Flu Shot and preemie?

Question

So my preemie is coming home soon and I'm in a bit of a conflict with myself. The nurses are suggesting I get a flu shot especially since he's been on oxygen for so long. I want to because it'll help keep the flu out of the house. But I've never gotten one and I'm worried about having a reaction to it. My husband got the shot a few years before we met and was hospitalized. So he's refusing to get one. I haven't gotten the flu since I was like 7 or 8. So I really don't feel like I should. But, I feel like as a mother I need to do it.
Have I been mom shamed so bad I ask strangers for advice on small things like this? I feel like I'd be a bad mon if I didn't. But I'm really not comfortable with it.

Answer

If there’s a chance it could protect my baby, I’d get it

Answer

I get it and I only started getting it when I had my baby. I would definitely get it without a doubt if I had a preemie baby at home. Babies DIE from the flu. It’s not worth the risk. I’ve never had a reaction to it. I had the flu once in my life and I legit thought I was dying. Crazy high fever for days. I couldn’t even imagine watching my child go through that.

Answer

If you’re not comfortable with getting it, then don’t. Each parent has their own decision on what they think is the best option. And if you don’t typically get the shot, it would be awful if you got it and ended up getting sick like a lot of people do (myself included).

Answer

I usually only get the flu shot if I happen to go to my doctor for something during flu season and they offer it. After spending the past 2 months in the NICU with my son and having another month to go thanks to him being a preemie, I requested the shot for myself and told family to get it if they expect to be allowed to see him. Whatever can be done to keep him from having to go back to the NICU is being done. Too many people died last year from the flu to make it worth the risk, especially with a preemie.

Answer

The flu has already killed a kid this year so I would think long and hard about how much exposure you will have with the outside world. Weigh the risks and the benefits and talk to your doctor about any uncertainties.

Answer

I’d personally prefer to just take other measures. Are you out in public a lot? We don’t do flu shots either.

Answer

I'm not sure why you think you would have a reaction to the flu shot. It's very rare that this would occur. The chances of you bringing home the flu are way higher than having a reaction to the flu shot. I personally would be more afraid for my newborn getting the flu. 80,000 people died from the flu in 2017. I am going to be having my second child in December who may have breathing problems. So, if my family chooses not to vaccinate for the flu, they will not be allowed to visist. Idc if it's my mother. She won't be comming anywhere near my son if she doesn't get the flu shot. The health and safety of child will come first. And I'm not messing around with the flu.😷

Answer

The flu shot is a really good way for you to help protect your baby. My sister’s 4 month old got the flu last year and was hospitalized for a week. I shudder to think of what would have happened if he was younger and premature. So do what makes you comfortable but also realize that this could help your baby and could you live with yourself if he/she got sick and you could have helped prevent it? You said your SO got sick from the shot? How so? The chance of any kind of reaction from the flu shot is LITERALLY 1/1 million.

Answer

I am the OP of this. I did get the flu shot and still got the flu. I couldn't move off the couch. I sent my son to my moms for a week while I was sick and my husband had to take off work to care for me.. neither of them got it thank God. But here's a picture of my Preemie a year after this post :)

Answer

My oldest daughter got the flu from a relative at 2 weeks old and I got the shot when she was born before being discharged the only symptom she got was a mild fever but she was kept in the hospital for two days for observation. I firmly believe that because I was breast feeding her at the time she got the anti bodies from my milk and that kept her from getting super sick I'm so happy that I got it because I believe it potentially saved her life.

Flu Shot and preemie?

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