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Pregnancy

Whooping cough vaccine, don't know what to do!!

52 replies

Linnielou5 · 23/06/2013 14:55

Hello!!

As the title says I am undecided as to get the vaccine or not. I'm 28 weeks pregnant so at my midwife appt on Thursdays I was given the booklet about the jag, I didn't read it untill last night and I've been full of worry since even to the point of crying. I've tried looking up the internet and all it says is that it's not licensed to be used on pregnant women so the risks are unknown, haven't came across any bad stories about it. I'm petrified to get it incase something happens but I know I would never forgive myself if my baby caught it either. I don't know anyone or have even heard of anyone close by thats had whooping cough and my mum is a nurse and she hasn't heard of any cases either. Hubby says I should get it, my mum is undecided, haven't spoke to anyone else for an opinion. This is my 3rd baby and I'm more worried this time than I was with my 1st. Baby moves around loads some days then hardly any the next so I find myself waiting untill I finally get that first kick of the day and then still worry 24/7.

I'm wondering, who's had the jag, who will get it and who definatley won't?? I know this is my decision but would really appreciate other opinions.

Thanks for reading. xx

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TrudyW · 23/06/2013 15:29

Hi Linnie,

I'm 21+1 with baby 2 and I already know I'm not going to have it. My decision is based on the fact that it hasn't been given to pregnant women long enough to see if any ill effects appear as a result.

I just see it as I didn't have it with my son as it wasn't offered then, he's 3, and he never contracted it. I understand there has been recent outbreaks of it leading to some newborn deaths which is incredibly frightening but I think if the majority of women have the vaccine then it is less likely for an epidemic in my area.

Also once baby's immunisations come around, whooping cough is included in them anyway so they will get covered after their first weeks.

I'm quite 'funny' towards immunisations anyway, I didn't give my son the MMR and bloody hell the trouble I've had over that, with nurses/doctors, its gotten to the point of arguing with several members of staff telling me my son has to have it when I clearly know that isn't the case! I've just had to stand my ground on that one!

This of course is all my personal opinion and whatever u do is entirely ur choice but I agree it is a daunting decision x

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cupcake78 · 23/06/2013 15:32

Nothing is licensed for use on pregnant women!

The risks of not getting it done far out way the risks of getting it done. IMO there is more chance of baby getting whooping cough and dying than being affected by the potential risks of the jab itself.

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starsandstripes72 · 23/06/2013 15:37

I had it done. I weighed up the options and thought it would be safer for baby. Its all personal preference and im sure whatever you decide will be whats best for you and baby. It helped talking it through with dh when we made the decision. The only side affect i had was a swollen arm and a bit of a bruise.

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Essexgirlupnorth · 23/06/2013 15:44

I am 25 weeks and planning to have it done. The risk to the baby from whooping cough is higher than any risks from the jabs IMO.

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lucybrad · 23/06/2013 16:43

Why on earth would you not want to have it. Its recommended by health professionals, thousands of pregnant women have had it over the last couple of months, and its been used on small children for decades safely. Before immunusation whooping cough killed many children, luckily the immunisation prgramme virtually wiped it out ...... until last year when numbers started rising again (much the same as measles recently). Very young babies in Britain DIED of it last year. They DIED of it. Now I bet if you ask those parents if they wished they had access to the jab while pregnant.... what would they say?

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chicaguapa · 23/06/2013 16:48

My sis is a midwife and had whooping cough when pregnant, but before the vaccination was offered. She said she recommends it to pregnant women.

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chocolatesolveseverything · 23/06/2013 16:49

I've had it. Was a no-brainer for me once I saw the recent whooping cough statistics. There is no evidence to suggest this vaccine could harm your baby. But whooping cough on the other hand, that does a lot of damage...

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lucybrad · 23/06/2013 16:54

I feel my reply may have been a bit harsh, especially since the OP has been at the point of tears worrying. Flowers

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Linnielou5 · 23/06/2013 17:06

Thank you for your replies. I have pretty much decided to have it, I can't keep baby indoors for 8 weeks and I also have a 5 yo and 3 yo so will be doing school runs etc and it's impossible to avoid public places. My hubby thinks I should have it, my mum says she probably would if she were me but understands my concerns in the fact it's not been used on pregnant women but at the same time there has bound to have been thousands of women who have now had it and if there were any real risk surley we would know by now?? I'm such a worrier about everything even when I'm not pregnant!xx

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Essexgirlupnorth · 23/06/2013 17:06

No lucybrad I think it was a good point well made.

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rallytog1 · 23/06/2013 17:07

As others have said, nothing is licensed for use on pregnant women. That's because formal clinical trials would be unethical, not because there are specific concerns in the case of the whooping cough vaccine.

I don't want to be harsh as I do understand how worrying it can be, but I also think it's a little selfish to refuse an immunisation on the grounds of risk, but then to rely on others taking the (so-called) risk to give you and your LO 'herd immunity', as a pp has suggested. It's not really fair to expect others to take (what you think is) a risk so that you don't have to.

For me it was a no-brainer and the benefits far outweighed the risks. I had the jag, felt no ill effects in myself and DD is now a perfect two-month-old.

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MrsHuxtable · 23/06/2013 17:47

Would I still need the vaccine if I had WC a few years ago?

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noblegiraffe · 23/06/2013 17:52

Yes, you would, MrsHuxtable. You need your body to be making antibodies to the vaccine at the time of maximum antibody transfer through the placenta, which is at the period in pregnancy the jab is given.

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dontlaugh · 23/06/2013 17:58

My baby contracted whooping cough last year (I'm not in UK). Believe me, having seen him at 3 months old, unable to breathe, vomiting every feed and losing weight v fast as he was so ill, I wish I'd been offered it.
He'd had his first vaccine but it only gives 60% protection til second shot. He caught it in that window.
I would take the vaccine if I had another baby.

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TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 23/06/2013 18:02

Hi there, if it makes you feel better in the US they've given the WC jab to pregnant women for years with no problems. Read up a bit more about vaccinations and their mechanism. It really is not feasible that they would have effects on an unborn baby - they are just to trigger immune response to create antibodies.

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MarianaTrench · 23/06/2013 18:10

Relying on herd immunity is downright selfish. The jab is safe whereas whooping cough kills.

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islingtongirl · 23/06/2013 19:03

I had it last last at 30 weeks and didn't even think twice about it. As others have said, for me the risks of the baby contracting whopping cough far outweighed any negligible risks of having the jab. Incidentally my jab contained other element, diphtheria etc, did others?

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islingtongirl · 23/06/2013 19:03

*had it last week at 30 weeks

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gintastic · 23/06/2013 19:05

I had it at 37 weeks when it started being offered last October. No brainer. DD2 is perfect. Snoring, but perfect :-)

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Longfufu · 23/06/2013 19:36

I had the jab, IMO it's irresponsible not to have it.

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redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 23/06/2013 19:45

I see it that we can only rely on the health professionals to guide us, they know more than I ever can with a bit of internet research so I do as advised.

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IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 23/06/2013 20:30

Are they still giving the jab now? It hasn't been mentioned to me since my Booking appointment. The Midwife then said she didn't know if the programme would still be going by the time I was at the right stage to have it as the 'season' would be over Hmm.

I am 33 weeks tomorrow, has anybody at my stage had it recently? A little worrying...

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chocolatesolveseverything · 23/06/2013 20:48

Hi Trenchcoat, yes I had it last week at 34 wks. It was a bit later than planned largely because midwife hadn't mentioned it, but when I asked she said yes and told me to book an appointment with the practice nurse.

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Longfufu · 23/06/2013 21:20

I had mine 4 weeks ago at 28 weeks.

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rowtunda · 23/06/2013 21:32

It's a no brainer, I'm going to have it. I'm a GP in London and diagnosed two cases of whooping cough in adults last winter.

Trudy - your son wasn't offered the vaccine 3 years ago because there wasn't an epidemic then. Also WC is included in the vaccine schedules but that only starts at 8 weeks and so your baby will have no protection for those 8 weeks and as the poster above points out even that first immunisation is not fully protective. Finally depending on other people getting the vaccine is foolish & selfish IMO.

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