To have booster when pregnant

[cultkid]

I've booked it for tomorrow I felt so paranoid about having it when pregnant. I had Covid over Christmas and thankfully it was mild. I'm very grateful I wasn't so poorly.
I was starting to get to the point where boosters etc were really making me question if we actually should be vaccinating everyone or just the vulnerable etc, like we do with the ordinary flu vaccine
I feel anxious having the injection, I feel stressed about not having it

What do I do

It's an incredibly difficult decision and there's no real right or wrong answer. I've been told different things by different medical professionals. Most of the doctors I've spoken to seem to say that getting it is the best option. That said, it's very difficult to feel relaxed about it when you're told to avoid certain types of cheese and coffee for the baby's safety! And the fact that the advice changed from 'don't get it if you're TTC' to 'get it now!' without much explanation doesn't help.

If you're towards the end of your pregnancy I would probably wait, on the basis that you've probably got some natural immunity from having just had it. But that's based on nothing other than personal feeling, and absolutely not scientific.

The official advice is very clear to have it. I had it as am more stressed about getting Covid than the vaccine.

That been said I think if you have only just had covid then there is advice to wait a certain period of time before having the booster? Have you checked that?

Not the booster but I had my first at 9 weeks and my second at 17 weeks. Was able to have to r booster my last week of pregnancy so I held off until baby was here but I’ve had that now too. Baby was 3 weeks yesterday, perfect in every way

Talk to the vaccinator— one of the questions they ask is could you be pregnant.
There were 2 pregnant women in the queue when I had my booster. Both had the vaccine ( open sort of cubicles) The booster is half the dose of the initial jabs, I was told.
I’m sure you’ll be fine, but have a chat with whoever does your jab.

I had mine at 14 weeks and will be getting any others needed in future. The risks of getting Covid while heavily pregnant are pretty horrible. There's a reason pregnant women are now a priority group for getting vaccinated. I've also had my flu jab, as I did when pregnant with my first, and about to get my whooping cough one too. Anything we can do protect ourselves also protects baby.

I was under the impression you shouldn't have the vaccine within 28 days of testing positive regardless of whether pregnant or not - please correct me if I am wrong

You need to wait 28 days after your positive pcr. After that, then yes, I would go ahead and get the jab.

Do the medical establishment recommend you have it? I am presuming they do, given that you have an appointment.

So why would you think that randomers on AIBU can give you better advice than the NHS and the best scientific brains in the UK?

I had my first and second vaccinations when pregnant (third trimester), then had my booster when my baby was 3 months old. I decided the risk of having the vaccine was lower than the risk of what might happen if I got covid when pregnant and needed medical intervention and/or gave birth prematurely as a result.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has published some useful information which can be found here.

This might answer some of your questions, OP

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/

Oops, crosspost!

I'll just add that the only reason I had my vaccines so late in pregnancy was because the advice when I was newly pregnant was to avoid, but then new guidance came out and the risks of covid to pregnant women were more widely published. I did weigh it up for a while, simply because it was such a U turn in guidance. However the evidence based medical advice is clearer now and I wouldn't hesitate. The people at the top know what they're talking about and wouldn't recommend it if they thought it was harmful.

There's some really really useful and excellent advice here, also the whole extra protection after Covid question.. I will ask more on that

To the poster who wrote a gruff reply about asking online I've done rather a lot of research and I still don't feel convinced either way which is why I've asked here, to get more opinions @marshmallowfondant - I've always found the various opinions helpful in making a balanced decision. Don't know if you feel the same? Don't you find the extra opinions helpful? It's just extra information

They actually have been very neutral about the booster, which is why I've come here to ask.. I think I'm just paranoid about extra chemicals in my body. I've heard mixed on the 28 day wait. I'll have to call and speak to a professional about this.

Thank you all for the useful and balanced advice. G x x

I've always found the various opinions helpful in making a balanced decision. Don't know if you feel the same? Don't you find the extra opinions helpful? It's just extra information

No, because not all opinions are equally valid or weighted. The opinion of medical professionals is much more important than a random from Mumsnet who "just has a feeling".

If you can have it (there is a wait post confirmed convos infection but I don’t know how long that is) definitely get it in my honest opinion. I’m a critical care sister and nursed multiple heavily pregnant women, some having to be induced early due to the mother being so unwell. Covid can be so serious during pregnancy, definitely speak with the vaccination centre for reassurance.

My sister is just suffering for the second time!

I had the booster when I was 36 weeks. Receptionist at the antenatal clinic walked me straight over to the vaccine clinic after my consultant appt.

The way I see it is you're extra vulnerable generally when pregnant and severe illness can impact the baby. That's why you get offered the flu jab. A booster would give more protection so I wouldn't hesitate in your position. There is no evidence it will cause any harm and official advice is to get it.

I had my booster last week at 6 weeks pregnant

I miscarried the same week I had my first jab. In my head I can’t separate the two even though I know it’s unlikely they are related so I have decided to wait to have my booster now I am pregnant again. I discussed it with my midwife and she said she totally understood.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t but I just wanted to put forward a different opinion to “you should have the jab and not having it is putting you and the baby in danger” as things are rarely that straightforward!

I had it at 38 weeks and baby and I were both absolutely fine - my midwives we’re glad to know I’d taken extra steps to protect myself before going into labour.

I had my booster in November when I was around 14 weeks no problems at all. It's not linked to miscarriage and I know a few women that got vaccinated during pregnancy and delivered perfectly healthy babies.

Every medical professional I know has always had the same advice it's safer to get it as your vulnerable when pregnant.

You should not have the booster until 28 days after your positive PCR result. That's the advice and it's not mixed. What chemicals in the vaccine are you specifically worried about?

Did you have the initial vaccines?

You should not have the booster until 28 days after your positive PCR result. That's the advice and it's not mixed.

Yes I was going to say this. Everyone - pregnant or not - is advised to wait for 4 weeks after Covid infection to get the booster.

But otherwise I wouldn’t be remotely concerned about having the booster in pregnancy. They know the vaccine components don’t cross the placenta - only the antibodies your body makes in response.

everyone man/ woman/ pregnant/not pregnant person needs to wait 28 days from their positive pcr.

It is not difficult to find this information. You don't need to consult a HCP, just book your booster for day 29:)