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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Covid vax and breastfeeding

25 replies

Snowstorming · 12/03/2021 11:25

Hi everyone,

Looking for some quick advice for my best friend. She’s a mum of 4, breastfeeding her 1 year old and she is asthmatic but it’s controlled. Other than that, no health risk.

She’s just received a letter from the GP saying she can book her vaccine but she’s worried about breastfeeding/in general.

Has anyone got any helpful advice here? I’ve of course advised already that she speaks to the GP directly about her concerns but I thought maybe some ‘real life’ examples would help. Thank you

YABU - take the vaccine while bf-ing
YANBU - it’s makes sense to not want it while bf-ing

OP posts:
TheGumption · 12/03/2021 11:31

I had the Pfizer vaccine 3 weeks ago and I'm breastfeeding my 10 month old. My only side effect was a sore arm and my baby had no side effects that I noticed.
I read everything I could find from the Breastfeeding Network, the RCM and the Royal College of Gynaecology related to the vaccines. Also discussed with medical professionals I know personally and came to a decision I felt comfortable with.
The risk to me of getting very unwell with Covid was greater than any perceived risk associated with vaccines. I also got my flu and whooping cough vaccines while pregnant so I'm generally comfortable with following medical advise where pregnancy and breastfeeding is involved.

RiverSkater · 12/03/2021 11:56

I had the Oxford vaccine and it does seem to leave more people with flu like symptoms (currently in bed feeling wiped out) So I would avoid it?

Original poster
Snowstorming · 12/03/2021 13:13

I think my friend is just unfortunately surrounded by people who reacted ‘badly’ after the vaccine. From arm pain, headaches, nausea, being stuck in bed from utter weakness, triggered wheezing and asthma symptoms... so that’s probably why she’s on the nervous side

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowstorming · 12/03/2021 16:24

Anyone else had any experience with breastfeeding and the vaccine?

OP posts:
Bigmomma164 · 12/03/2021 16:35

Yes me
Had astrazenica while BFing 7 month old
I had side effects of fever and aches but settled very quickly
Baby all good
I was actually pleased about the side effects as it meant my body was building up immunity
I hope I've passed on antibodies to LO

ChampionOfTheSun · 12/03/2021 16:45

I had Astra Zeneca 2 weeks ago and I'm breastfeeding, had the chills for a few hours but it was over well within 24 hours of having the vaccine. I usually react really badly to the flu jab so was preparing to react badly to this too but it was absolutely fine. No drop in supply, no noticeable change in DD (in case that was a worry) the way the vaccine works means it shouldn't affect baby at all. There's been limited studies but antibodies have been found in babies whose mums have had the vaccine so presumably the immunity can pass to baby.

Chillychili · 12/03/2021 17:24

Posted to soon, I posted on this thread under a different name, lots of us breast feeding that have had the vaccine

misselphaba · 12/03/2021 17:25

I initially declined the option to have the vaccine through work as I'm bf and on mat leave anyway. When I was asked again through my GP due to asthma, I reconsidered and researched it all over again and had it over a month ago now without any problems bar mild virus type symptoms and a sore arm. Nothing serious enough to disrupt bf.

arapunzel · 12/03/2021 17:28

I had the vaccine a few months ago and I’m also breastfeeding.
Yes I did have side effects - chills, headaches, fever - but it lasted maybe two days. I felt it was better to have the vaccine and side effects then get COVID.
Didn’t have any effect on breastfeeding

DuvetCaterpillar · 12/03/2021 18:08

I had the AZ about three weeks ago and am breastfeeding my 1 year old. 12 hours or so of chills, then right as rain. My husband had his too, and he had flu like joint pain / tiredness for a couple of days and was fine.

No ill effects for my little one at all, and there are some very early, small studies showing IgA and IgG antibodies in breast milk against Covid, which may give the baby some protection. Given infants will be the last group to have a vaccine developed for them (they're incredibly cautious about anything to do with children in clinical trials), bear in mind your breast milk antibodies could be the only protection your child has against Covid for some years.

BobVance · 12/03/2021 18:18

I had Pfizer a couple of weeks ago and I’m breastfeeding my 18m old. Did my research and saw many trustworthy sources saying there was no reason not to have it. No side effects at all for either of us. Pleased with my decision.

Somethingsnappy · 12/03/2021 18:30

I'm reading with interest. I am breastfeeding my newborn. The written advice I've seen so far is to consult your GP if pregnant or BF. The vaccine is assumed to be safe, but there is limited data. I don't feel any further forward with my decision after reading this!

misselphaba · 14/03/2021 09:24

@Somethingsnappy that's how I felt when researching. You're not going to find anything specific to this vaccine which will convince you either way tbh because as you mentioned, there simply isn't the longitudinal data that we want yet.

How I came to my decision was looking into how vaccinations work on the body more generally and also even more broadly, how breast milk is formed! I had originally declined the jab when first offered but did end up deciding to go with it when I was offered it again.

MissMooMoo · 14/03/2021 10:22

I am breastfeeding my 12 month old and I plan to continue until I have had 2 doses of the vaccine. If there's even a chance some antibodies pass on to her then I think it's a huge plus.

MonkeyPuddle · 14/03/2021 10:27

I’ve had mine a few weeks ago, BFing 4 month old DD. I read lots of things on line, I’m a nurse by trade and I give immunisations so I’m happy with how it was developed and how it works.

Roundandballlike · 14/03/2021 10:44

I had Pfizer vaccine a month ago and breastfeeding my 8 month old. I had a mildly sore arm and no other side effects. Baby has been completely unaffected. I was so greatful to have the vaccine.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 14/03/2021 11:08

so she might have side effects - having covid is potentially a lot worse. That's the point of the vaccines.

It took to seconds to google that JCVI have advised no issues with breastfeeding and vaccine. If she has a child, your friend is presumably an adult - why don't you let her take responsibility for herself and her child?

Somethingsnappy · 14/03/2021 12:38

[quote misselphaba]@Somethingsnappy that's how I felt when researching. You're not going to find anything specific to this vaccine which will convince you either way tbh because as you mentioned, there simply isn't the longitudinal data that we want yet.

How I came to my decision was looking into how vaccinations work on the body more generally and also even more broadly, how breast milk is formed! I had originally declined the jab when first offered but did end up deciding to go with it when I was offered it again.[/quote]
Good thinking,.... I'll definitely do some research of my own!

twig1234 · 14/03/2021 12:45

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

so she might have side effects - having covid is potentially a lot worse. That's the point of the vaccines.

It took to seconds to google that JCVI have advised no issues with breastfeeding and vaccine. If she has a child, your friend is presumably an adult - why don't you let her take responsibility for herself and her child?

Yes agree
Donotfeedthebears · 14/03/2021 12:52

I’m choosing to wait.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

Breastfeeding women will now be offered vaccination if they are otherwise eligible, for example if they are in a clinically extremely vulnerable group or a frontline health or social care worker, including a carer in a residential home. Women should be advised that there is lack of safety data for these specific vaccinations in breastfeeding.

Original poster
Snowstorming · 15/03/2021 11:49

I don’t usually bother with messages like this but okay, I’ll bite. By posting this message, how have I stopped my friend from taking responsibility?

My friend is a grown up, yes, she’s also from a different country and English isn’t her first language. Her husband is dead, she often has mild anxiety. However, she’s educated and smart so she doesn’t need me to dictate anything for her. I’ve done the googling, I’ve advised her to contact her GP already. That was my first step. I only posted on Mumsnetters because SOME of us mums feel reassured when we hear from other people in our position. It’s just an added bit of info, a little more help with making the decision.

There’s no need to be patronising at all. JVCI has said that and yet as you can see some breastfeeding women are still thinking twice or declining the vaccine for now. So obviously for many people it’s not as simple as a quick google search.

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowstorming · 15/03/2021 11:49

The above message is for @EveryDayIsADuvetDay

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowstorming · 15/03/2021 11:50

Thank you for everyone who has posted so far, really appreciate it :)

OP posts:
JumperooSue · 15/03/2021 12:15

Also had the Pfizer vaccine whilst breastfeeding 1 year old, absolutely no adverse effects. Research suggests babies could get acquired immunity through breast milk. my own research led me to feel the benefits of the jab outweighed the slight potential risks.

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