Whooping cough jab while pg - did you? Didn't you? What were your reasons?

[Gingerbreadpixie]

I'm 26 weeks pg and need to decide whether or not to have this jab in a few weeks time. I understand that the vaccine was previously not recommended for under 3's or pregnant women, which makes me quite wary of having it. But of course I also wouldn't want my newborn to catch WC. Myself and both siblings had WC as small children so I'm wondering if i have a natural immunity anyway? I'm a bit confused and undecided. I also have two autoimmune illnesses - T1 diabetes and hypothyroid. I don't know if that is relevant but I thought I'd add it just in case.

I am going to talk to my GP but cant get an appointment for a few weeks so I guess I'd just like to get some opinions from women who have had to make the same decision and what swayed you towards that decision?

(Ps - I'm not anti-vaccine and intend to give baby all his jabs when he's actually here.)

[iamci]

after reading up I decided benefits outweighed potential risks so had it done. was in and out in less than five mins and had no side effects.

[MrsBri]

I had WC as a child but still had the vaccine.

You only get the child's dose, just so your baby has enough protection until they get immunised.

As iamci says the benefits outweigh the risks, so I didn't hesitate in having it done.

[MisselthwaiteManor]

I had it done, there's no real info available on the long term risks but newborns have died of whooping cough so it seemed a no brainier for me to have it done.

[cupcake78]

I had it. I'd never forgive myself if baby got whooping cough and died as a result. My midwife said 400 babies/children died of whooping cough last year. That was all I needed to know!

[bigkidsdidit]

I had it. My reasons being i didn't want my newborn to get whooping cough! There is an outbreak where I live.

[busybeeme]

I'll be having it in a couple of weeks.

As I understand it has been common to give to pregnant women in the US for some time even though it is new here. This gave me additional comfort

[marzipananimal]

I would have thought if you've had the illness you wouldn't need the vaccine, but ask your GP. I haven't had it because I had a bit of a strange reaction to the jab when I was a baby so it seemed like it might be a risk, and my baby is due in summer when presumably there's less of it around

[Featherbag]

I'll be having it whenever it's recommended, I'm only 12/40 at the moment though. Will be at the front of the queue for the flu jab too.

[MrsBri]

But the immunity isn't for you, it's for baby, so even if you've had it you still need it. Baby gets just enough through the placenta to immunise it until it gets vaccinations.

Ultimately it's up to you, but I wouldn't risk it.

[boardingschoolbaby]

I had wc as a child but was still recommended to have the vaccine (which I did) as your level of immunity decreases over time so would be virtually zero by now. Our baby came on Tues and he is perfect. WC is on the increase again and I certainly didn't want the extra worry of him picking something up which can be so easily prevented and can have devastating consequences. Your GP or you midwife will be able to talk it all through with you so don't feel that you have to make your mind up yet if you are at all worried.

[bigkidsdidit]

The other thing is it is not only infecting babies now - my friend, who is a consultant in a respiratory ward, said they are seeing lots of elderly people very seriously ill with it indeed, as the babies are infecting their grandparents.

[RuckAndRoll]

Benefit Vs Risk assessment for me. The risks of not getting it were just too high for my liking so had it this week (28 weeks). I was told your immunity is irrelevant and won't necessarily protect the baby.

Talk to your midwife and/or GP though as it's got to be a personal decision.

[BumbleBee2011]

I'm 36 weeks pg, had my jab at 32 weeks.

Yesterday I got an email from DC1's nursery to say one of the staff has been diagnosed with WC, so quite glad about the timing and the fact I was offered the vaccine.

[Dolallytats]

Thank you for reminding me, I am 31+4 and had completely forgotten about it. I must book an appt at the GP to get it done.

[StuckOnARollercoaster]

I thought they are giving you the same jab they would have given to the baby in the first few months, just earlier via you so the little one may be protected earlier.
I did lots if reading at the time and decided to go for it, even though they can't be completely sure.
As with so many drugs/vaccines the studies are never completely sure about effects on pregnancy because of the ethical dilemmas of testing on pregnant women.
I take the view that medical practices have come a long way since thalidomide and would rather take a vaccine that is recommended now rather than risk my children and wait for 5 to 10 years to see if it turned out ok to give the vaccine, by which point it's too late for my child and they have been exposed to the whooping cough which is going around right now...

[plentyofsoap]

I was thinking the same as I had wc as a baby and nearly died. I asked the midwife if I was still immune and she was very vague. I will have it though as it is not worth the risk to baby.

[ReikiMummy]

33w today....
Having jab later this afternoon. :) WC is not something I'd want anyone to go through having had it as a child.... :(

[FoofFighter]

I understand that the vaccine was previously not recommended for under 3's

I think you are a bit misinformed here, the jab is exactly what our babies have at 2, 3 and 4 months old and have done for years. In other countries such as US they've been doing this for pregnant women for a while.

Re immunity, I have read that it can wear off over the years.

I will be having it next week, no question. A school friend of mine had it, and it was bloody horrible.

Don't leave it too late, it takes a few weeks to get across to the baby I have read and you want to give it enough time to make the antibodies or however it works am no medic!! which is why they would prefer you to have it between 28-32 weeks.

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

I did and I'm glad I did. Felt rough for a day or so afterwards but can't be sure that's as a result of jab. At 5 weeks DS2 got bronchialitis from a cold his brother brought home from nursery. It was mild but I still didn't sleep for 3 days watching over him all night, I can only imagine how hard it would be to have a tiny baby go through WC. Just not worth risking.

[OrangeFootedScrubfowl]

I wish I hadn't bothered. I had my baby premature the next day so it was a bit pointless!

[fatandlumpy]

Having it this afternoon!

[MsPickle]

I had it at 30 something weeks although I had wc at the time, my gp felt and I agreed that it made sense to ensure immunity in the lo as there was so much around.

It was bloody miserable having that cough, esp being pregnant & very sick with it!

[bonzo77]

I had it. Benefits out weighed the risks. I was likely to have a prem baby with breathing problems. He didn't need wc too. He was prem and did need help breathing. He's fine (nearly 6 months now).

[BabyHMummy]

Not been offered it, but will be having it as and when it gets mentioned. As other posters say, risks of the diseases effects on baby far outweigh any risks to me or side effects

[MrsBri]

You may find it doesn't get mentioned, so I'd make a note to make an appointment when you get to 28 weeks. I wasn't told / reminded; I had to just use my initiative!

Same with the flu jab. I just got that done in early pregnancy without being prompted.