My mom and I went to my weekly appointment yesterday. We were chatting with other women in the waiting room about the H1N1 vaccine. They both had gotten it already and were recommending that I get it as well. I thought, "oh, well. I have time to think about it. They don't even have it yet." Much to my surprise, when I went up to pay my $25 copay, I was asked if I would be getting the H1N1 vaccine today. I was shocked. I looked at my mom in doubt and we both sort of agreed that I needed to think about it. So I declined their offer and went back with the nurse for my appointment as usual. As the nurse checked my blood pressure, she strongly recommended that I get the vaccine immediately because it would provide Chase with immunity. He wont be able to be vaccinated until he is at least 6 months old. So this would be the only way for him to receive any form of immunity.
My doctor was stuck with a patient in the room next to me. I ended up sitting on the exam table for about 35 minutes waiting patiently to be seen. Meanwhile, my mom was in the waiting room chatting with some more women. There happened to be a pregnant woman my age sitting with her mom. The pregnant one was saying that she didn't feel comfortable getting the vaccine either. But her mom asked her what she would do if she got the swine flu and couldn't take care of her soon to be infant son? Or even worse, what if her son gets the swine flu? After that, the pregnant woman decided to go ahead and get the vaccination. That made my mom think harder about the whole situation. Once we got in the car, my mom told me about this other woman and her mom. We started talking about what I would do in that situation, if I were to get deathly sick and couldn't take care of Chase for weeks. Or if Chase got sick because I didn't get the vaccine. It definitely opened the door to perhaps leaning towards getting it after all.
I went home that night, researched online, talked to family, friends, and Matt. Everything we found online was supporting the fact that I should get it since I am pregnant.
Matt and I weighed my fears about this vaccine and the virus:
a) me having a weird reaction to the vaccine
b) Chase being negatively impacted by the vaccine
Vs.
c) me getting deathly ill from the swine flu before or after I have Chase (if I got sick after, I wouldn't be able to be around Chase)
d) Chase getting the swine flu
This made me realize that the second set of fears are more realistic and scary than the first set.
So, on this day, October 28th 2009, I got my H1N1 vaccine! And I have to be honest with you, I feel much better about my decision now that it is a done deal. I can't imagine not getting it at this point. I would have been terrified this next 6 months. I am proud of our decision. I wish it worked immediately, but it takes almost 2 weeks to work. I figure even if Chase were to come this weekend, it is still worth getting. I am still going to be a maniac with Lysol, hand sanitizer and washing our hands all of the time. But at least I know I am doing everything in my power to protect our son.
Well, that is my big day today! Til next time!
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