Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have the vaccine at 37+6?

33 replies

JackieWeaversAuthorityHere · 15/03/2021 16:56

I've been invited for the covid vaccine and I'm absolutely desperate to have it. I caught covid at 18 weeks pregnant and it's not an experience I ever want to repeat!

This isn't a post about whether or not to get vaccinated in general, just whether doing so so close to giving birth is a bad idea? I've heard it can make you feel a bit rubbish straight after? Are pregnant women ok to have it now or will I get turned away?

OP posts:
Angelmonkey · 15/03/2021 17:04

As yet, they don’t know if the vaccine can affect the baby, I would wait until after you have given birth

Areallthegoodnamesgone · 15/03/2021 17:21

I’m in Ireland but here pregnant women can only get it between 14 and 33 weeks

PinkiOcelot · 15/03/2021 17:24

Personally I would wait. You’re very close to giving birth anyway.

I had mine on Friday and felt really tired all day Saturday with a throbbing headache. But if a sore arm but fine now.

Milkteefs · 15/03/2021 17:27

Do they know you're pregnant? I only ask because a friend of mine is in group 6 and was invited for a jab just as part of the general data sweep, however she is also pregnant so when she phoned her GP surgery to check they said they absolutely would not administer the vaccine to a pregnant woman! Not sure whether that is a policy unique to that GP surgery though! I know you don't want people's advice but not sure I'd have it til after baby has arrived, unless you're at particular heightened risk of catching and/or you are CV? All the best anyway x

Milkteefs · 15/03/2021 17:31

Also, so sorry to hear you had a bad time with covid during pregnancy but on plus side you should have antibodies, if that gives you any confidence to push the vaccine back x

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/03/2021 17:35

I would assume they will happily move you to a different category. It's not unsafe, but it's guidance to delay as far as I know. Speak to GP for sure

HurryUpSunshine · 15/03/2021 17:48

Maybe ask if you can have it after the baby comes OP?

minipeanut · 15/03/2021 17:57

They asked me if I was pregnant before I had it. I don't think they allow pregnant women to have to just yet

Original poster
JackieWeaversAuthorityHere · 15/03/2021 18:05

Interesting, I’ll call the GP and double check the rules, they should know I’m pregnant but you never know if they’ve clicked or not!

I’m not ECV, but I do have PCOS and therefore a higher BMI which I think is why I’ve been invited. Having had it, it’s not covid you need to worry about it’s bloody long covid which is the kicker. It took 6 weeks to get over and it was bloody frightening. I want to avoid that again at all costs!

OP posts:
Rosejulia88 · 15/03/2021 18:17

I had the vaccine on Friday. I'm 21 weeks and have a high bmi plus work in a school so it seemed to me like the benefits outweigh the risks. I had to get permission from my consultant but she was happy for me to go for it.
I felt rough the next day but I think that is normal and not a pregnancy thing!
Obviously it is completely everyone's own decision but I just wanted to share in case other pregnant people want to consider it. I know of quite a few who have.

Mamamamasaurus · 15/03/2021 18:21

I wouldn't have it pregnant, regardless.of how far along I was. There isn't enough information yet. Surely you could wait a few weeks?

OscarWildesCat · 15/03/2021 19:30

I wouldn’t, like others have said, I don’t think they will give you it anyway at that stage of pregnancy.

Jubaju · 15/03/2021 19:36

It’s not been tested on pregnant women which is why they can’t say if safe or not - like most drugs

I’m 32 weeks and I’m waiting till after birth

Griselda1 · 16/03/2021 07:18

Locally in Northern Ireland, new guidance was issued over the weekend and women who are pregnant or breast feeding are not being offered the vaccine. I can only assume that there were some contra indications for this because previously it was strongly encouraged.

PurpleFlower1983 · 16/03/2021 07:25

I would wait personally. (I’m pregnant too.)

PlanetPuddle · 16/03/2021 07:31

You don't want to be dealing with the side effects and a newborn. Some people get quite strong side effects.

curcurbita · 16/03/2021 07:48

The vaccine is not being routinely offered to pregnant women because of the lack of safety data; as pointed out upthread they don't test new drugs or vaccines on pregnant women in the initial trials.

However, this does not mean you can't have it; it is a case of weighing up for you the potential risks of covid vs the unknown. I don't believe there have been any issues with non-live vaccines (like both the currently available vaccines) in general in pregnant women and a similar vaccine to the Oxford one has been given to pregnant women for Ebola and hasn't caused any issues. You will need to speak to a doctor/prescriber before having it most likely as it will need to be prescribed for you. I don't know whether it would make any difference that you're close to delivery; they may just advise you to wait on that basis.

@Griselda1 that's interesting, do you have any links to any info about that? It's neither been strongly encouraged in England nor has the guidance recently changed as far as I know.

Original poster
JackieWeaversAuthorityHere · 16/03/2021 10:15

Thanks all, I'm absolutely confident the vaccine won't harm me or the baby, I work in data so understand the language around it having not been tested vs it being contraindicated etc.

I'm going to call my GP and my consultant and ask if i'll be allowed to have it. If i am, I'm going to go ahead but if not I'll wait, I think that's the best idea.

OP posts:
RealMermaid · 16/03/2021 10:20

If you've already had Covid you're at a higher risk of having worse side effects. I had Covid and just had the jab and the side effects were worse than when I had Covid, although don't seem to be lasting as long fortunately - I wouldn't want to have them while heavily pregnant though.

ValidUser · 16/03/2021 10:21

I'm a doctor, so I run into Covid at work. Also clinically vulnerable due to chronic illness. I'm pregnant after ivf and had the Pfizer vaccine at 29 and 32 weeks (not in the UK). My obstetrician advised against it after 33 weeks, but I'm glad I got it when I did.

espressoontap · 16/03/2021 10:28

I would have had it at any stage of pregnancy. They've done tests on the placenta & umbilical cord of women who have had the vaccine and there's been antibodies found.

I've had the two Pfizer doses and currently bf. As an ex-research nurse I understood all the talk etc and knew it was safe. Hoping I pass antibodies on to DD.

GrandTheftWalrus · 16/03/2021 10:28

I'm 32 weeks and have been offered it at work but I declined. I'll be getting it after baby is born. I'm not on any lists to get it quicker so I'll just wait.

Original poster
JackieWeaversAuthorityHere · 16/03/2021 11:37

Thanks all, I've called the GP, the triage nurse didn't know the answer so I've filled out a form and the GP is going to give me a ring with an answer as to whether I'll be allowed it or not basically based on whether I'm clinically vulnerable enough.

I just want to know either way rather than just turning up on the day so if I can't have it, at least i can cancel my slot and make room for someone else! I don't want to turn up to be told I can't have it if that makes sense.

OP posts:
Shamoo · 16/03/2021 11:42

My wife is pregnant and had her vaccine appointment come through recently due to a long term health issue - we asked the midwife today about it and she said the recommendation was to not have it while pregnant. Seems like different people being different advice depending on where they are, which suggests it isn’t a hard rule.

GreenSlide · 16/03/2021 11:43

I've been offered it, told the lady on the phone that I'm pregnant and she said no they wouldn't give it to me then.