anyone not getting whooping cough jab

[spandau1980]

That s it really... i can't decide
mw very vague

[RooneyMara]

I put it off a couple of times, then went and had it as I realised that I'd rather take the risk of it doing some harm, than the risk of getting whooping cough myself with a newborn baby, or the baby getting it and being really poorly.

What swayed it for me was checking the HPA website for the number of cases...in the SE the usual number is under 100 a year, this year there have been 972 cases already, mostly in adults.

That kind of scared me! But I know what you mean. It's a tough decision - I've held off on the flu one as a compromise.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

I'm getting it. Mw told me its about protecting the baby for the first few weeks before it has its immunisations. I'll do anything I can to help the health of my baby!
I had the flu one too. I've had flu (as a teenager) and it was awful. The idea of being pregnant with flu terrifies me! It puts you both at higher risk. I just had a sore arm for a couple of days - way better than flu IMO!

[spandau1980]

Are there any bad side effects... iv moved into Wales and my new mw.. docs are new to me and they said personal choice and didn't have a leaflet on it or anything :(

[tiredteddy]

I had the flu jab and the whooping cough jab on the same day. One in each arm. Arms felt bruised for about 48 hours but otherwise I felt fine. In the SE the numbers of whooping cough are very high. I'm in Surrey and my midwife said they also lost a new mum last winter to flu. My friends baby born last jan got whooping cough it was awful. I've never seen such a tiny baby so poorly. It's taken until now for the baby to be signed off from hospital as over it.

[Vix07]

I'm not, but then I have had WC myself and have natural immunity so in a better position than some... having said that I'm not convinced I would be having it anyway as the info provided so far has been somewhat contradictory re passing on immunity for the baby's first few weeks - my MW is fairly confused about this bit herself!

[noblegiraffe]

I had mine today, there's quite a lot of information on the NHS site if you're interested.

They do know that the antibodies will pass through the placenta but they don't know how much protection this will offer the baby post birth. However, it is hoped that it would offer some protection up till the point the baby has its first set of jabs.
In the meantime, the mother is now also immune so that's another layer of protection as it's less likely that the mother will catch it and pass it onto the baby.

It's not an ideal solution and there are some unknowns, but it's the best they've got at the moment in a situation when whooping cough cases are very high (look up the year on year figures for your region), and unimmunised babies have died.

So mum is protected, and hopefully baby will be a bit too.

[XBenedict]

My DD has whooping cough, she's 3, I would do anything for her not to have it. Can't imagine how awful it would be in a tiny baby

[noblegiraffe]

Vix- have you had whooping cough recently? If you had it as a child you're probably not immune any more as it wears off.

[StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo]

I had it at 28+3, would rather risk the vaccine than baby being at risk of dying. Especially as im down in the south.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Have a read of this NHS web page for more info on it specifically in pregnancy.

[sausagesandwich34]

I've got it now

not pregnant but I've lost 10lb in a week and feel awful

I wouldn't wish it on anyone

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

10lb in a week! Good grief! I hope you feel better soon.

[sausagesandwich34]

thanks

starting to feel a bit better but the combination of coughing so much it makes you ill and the antibiotics acting as an appetite supressant have been impressive!

[nannyl]

Im not having it

not having flu jab either.

baby not due until June

refused flu jab last pregnancy too

[spandau1980]

If its that safe why.not vaccination new borns?! Im scared baby ll get ill with polio dyptheria or tetanus as these are in too?? Are they live vaccines.. Anyone jade jab and have a healthy baby now to reassure me... anyone know Welsh rates of whooping cough?!

[noblegiraffe]

Because they think that newborns wouldn't be able to manufacture antibodies effectively, so they're getting the mother to do it for them.

The baby will not get ill just as you won't catch polio from it. None of the vaccines are live. They do not give live vaccines to pregnant women.

[noblegiraffe]

Information on cases by region and age here. Wales has 6 times as many cases up to Sept 2012 as they did for the whole of 2011.

[Vix07]

noblegiraffe I had it 11 years ago so should still be ok as they estimate 20 years for natural/infection acquired immunity I believe. Although as over optimistic estimates re post-vacc immunity seem to be partly blamed for this latest outbreak perhaps I had better get checked!

[PeshwariNaan]

I had it - was not sure, but I carefully read the minutes of the decision and felt pretty satisfied that safety concerns were taken into account. Also, I'm not a doctor myself, nor a biologist, nor have I had any training in medicine or that type of research. I tend to respect people who do, and I respect knowledge. So in this case I felt comfortable relying on educated people making an educated decision based on research I am not myself qualified to do. (i.e. I ultimately respect science and the scientific method - I realise not everyone does.)

That said, I had a big sore welt on my shoulder for a few days afterwards - made it tough to use that arm. However, I googled it and that's a really common reaction. It's subsided now (1 week later). Apparently the immunity passes through to the baby about 2 weeks after the jab, so I'm glad I had it at 32 wks.

[inadreamworld]

I'm not having it and never had a flu jab.

[inadreamworld]

Meant to add I can understand those who do decide to have it but am not convinced it is safe and tested.