[mama2riley]

Thought this was good information to share....this topic came up on another thread so I thought I'd post it here to for those of you who were wondering.

This is from the Mayo Clinic's website:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu shots for all women who will be pregnant during flu season. In North America, peak flu season is usually November to March. Because the flu shot is made from killed (inactivated) influenza virus, it is considered safe during any stage of pregnancy. However, pregnant women should not use the nasal-spray flu vaccine, which is made with live, weakened influenza virus.
Pregnancy can affect your immune system and also put extra stress on your heart and lungs. As a result, you may be at increased risk of not only getting the flu but of developing serious complications of the flu, including pneumonia. In addition, pregnant women with the flu are far more likely to require hospitalization for flu complications than women with the flu who are not pregnant.

Here is some more info from the CDC regarding flu shots:

Question: Should I get a flu shot when I'm pregnant?

Answer: Yes. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend a flu shot for women who will be pregnant during flu season (October to mid-May). That's because if you get the flu while you're pregnant, you're more likely to have serious complications, such as pneumonia, that could put you and your baby at risk.

Get your flu shot as early in the season as possible. Your caregiver should offer you one at a regularly scheduled prenatal visit.(Ask for one if she doesn't.) The vaccine changes every year, so you'll need one even if you've had it in previous years.

Flu shots may be available in September, but are usually given in October and November. If you miss that window, you can still get one — and the sooner the better. Keep in mind that the vaccine won't be fully effective for two weeks afterward.

If you have a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, you're at particular risk for complications from the flu and you should get the flu shot every year in September or October whether you're pregnant or not.

There are a few exceptions: If you're sick and have a fever, wait until your symptoms are gone. And don't get a flu shot if you're allergic to eggs or have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a flu shot. Finally, let your healthcare provider know if you've ever had a rare condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome. She'll need to figure out whether the benefit of getting the flu vaccine outweighs any potential risks in your situation.

You may have heard it's best to wait until your second trimester to get the flu shot, but that's not the case. Both the CDC and ACOG now recommend the shot, which is made with inactivated (killed) virus, at any time during pregnancy. (Pregnant women shouldn't receive the nasal-spray vaccine, which is made with live virus.)

Some moms-to-be are concerned about the preservative thimerosal, used in some flu shots. The CDC has found no convincing evidence of harm resulting from exposure to this preservative in vaccines, and both the CDC and ACOG say the benefits of the flu shot outweigh the theoretical risk, if any, from thimerosal. If you're worried about it, though, ask your provider if you can get a dose of thimerosal-free flu vaccine. There's more of it around this year than in previous years, but it's still not available everywhere.