Pregnant? Breastfeeding? You Need a Flu Shot!
When you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be questioning what you can and can't put into your body. 
There are all sorts of different rules when it comes to medications and vaccines. So it's no wonder many women aren't sure if they should get a flu shot when they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
On this question though, the evidence is clear. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you definitely need a flu shot. Recent studies have proven that women who get a flu shot while they are pregnant pass on even more protection to their infants when they are born.
And since babies can't get flu shots until they are 6 months old, you should get yours to make sure you protect your infant.
Getting a flu shot, rather than the intranasal vaccine (Flumist), is recommended for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Comments
Can you please talk about what happens to the baby when you get the flu while pregnant? I am still very hesitant to get the shot.
jh
bodanutritiontips
Certainly! The risk of getting the flu isn’t necessarily directly to the baby, but rather to you and how it affects your body. When you get the flu, you typically have a fever, congestion and coughing. It is more difficult to breathe, which means you and the baby may be getting less oxygen. This is definitely not good for baby. You also can’t take any medications to treat your symptoms other than Tylenol for the fever and pain. The biggest concern though is if you develop a secondary infection from the flu, such as pneumonia. This would mean you would have to take more medications and possibly even be hospitalized depending on the severity. All of these things put your baby at risk.
I can certainly understand your concern and hesitation to put anything foreign in your body when you are pregnant. But flu shots have been around for a long time and have been proven safe. A study even came out just a few weeks ago that showed overwhelming evidence that babies who were born to mothers who had flu shots while they were pregnant were far less likely to get sick once they were born. So not only are you protecting yourself and your baby while you are pregnant, you are protecting him once he is born too.
I hope this information helps with your decision and makes you feel a little more comfortable. Ultimately the decision is up to you of course. I would also encourage you to talk to your health care provider if you still have questions and concerns.
Where did these test results come from? Who says teh flu vaccine is safe? Who says it is effective? Are the studies done by the people who sell flu vaccines?! I guess statistics are skewed in that direction. You have to search for all the people who have been negativly affected by any vaccines because it is not taken seriously by doctors at all. It is never the vaccines fault when something horrible happens as a result of a “simple” flu shot!