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?

[Hobnobsandbroomstick]

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?

Well you did ask her, and sounds like the guidance in Germany is to wait and see atm? So it's not like she's gone against the official guidance there.

[RoomOfRequirement]

How about Healthcare workers refuse to care for selfish unvaccinated people also?

No, we're not allowed to do that because our safety isn't important.

Stop being a hypocrite.

[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.

[Eviethyme]

🙄🙄🙄🙄 Covid followers.

[VaccineSticker]

If everyone decides against taking the vaccine or to wait and see what happens with the vaccine, we will be in lockdown forever, she is basically relying on herd immunity from vaccination by other people who decide to take the vaccine so she doesn’t need to take it.
The OP has a valid reason to wait.

[XenoBitch]

@VaccineSticker

If everyone decides against taking the vaccine or to wait and see what happens with the vaccine, we will be in lockdown forever, she is basically relying on herd immunity from vaccination by other people who decide to take the vaccine so she doesn’t need to take it.
The OP has a valid reason to wait.

OP's midwife could also have a valid reason to wait.

[MissTrip82]

@lljkk

it's almost like health professionals have bodily autonomy. Not for long, don't worry, they'll be told it's not allowed to have in their profession after all, too.

So make sure you don't become a midwife, OP. That's what you have learnt.

I have bodily autonomy. I work in ICU. It is compulsory for me to have the covid vaccine (as well as many others). I can choose not to, but I cannot continue to work in icu if I do. Equally, I can choose to exert my autonomy and refuse to wear a mask for 12+ hours. Again, I cannot continue to work in ICU if I do so.

I have autonomy with regard to my opinions and communication also. But if I post a disparaging rant about a patient online, I can expect to be disciplined.

It’s almost as if professionals accept various restrictions in some areas of their life because we can accept that our needs don’t trump our patient’s at every turn.

[rosalie11]

You’re not vaccinated so why can you choose to do what you want with your body but she cannot?

I am vaccinated!

[CallItLoneliness]

To all the people bitching that the OP is being hypocritical: she is 26 weeks pregnant, meaning she has likely not had a chance to get vaccinated before she was pregnant. The advice around pregnancy is mixed and conflicted. The midwife is presumably not pregnant, and putting the OP at greater risk with her choices. It's a false equivalence.

[Onthebrink87]

If I was her pt, I'd want to know if she wasn't vaccinated. I'd also want to know why. There's many covid hot spots, so I would also want to know her post code and when she last did her food shopping. 🙄 her employers will know and will be taking necessary precautions to reduce risk, such as regular testing, infection control measures and ppe.

[Mummasdiary2021]

[quote worriedatthemoment]@millymollymoomoo no it doesn't stop but it helps reduce the chance and its not the flu is it ?
Op can you speak to your dr or someone else for advice , would you be more comfortable with a midwife who is vaccinated ? Assuming you can even ask that infi [/quote]
It doesn't reduce the chance, it may reduce your symptoms thats it. You still have just as much chance of catching itb

[Askingforfriend]

I don't think it is unreasonable at all. It truly and utterly sucks when you even get a cold when pg.

I also don't think it is unreasonable for her to choose to not be vaccinated, but she should expect that some clients would not want to see her as a result.

[ilovesooty]

Do you have some figures to back up that assertion @Mummasdiary2021?

[aurynne]

Midwife and researcher here.

It is not true that the midwife is at "the same risk of getting COVID from you". Unless your midwife is also pregnant, her risks of catching COVID19 and having a serious disease or die of it are much lower than yours and your baby's.

Pregnant women are encouraged to get the vaccine because while you’re pregnant you can become very sick if you get COVID-19. The risk of serious disease and death are elevated if you're pregnant due to your reduced immunity.

Data from the large number of pregnant people already vaccinated globally shows that there are no additional safety concerns with giving COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinating helps protect your baby as there’s evidence that infants can get antibodies to the virus through cord blood and breast milk.

And I am fully vaccinated myself. Because I have the privilege of being able to read and critique research (I have written research articles myself) and I am educated to recognise biased and misleading information online. And because I lead by example and I am not a hypocrite.

[Tubs11]

Our child spent over a month in ICU and I met a lot of mums who had gotten the vaccination and were fine as were their children. I decided against getting the vaccine whilst pregnant and regretted it as cases were rising whilst in there so knew I was more exposed than the vaccinated mums but felt I couldn't get vaccinated in case I had side effects that meant I couldn't bf. I expressed a lot of milk and went about getting the vaccine when my child was nil by mouth. It was quick and easy and I had no side effects. I was glad I did it then and there are studies that show antibodies get passed on to the baby so have no regrets at all about getting it.

[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.

[ohthestruggles]

@Onthebrink87

If I was her pt, I'd want to know if she wasn't vaccinated. I'd also want to know why. There's many covid hot spots, so I would also want to know her post code and when she last did her food shopping. 🙄 her employers will know and will be taking necessary precautions to reduce risk, such as regular testing, infection control measures and ppe.

I would like nothing less than to be your midwife. Nightmare.

[ohthestruggles]

@Onthebrink87 just realised that is probably (hopefully!) sarcastic!

[EccentricaGalumbits]

If you want to protect yourself from being ill from covid, get vaccinated. You can't insist that everyone else does.

[stopchewingeverything]

Im a UK trained midwife but work outside the UK. I always look at both countries guidelines and both say get the vaccine! It doesn't cross the placenta but your body will pass on antibodies to your baby. You are at much higher risk when pregnant...@Babdoc has said exactly what I was going to say as to why. As for your midwife, she has the right to choose (as do you) but she should probably review whether she should be continuing to work with a vulnerable population whilst unvaccinated.

[Ritasueandbobtoo9]

@ aurynne

Pregnant people? You mean women and Transmen. I lose any respect for anyone referring to pregnant people and view it as offensive and denigrating to women.

[Northernsoullover]

Can we get over the bollocks that is 'it doesn't stop you catching it'? There is evidence to show that it does. If you are unlucky to catch it in spite of being vaccinated then you are likely to be less severely ill.
Also stop calling OP a hypocrite. There was no data about pregnant women and the vaccine to begin with as obviously they were not included in the initial study.
www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n888

[WeDidntMeanToGoToSea]

A lot of German midwives are anti-vax, homeopathy-believing hippies, frankly, so it doesn't really surprise me. She won't have employers because (as OP explained) midwives who see you before and after birth aren't attached to hospitals and usually work out of their own practices. The medical sort of antenatal care a MW does in the UK is largely done by your gynaecologist.

The German vaccination committee is being pretty cautious about recommendations. There's currently a big row because politicians are pushing for vaccinations for 12-17yos while the committee isn't recommending them.

OP, as long as she works safely I would be OK with this. I had physio during the second wave when hardly anyone was vaccinated and that was a similar level of contact, I guess. Is she a Beleghebamme (i.e. are you having her at the birth)? If you're going into hospital I would guess the MWs there are more likely to be vaccinated. But only more likely. Germany culturally doesn't do the kind of pressure we've seen in the UK (although two years ago they introduced a requirement for measles vaccination to access schools and childcare settings, which as school is compulsory amounts to compulsory vaccination. Am in agreement with that, as it happens, but go figure).

[ivykaty44]

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/ This was given to me recently, read it and make your own choice

[Fernando072020]

I live in Germany too and I don't think yabu.
You need to maybe call around and find yourself another midwife. Most Germans are sensible but there's a lot here who are anti-vax (DH is German and his dad's partner is a retired nurse and doesn't believe in the vaccination - horrifying).
I also had to run from doctor to doctor to get a letter of permission to get the vaccine as I'm still breastfeeding but I was determined to do it. My gyno still wasn't happy to vaccinate me but did in the end after I pushed the matter.

People criticising the op for not being vaccinated - they are NOT routinely vaccinating pregnant or breastfeeding women in Germany UNLESS you have a risk factor. I am overweight and considered to have a risk factor and I still found it ridiculously difficult to find a doctor who would give me this damn note. It will be even more difficult for op to find a doctor as they are even more funny with pregnant women here.