Could I Have Harmed My Baby by Getting a Flu Shot While Nursing?

More than likely the shot you received from the pediatrician's office was thimerisol free. Most pediatricians only use thimerisol free vaccines because of the use in children. It is ok to get the shot but not the mist while breastfeeding. If you have questions call the pediatrician and ask about the vaccine.

Hi S. - did you know that 10 of the 12 researchers who "researched" the MMR vaccine causing autism have actually formally retracted their article?

There's a lot online that quotes this study... but to have the authors/researchers retract & apologise for the "damage to public health" (more or less that's what they said) kinda gives you the impression that they believe themselves to be wrong.

(edited to add - MMR is the mesles, mumps & rheubella shot that the original "link" came from.)

Dear S., you sound like an awesome mom.Check out www.healthyanswersonline.com I had my first baby vaccined when he was young, but as I learned more I just made sure his immune system was strong.(first line of defense)And we don't vaccinate anymore.And we have, healthy,happy,creative children Peace&Love,M.

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/504_iom.html

You helped your baby by giving him antibodies to the flu, which can be a very serious illness for small children. The amounts of mercury is actually very small, and there is no evidence that it does anything. You and your child likely consume significantly greater amounts any time you have many of the varieties of seafood likely to contain it. If you have further questions, this is the kind of thing you should be discussing with your pediatrician where you can count on getting reliable information as opposed to rumors and conjecture obtained from unreliable unscientific websites.

i really doubt it hurt your baby , because they give babies flu shopt,mine had one!!

Hi S.!! It's nice to see someone else from South Louisiana on here. LOl. The best place to tell you about that is La Leche League. If you've never used their resources b-4, I believe the website is www.llli.org
They are the breastfeeding experts/support system. But, your pediatrician also knows what all is safe to pass on to the baby. I wouldn't drive yourself crazy over it, because it's already done. Even the kids that receive the actual shots are at a minimal risk from what I've researched...It's still just that - research. Nothing has actually proven it yet. It's mostly an individual opinion and decision on each parent based on their beliefs.
I also think it might have to do with whether the child receiving the vaccine is sick or not. If their is a high fever or any fever for that matter, they won't give the shot that day. Also if there are any underlying illnesses or conditions (like heart conditions or other problems), I think that affects who actually reacts to all this Mercury. I would say your son is probably pretty safe b/c it's not straight to him. It's only through breast milk, so the amount he received was minimal. Also, I think he would have shown some type of reaction or symptom by now. It'll be ok.

Hello new first time mommie!!
What a wonderful life ahead of you!!! Anyway, I agree with everyone here. They are spot on!! I concur that flu vaccine is compatible with breastfeeding.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most vaccines can be given safely to the mother of the nursing infant.

Although thimerosal has been removed from all routinely recommended childhood vaccines, the flu vaccine does still contain it but I think in 2006 a reduced thimerosal version of the flu vaccine was made available. It may also have been removed. Just ask your doctor, but I am sure all is well.

Then on to the FluMist when they are 5. NO SHOTS! No Timerosal. How cool.;-))

S.,
Please visit www.mayoclinic.com. It is a quality site that has information on causes of autism. Don't always trust conspiracy theorists who feel that pediatricians or drug companies "push" vaccinations that are unnecessary. Your search for FACTS opened a whole world of opinions that are strongly held both for and against vaccines. Personally I would rather have the flu shot then go around my small baby with the flu which is why I had it and made everyone in the family get it before Ethan was born in Jan. If it is safe across the placenta, I am sure it is fine in the breast milk.
B.

I would not worry about it. The latest studies have said they haven't been able to find a conclusive link between vaccines and autism. The chance of getting the flu and it turning into RSV which can be really bad in infants is much much greater. The form of mercury in thimersol is a different form than the harmful mercury. That is why pediatricians recommend getting the flu shot.

I am sure he will be just fine. They not only give babies the shot, but your body has probably filtered so much of that minimal amount of mercury or thimerosal, that he probably didn't get a tiny amount if any. Enjoy! I was a little paranoid about vaccines, too. The end justifies the means, however and they prevent more bad than attribute to autism. Good luck!

Hi S.,

I think what is done is done and you can not go back so now you just have to move forward and work on building your babies immune system... breastfeeding is awesome so you are doing great!

I know I would be scared to death in your situation to b/c I have also done many hours of research on vaccines over the past 3-4 years and I know how dangerous they really are.

It is sad that so many parents blindly give their children these vaccines when they do not read both sides and just trust the doctors who are PAID and TRAINED by the very companies that manufacture and recommend these vaccines.

So I thought I'd post some additional information about vaccines safety to give parents additional information to consider.

While the pro-vaccine studies (done by the pharmaceutical companies by the way) receive major media attention, a study in the Journal of Child Neurology actually found that "significant relation does exist between the blood levels of mercury and diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder" -- yet it received little media attention when it was published several months ago.

Thankfully a lot of people are starting to catch on... even Hollywood thanks to Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete.

By the way, after years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims. The unprecedented concession was filed on November 9, 2007. You can read more about it at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-conc...

And thimeresol is NOT the only dangerous substance in vaccines. It is well documented that Lead, Aluminum, Formaldehyde, African Green Monkey Viruses, and other vaccine ingredients are toxic. Toxic Overload Leads to Cellular Malfunction!

Also, some people have said you have to vaccinate to get into school and that is not correct. In most states, you just have to have a document you can get from your doctor or the health dept. which you sign stating you either do not agree with vaccines or that you do not vaccinate for religious reasons.

S.,

Congrats on the baby. I have a masters in biology education and have taught Anatomy and Physiology for a long time. You are right about thimerosal being used in vaccines as a preservative on occasion, although from what I read it is not being used nearly as often as it once was. Based on my understanding of the immune system, it is very unlikely that the mercury if thimerosal was used as a preservative in your particular vaccine cocktail would pass from you to the baby through your breast milk. Your antibodies that you produce in response to the vaccine are what your pediatrician wants you to provide for your little one through nursing. To put your mind at ease, I would call your doctor's office and ask for the brand name of the vaccine you received and then contact the pharmaceutical company or go on line and check out whether thimerosal was actually used or not. That way, if you find out it was, then you can pursue getting a list of side effects from the manufacturer. They have to provide that information for you.

I have 4 children who are grown - wish you all the best. Let me know what you find out.....

K. Alexander

S. please remember that the flu shot was given to YOU and was metabolized in YOUR body before it ever reached your baby. I noticed your looking for FACTS but those are very hard to find.

Some definitive research is needed, but most of the studies so far indicate that still more research needs to be done. People who defend the need for vaccines have interpreted that to mean there is no compelling evidence, and people who believe vaccines are dangerous have interpreted that to mean that the truth is out there. Meanwhile, more and more children are diagnosed with autism. More and more children are being vaccinated, with more and more vaccines. And more and more animosity is building. Which argument sounds true to you?

With the onset of mass-media bombarding us with information, we can only set and be parents in fear. You have to decide with is best for your child, and your best bet is a complete family history. Know your family and you will be the BEST Mommy you can be. My prayers are with you.

As a mom with a son on the Autisim Spectrum first off the vaccines my opinion are not what is making them autistic, I think they are born with this and at what age it manifest is different with each child. Do not worry about the shots doing this. The form of autisim that my son has, I was told that both of my children would have it because they are biological sibblings (same mom and dad), but my youngest does not have it. And he has had several flu shots, because he was a sickly baby. So don't let this worry you to much. Hope this makes you feel better.

This is a hot topic.. my 4 yr old has autism. He was diagnosed at 18 months as not meeting his developmental goals.

If I was to have another child( which we are not.. we have 2 great boys).. I would insist that my babies vaccinations be given separately and not multiple vaccines in one shot. I would give some days between the shots.

No one knows what is causing autism. Something has to be. Why else do 1 in 150 children have it???

I certainly wish it didn't exist, and all of our children could be happy, normal developed children.

This year and going forward.. we have all requested the thimerosol- free flu shot. All 4 of us got it.. actually it was a nasal mist deal.. None of us have gotten sick.. knock on wood..

I think you are fine... breastfeeding, though..

A lot of information is available on this website, including how to opt out of school vaccinations for children: http://www.vaclib.org/ Please do the right thing and educate yourself without only looking at "information" supported by the drug companies.

There is also an autism connection being made to WiFi and electronic smog in general. In fact, this is the next big thing in ill-health effects! It has been known for decades that living under high-power electrical lines was cancer-causing and worse; now, with the electronic technology everyone has, it's almost like that wherever you go! --M.

Hey S....
There is no real need to be concerned about this as it is unlikely your son was exposed to the cultures from the vaccine in your breastmilk but rather that he gained some antibodies from your body's response.
And as for the autism linked to vaccines.. this has not been clearly established...the reason Austism spectrum disorders and Vaccinations can not be linked is for several reasons...
1st... the appropriate age for vaccinations is the same time where autistic features are being noticed. It is suggested that children who are gentically predisposed to having autism are triggered by the vaccination but it is unknown if these children would have it later without their immunizations or if the immunizations just bring it out sooner. Also... since your little one is going to grow and need his immunizations, well you will need to think this through soon. I can only tell you that many more children die from the flu than have adverse reactions from the shot.
It should just be a few years when the Genome project is complete and all our medical issues will be revealed. I really pray there is no link to the vaccinations at the same time my heart and prayers go out to those families even more.
I am a mental health professional and know the struggles of families with a member having autism... and i chose to have my child vaccinated. best of luck... -mb