AIBU - I'm shocked my midwife just told me she's unvaccinated

[happyrainbow84]

I live in Germany and am 26 weeks pregnant and not vaccinated yet. Im currently struggling between the uk covid vaccine guidance - yes you should - and the German guidance - sitting on the fence. I previously lost a baby at 19 weeks so am super anxious generally. I called my german midwife to ask her opinion today - she was more negative than positive about the vaccine but then said that she hasn't been vaccinated and that she's waiting until later to see what happens! I was so shocked and wonder if she is telling the pregnant women she is looking after? I was supposed to have an appt with her last week and she didn't mention it to me (luckily I cancelled for an unrelated reason) the system here is different and she only sees them before and after birth (unless its a home birth), so she's not attached to a hospital. AIBU to be shocked and not want to see her anymore? It makes me wonder if my other medical professionals are vaccinated or not?

[catndogslife]

I would call your doctor to find out more about the pros of vaccination in pregnancy.
I think YABU to expect people to take the vaccine to protect you when you have the choice of taking it and protecting yourself.
If you are anxious about the pregnancy then your surely don't want the extra risks and stresses of premature birth for your baby.
It is already known that premature birth has a significant effect on children for the rest of their lives.
And that's me speaking as a parent who had a premature baby.
It is not known what the long term effects of catching COVID for expectant mums is like either. Would you be able to manage looking after a new born if you developed long COVID for example.
Please talk this through with another medical professional and don't put it off for too long.

[Nomoreideasleft]

@Marty13

"Data from the large number of pregnant people already vaccinated globally shows that there are no additional safety concerns with giving COVID-19 vaccines."

Sorry but you have no way of knowing this for at least 5-10 years, as the babies grow up and you can actually find out whether there are higher rates of issues in babies whose parents vaccinated.

For all you know they'll find out in 5 years that there's an increased chance for adhd or god knows what else.

I'm planning on being vaccinated when I get the chance but I wouldn't if I was pregnant. And I don't think it's fair to claim there is zero adverse effects for babies in utero when you do not, and cannot know for sure until they develop normally.

The vaccine doesn't cross the placenta, so it is pretty much impossible for there to be adverse side effects in the long term.

[Nomoreideasleft]

@Birminghambloke

Being vaccinated does not stop you getting COVID or passing it on. If you’re conflicted as to whether to have it, then accept she is too. Her choice does not put you at risk, it puts her at risk of worse symptoms should she be infected from potential exposure.

Your own choice not to have the vaccine is what puts you at risk. Not her.

Her choice literally puts the OP at risk.

[Nomoreideasleft]

@Weetabeat

Honestly the only people I know that have had covid have had it since they have been vaccinated. That's my own personal experience.. Others may have had different experiences that lead them to think differently to me. Personally I wouldn't even think about weather someone is vaccinated or not.. I don't think it affects anyone but the person who gets it. It's purely personal.

^^ and, again, unscientific nonsense.

[littlepeas]

She has a choice whether to be vaccinated or not. You have the choice whether to see her or another midwife. I don’t think that anyone should be coerced into vaccination for any reason - she’s been upfront with you at least.

[Nomoreideasleft]

@Sugarandtime

I don’t see how she is any more a threat to you as you are to her.
The few people that I know who have had a positive test result and all had 2 injections seemed to pass to on to each other pretty easily.

^^ and this is exactly the kind of unscientific nonsense I was talking about. Just because Barbara down the street from you caught it and transmitted it doesn't mean the vaccine does nothing. It totally baffles me why people are so willing to believe anecdotal evidence over actual fact.

Yes, you could still catch and transmit the virus, but you are far less likely to. A recent Swiss survey said that even with the Delta your chances of catching and transmitting it are around 80 times less than if you are unvaccinated. And, even if you do catch it, you are very, very, very unlikely to need to be hospitalised.

[Nomoreideasleft]

Actually, I don't even think being pregnant is a credible reason either, just an understandable one. The research is there now for pregnant women, and it does not harm the baby because it does not cross the placenta.

[Ozanj]

Just get the vaccine. It is safe for pregnant women because it is routinely being offered to pregnant women who have high risk for certain conditions or who are BAME.

[Nomoreideasleft]

Also, personally, I am sick of all this "my body, my choice" stuff. Yes, it's an individual's choice. No one is disputing that choice or the right to have it. But I do judge their reasons for not getting the vaccine (to my mind, there is no credible reason not to, except for people who are pregnant - though, I would still get it 100% if pregnant). The people banging on about it being experimental or fast-tracked simply have the facts wrong. They've never read the research on vaccine production normally and they still haven't read up properly about why these vaccines were produced faster. So their choices are based on flawed and faulty judgements. So, yes, I judge them for that. As I said, I'd get shot of her. Not worth the risk.

[Nomoreideasleft]

If I were you, I'd get a different midwife. It's not worth the risk, and, really, if she is scared of this vaccine I'd doubt her ability to read real scientific peer-reviewed papers and therefore lose trust on her judgement on other medical issues.

[MerryMarigold]

I have a friend of a friend currently being ventilated after giving birth at 30 weeks because she has Covid and is in a v bad way. After the birth they have put her in coma and ventilating her. It's not looking too good at the moment. She wasn't vaccinated. So yes, I think it reduces risks to be vaccinated and to be seen by vaccinated professionals.

[BungleandGeorge]

[quote Mangomammy]@CaptSkippy
Can you reference the studies?

Any other vaccine goes through years of trials before being approved for use in pregnancy. I understand the covid vaccines have been approved for emergency use and that the regulations were altered (in the UK anyway).

OP - another persons medical choices are of no concern of yours. Although I would maybe ask yourself why a midwife wouldn’t want a certain vaccine…[/quote]
What regulations were changed?
It’s not true all vaccines have ‘years of testing’- swine flu didn’t, flu jab is different formulation each year, prior to thalidomide there was little testing at all. Pregnant women are excluded from clinical trials, so I’m not sure what trial evidence you think exists?

[Marty13]

"Plus it’s a choice to have a baby during a pandemic"

Seriously ? This has been going on for a year and a half and is nowhere near over. How long exactly should people postpone their family planning ? Some people don't have the luxury of waiting. If you're 35+ then it's now or never (or at least taking the risk of it not happening).

[Marty13]

"Data from the large number of pregnant people already vaccinated globally shows that there are no additional safety concerns with giving COVID-19 vaccines."

Sorry but you have no way of knowing this for at least 5-10 years, as the babies grow up and you can actually find out whether there are higher rates of issues in babies whose parents vaccinated.

For all you know they'll find out in 5 years that there's an increased chance for adhd or god knows what else.

I'm planning on being vaccinated when I get the chance but I wouldn't if I was pregnant. And I don't think it's fair to claim there is zero adverse effects for babies in utero when you do not, and cannot know for sure until they develop normally.

[underneaththeash]

@millymollymoomoo why do you keep posting the same rubbish again and again on threads. It doesn’t make it true!

[CaptSkippy]

@Mangomammy

I hope you can read Dutch:
www.demedischspecialist.nl/sites/default/files/Standpunt%20Vaccinatie%20tegen%20COVID-19%20rondom%20zwangerschap%20en%20kraambed.pdf

[Zotter]

Walkaround, thank you for your informative post.

[Zotter]

Well seen as how it doesn’t stop you catching it or passing it your point is?

Reduces chances of transmission though.

[Mangomammy]

@CaptSkippy
Can you reference the studies?

Any other vaccine goes through years of trials before being approved for use in pregnancy. I understand the covid vaccines have been approved for emergency use and that the regulations were altered (in the UK anyway).

OP - another persons medical choices are of no concern of yours. Although I would maybe ask yourself why a midwife wouldn’t want a certain vaccine…

[Birminghambloke]

@merrymouse

My point more being that it’s both of their choices putting them more at risk of worse symptoms. They should BOTH be vaccinated IMO.

I feel sorry for the medical professionals who get no choice as to whom they treat.

[Walkaround]

Pregnant women have lowered immune systems so that their bodies don’t reject the developing foetus inside them, and they are definitely more at risk of getting seriously ill with covid in their 3rd trimester. In many countries, pregnant women are also strongly advised to get the flu jab, due to the higher risk in pregnancy. Anyone claiming you can still catch covid and pass it on, even after the jab, and that it is therefore not worth bothering is frankly too stupid to worth listening to, given that both severity and transmissibility of covid have been proven to be massively reduced by vaccination.

What you particularly want to avoid (besides your own death or long term incapacitation) is the risk of stillbirth, premature labour, baby with low birthweight. Getting covid does increase these risks, albeit most pregnant women who get covid are OK and have a successful outcome. Ideally, you just won’t come into contact with covid in the first place - a bit of a gamble in the UK at the moment, but I’m not sure how risky it is in Germany (probably higher if your midwife is unvaccinated, but she is hopefully otherwise being careful). The evidence is that covid vaccination in pregnancy is safe, but I don’t envy anyone making that decision, as the immense feeling of responsibility in carrying another human life inside you makes the decision making process much more difficult.

[loulouljh]

I would not be worried in the least.

[merrymouse]

Icecreamandcandyfloss, have you not watched the news or read the thread? Pregnant women are at higher risk.

I’m going to assume that your apparent suggestion that people stop reproducing for 2 or 3 years is not serious.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

@CrocodilesCry

It’s somewhat hypocritical of you - being unvaccinated yourself.

This ^

Plus it’s a choice to have a baby during a pandemic so you knew you would be coming into contact with health care staff, other patients etc.

[thinkingaboutLangCleg]

I can understand OP’s hesitance about vaccination, as she’s pregnant. (I’d still say get the vaccination, but I sympathise with her fears.) But the midwife has no excuse. She should not be endangerjng women in her care.