in m/c),
the worst was with DD at 37weeks until she was born. It put me in hospital. I didn't get the flu shot that year.

I had a mild flu while pregnant with Hudson - again didn't have the flu vax. Still knocked me on my butt for a week or so.

I didnt have the flu with the 3 older boys,
I had a flu vax when pregnant with DS1, didnt get the flu vax with DS2 or DS3.

Last time I had the flu when not pregnant, I was hospitalised for 10 days, as it plays huge havoc with my asthma - that was 1999 - I got the flu before I got the vaccine that year.

I am one who DOES get vaccinated every year (when not pregnant), it doesn't stop me getting the flu, but it does stop it becoming life threatening when I do get it. I have my script for the flu vax in my handbag, and I will be having it early April.

I have been having a flu vax annually since about 1990 (with some years being missed because of pregnancy)

i was due end july09, i had a flu not swine flu tho. we all had the vaccine few weeks back and ds2 was 7mths and had a bad reaction to it and ended up in ambulance to hospital, he wont be getting booster shot!

I don't think I've ever had influenza (at least not as an adult - can't remember through childhood!). I do however get run down a lot and seem to pick up a lot of colds and sniffles etc while I'm pregnant. Not so much when I'm not pregnant.

Out of 3 pregnancies, i have had a severe flu once i was 32 weeks and on my back for two weeks

The chances of getting the flu while pregnant are the same as getting it while not pregnant I would think. If you dont usually get it dont take that as you wont get it. All it takes is one contagious person sneezing on or around you at the shops and you could be off your feet for a couple of weeks!

I've had a cold when pregnant but not the flu

I remember having a bad cold in the last few weeks of my pregnancy with DS but not the flu. This time around, I caught my DS's bad virus/flu when I was around 6 weeks pregnant.
I spoke to my GP about getting the jab for swine flu as I know I'm at increased risk because of pregnancy and because I'm asthmatic but he recommended against it because there hasn't been any research yet into the affects on an unborn baby and said there are other more practical ways of reducing my exposure.

I have never had the flu in the last 10 years. I get my annual flu vax every year (you know why i HAVE to get this done Christina lol) So i like to think, that the vax's are doing what they are SUPPOSED to be doing PMSL... I couldnt imagine getting any kind of flu while pregnant! That would suck!!!
With the H1N1 vax, i dont think i would EVER get this one done, whether pregnant or not, but thats just my opinion of course smile

I have never had the flu in my life and I have never had a flu vaccine either. None of my kids have ever had the flu or vaccines and DH hasnt either. Im not sure if this is due to the amount of garlic in our diets or the fact that the minute someone begins to sniffle in this house I put cut up onions around the house to absorb the grems I dunno.
I did get severe sinus hayfever with two of my pregnacies and that was bad enough hehehe

Cheers Ness

I had the flu when I was pregnant with E and I suspect it was swine flu as the girl I caught it off's boyfriend had swine flu so I rushed to the Drs but they weren't too worried about it by then. I would have been about 35 weeks as we were having a final fitting of our bridesmaid's dresses otherwise I wouldn't have been near the sick person! laugh
I also had a stomach bug that I caught off my nephew at 11 weeks and that was much worse!
Haven't really had the flu much otherwise and wouldn't worry about the vax for me.

I had the flu at 28 weeks pregnant. It was horrible. I was coughing that badly I was double dosed on cough medicine because the dr was worried Id break my waters. I dont hear of many people getting sick while pregnant. i seem to get the flu at least once a year anyway. I dont get flu shot. My aunt gets it yearly and she seems to get the flu about 5 times unsure

I get sick with everything that goes around. I get a flu shot each year, a pnuemonia shot every few years (the recommended time) and we got swine flu shots when they came out.
I nearly died 8 years ago from pnuemonia.
I think it would depend alot on your immune system.

The chances of getting the flu while pregnant are the same as getting it while not pregnant I would think. If you dont usually get it dont take that as you wont get it. All it takes is one contagious person sneezing on or around you at the shops and you could be off your feet for a couple of weeks!

The chances of picking up any illness is pregnant when you are higher, as your immune system is not as effective during pregnancy.

I've never had the flu that I can remember, and never had a flu jab. I will reconsider this year, because I will be around pregnant women and premmie/newborn babies, so I not only want to protect myself from what they might have, but I want to protect them too. I'm not going to have the swine flu one though.

I had a really bad case of the flu in August 2009 when I was 24 weeks pregnant. The doctor didnt think it was swine flu, because I had every other symptom except fever (which is always found in swine flu). I had to have a week off work, and not long after I decided to finish work earlier than planned.

It was the worst flu I had had since having Glandular fever when I was 16.

In saying that, I didnt have the swine flu vaccine because when I was pregnant I didnt feel comfortable as it was so new. However if I was pregnant now I would have it done, and I did get it after DD was born.

It is an individuals decision whether to vaccinated for any disease. I just like to hear people making informed decisions rather than listening to gossip or heresay.

I get colds more easily when pregnant but don't think I've ever actually had the flu.

Haven't had the vax, even though I'm pregnant but that's because my doctor/midwife has never mentioned it and I keep forgetting to ask them about it when I'm there. I really should write it down so I remember to ask them about that when I see them on Tuesday, but its also obviously not something my hospital is too worried about because they haven't mentioned it either.

Leisa.

Thanks for the replies ladies. smile

Ricki- this is the stuff I am interested in because from everything I have read flu, and H1N1 in particular, is a bigger problem in pregnant women WITH other underlying health issues. So it is interesting to see the differences.

I agree that we all need to make informed decisions about the things we do, unfortunately not everyone does as I have found out.....including me at one time, OOOPS. laugh I think it is also hard to remember sometimes that all our cases are individual and should ideally be handled on an individual basis; so while Ricki for example might benefit from a flu vaccine, another mum might feel that for her it's not necessary. My mum gets a flu shot every year because she is prone to getting bronchitis in the winter, but it's not something I would do as 'standard' based on our family's health.

So assuming I have counted correctly, the No's lead by 1. laugh So I counted 8 Yes's and 9 No's, oops make that 10 No's with Leisa's reply............not that this is scientific or anything. wink

i had the flu when i was 4 weeks pregnant with DD (didnt know i was pregnant til a week later tho). it is the one and only time i have had the flu and i have never had a flu vax.

i did get a cold while preggers with the boys but i tend to get one every winter anyway lol

I never got the flu when i was pregnant.

I have never had the flu when pregnant

I can actually never recall having the flu fullstop. Had plenty of colds, sinus infections, 24hr viruses etc but never what I would consider being a flu that leaves me bedridden for days

I am still sooooo undecided about whether to get the swine flu vaccine or not sad I have never had a problem getting my kids immunised with the scheduled immunisations - but something sits uneasy with me giving either myself or the kids any of the flu vaccine's offered atm and I can't even give a good explanation why ... its just a gut feeling mellow

I am still sooooo undecided about whether to get the swine flu vaccine or not sad I have never had a problem getting my kids immunised with the scheduled immunisations - but something sits uneasy with me giving either myself or the kids any of the flu vaccine's offered atm and I can't even give a good explanation why ... its just a gut feeling mellow

Gut feelings are good. laugh I listen to those, even if the science/logic doesn't back me up. Not saying you have to, just that I usually do. I think it's one of those things that is underutilised in a world where 'proof' is required of seemingly everything.

Whatever decision you make, it's never an easy one. sad

I cant say I've ever had the flu but I've certainly had plenty of colds (and whooping cough in primary school - awful horrible infection!) but havent had any major health issues while pregnant.

Hi,

I never had the flu with my first born, however I did not escape it this time round. I found that whenever I had a sore throat, I would drink warm lemon & honey drink right before bed, and then first thing up waking in the morning, before food. My flu lasted 2 days. It was advised by a naturopath to do this whilst being pregnant. As well as a healthy eating regime. That was the first time my flu had ever lasted 2 days!