So I just got my flu shot at work, and in the paperwork they have you fill out, it asks "Are you pregnant or could you become pregnant in three months?"
1. How the hell am I supposed to know? I wish in addition to "yes" and "no" there was an "I wish" category.
2. Does anyone know why they ask that?
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
In 3 months?....that's bizarre. Ours only say "are you or do you think you could be"
grapefruit / 4988 posts
That's weird that they would ask anyway. It's not like pregnant women can't get the flu shot. In fact when I was pregnant last fall, they insisted I get one as soon as the stock came in!
pomegranate / 3895 posts
Mine said currently or planning with no deadline. I totally understand wanting the "I wish" box - obviously men who have never been in the thick of TTC created that questionnaire!
They ask so they can give you the preservative free shot if the answer is "yes."
pomelo / 5129 posts
@LBee: That makes sense if there are different types of shots. I was also under the impression that pregnant women should get the shot, so wondered what that was about!
I turned to a coworker and was like...Wth? How am I supposed to know?
grapefruit / 4441 posts
My work had a sign that said, "Please notify a nurse if you are pregnant or nursing"... I told the nurse I was pregnant and was given the preservative free shot.
pear / 1787 posts
we had a flu shot clinic today too and they just asked are you pregnant yes or no. i am pregnant so i asked if there were different shots but they said they have just the one type so i went ahead and got it!
that is a bizarre question though! not sure why it would matter if you were to get pregnant in... december?! really odd.
coconut / 8861 posts
I think most places do that with the question. I got my flu shot at the OB's yesterday, so I guess that they gave me the pregnancy approved one.
persimmon / 1364 posts
They ask because pregnant women should not get the live virus flu shot (the nasal spray kind.)
grapefruit / 4418 posts
I don't remember that question! It's probably for the nasal mist, though.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@loki: As long as you didn't get the live mist, you should be fine. My OB office gives the regular flu shot, not the preservative free one. I don't think there's any evidence showing that the shot with thimerosal is harmful to pregnant women; both the CDC and FDA say it's fine. I think if you want to be extra safe, the preservative free one is a good choice, but it's probably an unnecessary precaution. The single-dose preservative free shot is more expensive and more difficult to distribute (has to be refrigerated), so a lot of places don't have it... mainly hospitals and a few clinics (the Walgreens near me has it) have it. I work for a big hospital, so that is why they had it at my work.
The preservative shot is also latex free, so I think it's also used with people who have latex allergies.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@marym: I just got my flu shot and was given a Preservative-free Flu cocktail because I am actively TTC. No way to know if I'll be pregnant in 3 months, but the administrator advised this was the safest option.
pomelo / 5129 posts
I checked "yes" just to be safe. But I'm pretty sure they only were giving one type of shot. I also have asthma so I can't take the mist one, but they didn't mention it to anyone around me, so I'm guessing they just brought the safer option
pear / 1787 posts
@78h2o: i've never seen/heard of the mist! ok you made me feel a bit better, i was anxious about it after reading through the thread!
sorry for jacking @MaryM: i think yes is a safe bet!
persimmon / 1472 posts
I think they ask because the flu shot comes in two formulations - multidose and single dose. The multidose has a mercury-based preservative since it is used for several patients and the single dose doesn't have the preservative. Since pregnant women are advised to limit mercury intake then the single dose is preferred. I remember when I got the flu shots during my two pregnancies, the pharmacist made sure to give me the mercury-free single dose formulation.
pomelo / 5791 posts
Oddly enough, I was just asked that question for DS to get his flu shot yesterday. The woman actually asked me!!
Me: "Uhhh no. My 20 month old SON is not pregnant...." lol
pomelo / 5129 posts
@ValentineMommy: Hah! At least our form said "WOMEN: Are you pregnant or could you become pregnant in the next three months?"
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
That's so strange! I had my flu shot today too and nowhere on the questionnaire did it ask if I was expecting, it just asked if I was sick! I mean I'm clearly pregnant, but still!
pomelo / 5791 posts
@MaryM: Right?? So weird. And to actually ask me the question, while looking at my son.....just so weird lol
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@MaryM: pregnant women cannot have any live-virus immunizations (flu mist, MMR and varicella).
There are also many different brands, some contain thimerasol and some are preservative-free. However, the thimerasol is in such trace amounts it's been deemed safe for pregnancy. I still request the preservative free option 
kiwi / 661 posts
I don't know about the three month thing, but in general pregnant women would get preservative free vs. the regular shot.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I just got my flu shot today and the nurse gave me the preservative free version because we want to start TTC in a few months.
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