Should I get a flu shot in pregnancy?

Okay, a quick blog this time. I get asked frequently if I encourage a flu shot in pregnancy-of course I do!. There are two main strains of flu in the vaccination-the common strain and the H1N1.
Last year we were hit by the H1N1 and in hindsite it is apparent how bad it really was for pregnant women. This is a bad flu anyway, but it hits pregnant women harder than others. There were many deaths from this flu in otherwise healthy young women. These were terrible deaths, in the ICU, on ventilators, doing emergency c-sections to try and save the baby. Not something that you want to go through. Even here in Cache Valley we had several mothers who were incredibly sick, some even transferred to Salt Lake for further care.

The other strain is the more common strain. I head a lot of people say, "I only get the flu in the years that I get the flu shot.". This has been studies and is just not the case. I think a lot of people are confused at what the flu is. It is not jut the stomach virus that gives you vomiting and diarrhea. The flu is a virus that causes respiratory illness and body aches. It can make every hair on your body hurt. Most people-no matter how strong you are-lie around in bed wishing they were dead. It costs the US millions of dollars in lost wages from missed work. It usually lasts about 10 days and is really not something that you want. Can you image having this flu and then going into labor? I've seen it- it's not pretty. These women can hardly remember having a baby.

I think that I've seen quite a decrease of women with both of these flu-a testament in my mind that the vaccines work. There is really no down side to the vaccine except a sore arm for a couple of day. It does cross the placenta some and may be the only way to protect a newborn from the virus as well.

So the answer is yes! Get the vaccine if you are pregnant