Anyone still breastfeeding after taking the Pfizer vaccine?

[Selfishhurt]

Everything I read online indicates that it’s safe to continue, and my matron gave me a ton of information that said that it’s safe to continue. Have just had the vaccine and the doctor told me after that I can no longer breastfeed!?

No idea what to do?! Dd will have an emotional breakdown if I just stop suddenly!

No idea how to do the vote!

Yabu: stop breastfeeding
Yanbu: continue as everything indicates it being safe!

How on earth did you manage to get the vaccine?

Also not sure if it’s worth mentioning but I breastfed through the hep b vaccines, flu vaccines etc with no trouble so surely it’s the same? (Non live vaccine)

I’m freaking out!

NHS worker @Sunflowergirl1

The initial advice was not to have the vaccine if breastfeeding, but I think that has been updated now. Your Dr has old info.

It hasn’t been tested on pregnant or breastfeeding women.. so they can’t guarantee it’s safe. But there is no evidence to say it’s not safe either.

How do they know it's safe? Are they basing that on their years of clinical trials? 🤔

Look at the most recent RCOG and RCM advice.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated-advice-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy-and-women-who-are-breastfeeding/

But there is no evidence to say it’s not safe either

Yet.

I'm about to have to make this decision too OP, about to return to work on the frontline and I'm not ready to give up bf. Have you seen this latest update? I think I will get it and continue on bf tbh. www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated-advice-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy-and-women-who-are-breastfeeding/

Sunflowergirl1 assume op is a hcp?

There's no data on the safety of the vaccine for bf women but that doesn't mean you can't continue to bf. The doctor shouldn't have said that to you, it's really irresponsible.

It's fine, op. Please feed your baby.

Also they just talked about this on Lorraine and said the advice is DO have it and continue to bf

I am. Had my vaccine last week, still breastfeeding. Spoke to pharmacist as vaccine site - all fine.

How old is your baby? A newborn I’d be much more wary than a toddler.

I understand there’s no reason to believe it would be harmful, so I would continue if I were you.

OP, have you seen this from the Breastfeeding Network pharmacist?

Oops, the actual link would help

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/coronavirus/

My baby is nearly 7 months and I had the pfizer vaccine last week and have carried on breastfeeding as normal (well now than normal as he's also decided now off the perfect time to get his teeth!)
There's limited evidence but is fine to be given if benefit outweighs risk, which I guess it does for all HCPs!

Well there isn’t any data so the reassurances are based on reasonable guesses

Yes it’s probably fine but there is no data on breastfeeding

I had it and carried on breastfeeding before the MHRA advice changed. Had the vaccine before Christmas and no problems.

The half life of the mRNA and the lipid is very short, no clear scientific mechanism why it would be harmful. If you actually had covid there would be loads of actual viral RNA running round your body and the advice would be to carry on breastfeeding through covid.

The U.K. initial position was very much more cautious than the USA, Germany, Ireland who always said on a balance of risks in the absence of data. Presume you’ve had it because of work in which case your risk of catching COVID is higher.

I actually think the initial position was really damaging - loads of front line health professionals didn’t have the vaccine because of pregnancy/breastfeeding/trying to conceive. A lot of front line health and social care staff are women of childbearing age and I think it was infantilising and unfair to not give them the option to protect themselves and decide for themselves when the risks of covid are as they are at the moment.

I also think it showed a real lack of understanding about breastfeeding and possibly harmed our already low breastfeeding rates in this country. I think they possibly just presumed it wouldn’t be a big issue as breastfeeding beyond 6 months seems to be often thought of as unnecessary.

Thought this was a good piece

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/12/21/healthcare-workers-who-breastfeed-should-be-offered-the-covid-19-vaccine/

Think your doctor is just out of date. I know lots of HCPs who had it even before the guidance changed.

I am. Honestly there info thus far has reassured me and whilst I may be more wary with a newborn.

The info I meant to say not their and definitely not there 🤣

Multitask failure as a whole.

I understand that the advice now is to continue breastfeeding. Irresponsible doctor!