
The week of the flu shot
dilemma! UGH
Well this has been a tough one for me. I called my OB nurse last week and asked if it is okay for me to get the flu shot. She said yes the doctor highly
recommends it, but they were out. She then said the H1N1
vaccine was supposed to be at their office by the first week in November and asked if I wanted to be put on the waiting list because the doctor
recommended that too. Sure why not?
Then I started my research! My mom had mentioned that I should get the non
thermisol (
preservative free) version of the flu shot. So I call and ask my nurse about it she said the doctor
recommends either, they have only been giving the one with preservatives, but they were out and it would be tough to find one that did not have them. Man was she right I called every pharmacy in Sioux Falls NONE of them had even the
regular seasonal flu shot. I called both my doctors and
nada. So I guess I am waiting on that one.
Then the nurse calls me yesterday (10/20/09) and tells me they have the H1N1 and I can come and get it. There were only 100 shots available. I tell her I want to think about and I will call her back. Well I go back and fourth with myself, my mother and my husband and I don't know what to do. I decide to set up an appointment to go in the next morning and get it done.
I do my research last night and read that the H1N1 is still being tested on pregnant women. They only tested on women in their 2
nd and 3rd trimesters, none in their 1st. This makes me nervous. I then find that some doctors don't even like to give the seasonal flu shot to women who are in early pregnancy. However, it is
recommended because although they don't know the affects it will have on the baby, they do know what the flu can do. It can cause high fever which can lead to neural tube damage. So I am stuck, not really sure what to do.
In the end, my OB ran out of the H1N1 and I still can not find the seasonal flu shot without preservatives. I am so early in my pregnancy and so many things are being developed at this time for baby; heart, brain, nervous system. My only choice now is to wait it out until the shots become
available again (hopefully closer to my 2
nd trimester which I think is mid-
December). I plan to lay low for awhile, and keep up on the hand washing and sanitizer! It's a tough
decision for any woman in my position I guess, what makes it so hard is that we are supposed to keep all things toxic out of our bodies; alcohol, smoke,
caffeine, etc.. Yet we are supposed to get a shot that they are not really sure how it will affect the baby.
I will be
patiently waiting for the shot to come available again....
Now to WEEK 5! Woo
HooAccording to
ParentsConnect, baby is the size of a
sesame seed, and it's heart and brain are starting to develop!
I kind of feel like it is more real now, because this is when most women find out, the week after the expected period, but I had to be really on top of things with my thyroid issues so I found out pretty early. I have not been to the doctor yet, 2 more weeks, but I have probably talked to the nurse 10 times! I hope I am not the only new mom with so many questions!
So here it goes!
Symptoms: Still tired yet, falling asleep by 7
ish is normal. I am pretty sure my friends think I am crazy. I have also been
avoiding family events mainly because of my fear of the H1N1, UGH. Not nauseous yet, I hear it is on its way though! I still have the smelling power of a super hero too!
My Thoughts: Flu season is stressful, I can't imagine what it would be like with a little baby. I also can't believe I am already having to make
decisions that affect us both.
His Thoughts: Are you really going to bed now?
What I am reading:
The Pregnancy Bible (awesome book! I will probably buy it) Nick is reading a book called
DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood, he says its really good, written for fathers by fathers. Grandma and Grandpa also gave him Bill Cosby's
Fatherhood he has not started it yet.