Breastfeeding and the vaccine

[PintOfBovril]

I'm a front line NHS nurse and over the coming weeks we'll be offered the Coronavirus vaccination. I want to have it, for the personal health benefit and to protect those around me, especially my vulnerable patients. However I am hesitant due to the fact that I'm still breastfeeding and the vaccine hasn't been tested on lactating mothers. What are your thoughts on this? My LO is 13 months so I know I don't have to bf but neither of us is ready to stop yet.

I'm annoyed because I really think it will be one of those things where it's actually fine but no one will say that.

Me too - for me this is one of the worst things about pregnancy and breastfeeding, I am fine with all the necessary restrictions on what I can do but it really annoys me that people add on a load more because 'well we can't be sure either way' (or often - like the number of people who think you can't drink alcohol while breastfeeding - they've essentially made up some rules and then judge other people for not sticking to them). I also hate it that so often you're put in the position (which I think could end up being the case with this vaccine in the longer run) of being told that it's up to you 'if you think it's worth it'; I've had that with medications in both pregnancy and breastfeeding. If it's genuinely not safe of course I won't do it, but I resent essentially being told that there's no evidence at all that it's harmful but that if I were a really good mother I'd pointlessly suffer just in case.

The trouble is “worth it” will mean different things to different people. I am slightly concerned about pressure being put on women (by workplaces, family etc) to stop breastfeeding in order to have the vaccine or be seen as not “doing their bit to fight covid”. It’s much less of a concern for someone like me who isn’t likely to be offered it for months, and will probably be more than just the Pfizer vaccine available at that point.

I also agree with you hardbackwriter - these things are in parallel

Thats my biggest fear that I’ll. e told that as my son is 3.5 years it’s about time I give up or don’t have the jab. Haven’t seen my family and friends as I’m from Spain and haven’t managed to go this year. Hug my family vs weaning my son when I wasn’t planning to. I really hope other jabs are found to be safe since the beginning

They will not have tested the vaccine on pregnant or breastfeeding mums as its totally unethical to do that. Can you imagine if they did and a 12 month old baby who was feeding got ill in the trial.

Until there is further testing, which I assume will come from mums who may be giving up breastfeeding soon volunteer to have the vaccine (and no longer breastfeeding their child) and then they will test the breastmilk from there. This is probably quite a way down the list of priorities for testing though, they need to test the vaccine on groups of people who are ECV, CV and the main population before going to different smaller groups for testing.

Just reading others comments. Who would honestly volunteer to trial this vaccine as a breastfeeding mum (if the ethics committee gave it the go ahead)? Would you honestly be happy to go ahead?

I say this as a participant of a vaccine trial (which we have had to sign to say we would categorically not get pregnant within 4 weeks after the vaccine), but I would not put that risk on my child through the breastmilk. And even if ethically it was allowed I would still not take that risk. These vaccines have not been trialled in under 16s yet, that would be a huge risk for the scientists, drs and mums to take. If they ask for mums who were wanting to give up feeding soon to donate milk after having the vaccine then I would sign up for that.

I would be confident having the Oxford vaccine and breastfeeding - because I understand the science behind that one. The problem is I can't quite wrap my head around the Pzifer one, it seemed the breastfeeding network were doing that for me so I'm hoping they repost a statement rather than their current update.

The thing that frustrates me is, the Oxford one would allow me to produce antibodies that DS would then benefit from in breast milk. I want to have the vaccine and keep breastfeeding so I pass the antibodies on. It seems such a shame to have them and not share them

I think most of us understand why the evidence isn’t there, thank you ramblingsonthego

Hmm i had a tetanus booster last year and didn't even think of the bf thing.

Wondering if this allergy issue means I can't have it now anyway as bf my DC who has multiple allergies. I'm not sure how it works though so happy to be corrected!

In case anyone has missed it, the guidance has been updated. Both vaccines now fine for breastfeeding mums