any reasons not to have whooping cough vaccination?

[CatFaceCrayola]

Is anyone declining the 28week whooping cough injection for any reasons??

[Fairypants]

I did. I felt that the unknown risk attached to having a vaccination in pregnancy (which has not been tested) was a substantial risk. Weighing this up against the fact that the vaccine might possibly increase the babies resistance to whooping cough, the possible benefits seemed a bit weak.
The mw didn't try to convince me and seemed less than convinced when offering it in the first place.

[Missus2ndwife]

I had mine on Friday and nurse told me there was new information published two weeks ago in favour of vaccinating.

It's a personal choice, but all I will say is do your research and make an informed decision.

[crazykat]

I had it two years ago when pregnant with my youngest. My main reason was the outbreak of whooping cough at my DCs school including a couple of the parents. Both me and my older kids had been exposed to it so it was an easy decisions to have it.

[SweetPea3]

I was also a bit worried about this so I questioned both my Obst and Paediatrician at length and they both said without hesitation to definitely get it done (and the flu vacc as well). For what it's worth, our paediatrician is private (so doesn't have to toe the NHS party line) and is not a vaccination zeolot (he told me not to bother giving DD the BCG vaccine), so I feel confident that I've had an independent second opinion and that it is the right thing to do. I'm booked in to get it done this week.

[squizita]

It has been used long enough for safety to be verified through observation of the population. For obvious reasons they can't do the normal double blind placebo tests on pregnancy/infants, especially as 'control' in terms of effectiveness would involve exposing children who had a placebo to a virus.
They have categorically ruled out the oft-wheeled-out 'cancer' scare risk.

Whooping cough can seriously injure an adult's ribs and diaphragm. Any/all protection you can give is a good idea.
Especially as it is getting more and more common (in part due to word-of-mouth creating pockets of un immunised kids living and playing in the same area).

[squizita]

...my point re adults being imagine the impact on a baby or child. Broken bones, often. Years of breathing issues.

[BumpNGrind]

I really questioned the use of this vaccine. I myself had never received it as my parents had disagreed with it's use (I have also never received MMR or TB vaccines). DH has had childhood whooping cough and has suffered lifelong respitory problems as a result so he was keen for me to receive this jab. I wouldn't agree until I felt I had read as widely as I could on it and I questioned every medical person I came into contact with.

I couldn't find credible medically based information that made me decide definitively not to vaccinate and in the end I watched a video of a baby with whooping cough and lasted less than 10 seconds before I was in floods of tears. I couldn't imagine the agony of my baby having that, or having to listen to my baby struggle with that. I had the vaccine at 31 weeks and didn't feel any side effects except for a heavy arm. I'm now 34 weeks and I hope that this decision is the right one for our baby but I'm confident that I have asked enough questions before making the choice that was right for me and the baby.

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

Sparkle - the new one isnt actually new, just new to nhs. It is the one that has been used in the USA and other countries, which have been routinely immunising pregnant women against whooping cough for far longer than we have.

Previously the nhs was just using the preschool booster one, which included something extra that wasnt necessary for pregnant women. So they have now swapped it to one that is more targeted and has been used for far longer on pregnant women anyway. - There is an nhs page somewhere about whats in each.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

I'm 28 weeks next week and I haven't been offered this, didn't even know about it until this thread. Is it only offered to certain people or are you just expected to know and ask for it?

[squizita]

Pourquoi if you ring your GP they can book you in to have it. They don't always send a letter - I got asked if I'd done it 'yet' and had to point out I didn't even know if MW or GP did it!

[tiger66]

I have decided against it. I had Guillain-Barré syndrome 5 years ago, have suffered relapses about once a year and have so far been clear of a relapse for 12 months. There is a risk of causing Guillain-Barré syndrome post vaccine of which I know of one case. If I had a relapse then it would mean is wouldn't be able to give birth naturally, look after my newborn or look after my 2 dc I already have. Having spoken to my neurologist, obstetrician, Gp and acupuncturist who I have seen throughout, it was jointly decided that the risk of me relapsing outweighed the benefit to the baby. The baby will have the vaccine at 6-8 weeks and hopefully have a strong Mummy which ultimately is very important. My obstetrician said that the risk of whooping cough is so minimal at this time of year.

[FruitBadger]

Pourquoi I think it's intended that you have it between 28 and 34 weeks so it could be that you'll hear soon. My MW mentioned it at my 24 week appointment and the letter arrived from my GP sometime between then and my 28 week appointment (which was last week).

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

Thanks, I'm going to text my midwife tomorrow morning and ask about it. In my area the midwife and GP don't communicate very much so I'd better take the initiative!

[DefiniteMaybe]

I'm 29 weeks and had mine done a week ago.
I decided to have it because I wouldn't fancy trying to look after 3 dc, doing school runs and all newborn stuff whilst having whooping cough so it had a benefit to me.
But the main thing that convinced me is newborn babies can and do die from whooping cough, anything that reduces the risk of that no matter how slight is worth it.
One thing that no one prepared me for though is that it really hurts! I had no side effects after not even a dead arm but it really stung going in.

[DefiniteMaybe]

Pourquoi, in my area the midwife reminds you on at the 28 week appointment but you have to book it with the gp yourself.