Is it okay to get your vaccination whilst breastfeeding?

[trishsawyer24]

I have recently received a message from my GP saying that I am entitled to have the COVID-19 vaccine but I am very scared of having it because I am currently breastfeeding my youngest child and there is not much study done to show if there's any effect of the breastmilk carrying it in to the infant or toddler. Is there anyone who has been breastfeeding that has had a Covid vaccine and have you had any side-effects ?? Or are you still like me and don't want to take it until there is enough evidence to show that is safe to have whilst breastfeeding?

I'm breastfeeding my 6 month old and had mine without hesitation, studies have shown that antibodies pass through breast milk after vaccination so I see it as protecting us both. I had it 2 weeks ago (oxford) and I felt pretty rough for a few days but baby showed no ill effects.

@trishsawyer24 The official advice is that it’s fine. This is from the official guidance for health professionals about the vaccine (called “the Green Book”):

“There is no known risk associated with giving non-live vaccines whilst breastfeeding. JCVI advises that breastfeeding women may be offered vaccination with the Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for immunisation against COVID-19, and the woman should be informed about the absence of safety data for the vaccine in breastfeeding women.”

See page 14 here

I’m 5 months pregnant and still breastfeeding toddler and I’m not having it (yet).

From the .gov site update -
“ There are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding or on the breastfed infant. Despite this, COVID-19 vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant, and the benefits of breastfeeding are well known.”

It’s a personal choice. I’m not anti vaxx, but I’m not happy to be part of an experiment and possibly pass on any side effects to my children. For me there’s just not enough data as yet. It’s one thing making a decision for myself to have it if my children were older and done breastfeeding but I will decide that then OR when there is more data available. In any case these are emergency vaccines, and in time there will be better vaccines available, based on the data gathered now.

I’m bf my 6 month old a bit still (before bed and any night feeds). I did slightly hesitate when got called for mine but went yesterday and had it . Read all the advice as above which ultimately says there isn’t enough evidence, but also spoke to some senior paediatrician friends who basically said if it was them they would have it (couldn’t see what the theoretical harm would actually be for the baby) which helped swing it for me.

You are not asked if you are breast feeding, only if you are pregnant.

It's up to you, which sometimes makes decisions harder. I have an older toddler, so I see It as protective for him as well as me (and maybe DH by extension, who isn't vaccinated yet but we have DS at nursery, so any extra antibodies should be helpful). I am in a riskier category and I would probably have left it until at least 3 months if he was still very young, plus spacing around other baby vaccinations.

Pregnancy is a different matter so early on in the vaccination lifecycle; I wouldn't have taken the risk and would have isolated us as far as possible instead. I would totally understand anyone thinking it's safer than risking an infection in late pregnancy though too.

I had my vaccination a few weeks ago when ebf my 2 week old baby.
I did have a wobble but the benefits outweigh any potential tiny risk.

@DinosaurDiana I was asked twice if I was breast feeding.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@DinosaurDiana I was asked twice if I was breast feeding.[/quote]
I give the vaccinations and it is not on our questions that we ask.

I am breastfeeding two children. The benefits outweigh the risks in my view and it may afford them some protection too

@MaryShelley1818 not criticising yours or anyone else’s decision but you can’t say “outweighs any potential tiny risk” because that data does not exist yet; there is no knowledge of risk either way just yet. That’s why it is a decision only the Mother can make with basically no information available and what she feels is best for herself and her family.

I wasn’t asked if I was breastfeeding

Mummywantsaweewee You are pregnant so it’s not advised for you anyway. This isn’t a decision you have to make yet surely

@HereComesATractor yes and that changes in 4/5 months so it’s a decision I will need to make and am keenly keeping up to date with developments.

[quote Mummywantsaweewee]@MaryShelley1818 not criticising yours or anyone else’s decision but you can’t say “outweighs any potential tiny risk” because that data does not exist yet; there is no knowledge of risk either way just yet. That’s why it is a decision only the Mother can make with basically no information available and what she feels is best for herself and her family.[/quote]
There is some limited information available from last year related to safety and from this year related to antibodies in breast milk.
If you're going to breastfeed, this is the best site for finding out what information does exist when "limited information related to breastfeeding women" is mentioned (for 95% of medications): www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/coronavirus/.

I’ve had it and am breastfeeding. I was asked if I was bf and was told if I answered yes they wouldn’t give it to me. So I lied!

[quote Mummywantsaweewee]@HereComesATractor yes and that changes in 4/5 months so it’s a decision I will need to make and am keenly keeping up to date with developments.[/quote]
Good for you and very sensible, but it’s a rather different scenario for women who are making decisions right now isn’t it.

@HereComesATractor yes and OP asked if others were like her and wanting to wait for more evidence before taking any Covid-19 vaccine while breastfeeding... so I provided my view as a breastfeeding mother who will also be in the same position as her after giving birth in a few months. That ok?

@DinosaurDiana Well, it certainly was here. I’m in the South.

She asked if I was breastfeeding, I said no. She then asked if I’d had any operations recently and I said no, but I’d had a baby last year, to which she replied “but you’re not breastfeeding your baby now, are you?” and I said no.

It might depend on when you were vaccinated, the guidance changed in perhaps late January (can't remember exactly). I wasn't asked last week.

[quote Mummywantsaweewee]@MaryShelley1818 not criticising yours or anyone else’s decision but you can’t say “outweighs any potential tiny risk” because that data does not exist yet; there is no knowledge of risk either way just yet. That’s why it is a decision only the Mother can make with basically no information available and what she feels is best for herself and her family.[/quote]
Well I can say that and I did say it. I stand by the statement too.
Do you really think medical professionals and RCOG are now saying they advise it based on no evidence? They know how other similar vaccines behave. There are now a substantial number of women breastfeeding who have been vaccinated worldwide. Do you really think all of us who have chosen to vaccinate have not done so without carefully considering the available information.
So yes, I have acted in the best interests of my baby (and other child) and yes the risk IS tiny. As is the risk of long Covid, but all medical professionals I have spoken to were confident which was the greater risk and I value professionals medical opinion not randoms off the Internet.

I won’t be having it whilst breastfeeding.

I'm currently pregnant and have been offered it due to coeliac disease. I have decided to wait till baby's here but I will have it while breastfeeding

@MRex Late Feb

I am pondering on this question too.. I have a 9 month old baby, whom I’ve been breastfeeding. 3 days ago I was offered. Vaccine because my partner is part of the shielded list. I got the vaccine and only then thought about whether I can breastfeed. So now I am so confused on whether I should breastfeed or stop, especially with all the blood clot cases as I got AstraZeneca vaccine.
One minute I think “I’ll er on the side of caution and not breastfeed” next minute I think “but potentially my milk could protect my daughter”. I have been pumping for 3 days now, any idea how long to not breastfeed in order for it to be safer? Ie vaccine not in the system?