Ttc and vaccination dilemma

[Anonapapple]

To my utter shock, my husband suggested we try for another baby, after having told me previously that he definitely did not want any more. I am thrilled! We already have 2.

We live abroad and work full time. I am eligible for the covid vaccine due to the fact that I am a teacher. There was a mix up with my health card which has delayed my vaccination. It is still ongoing but should be resolved soon (hopefully!)

I am healthy and have no underlying health issues. I am concerned about the newness of the vaccines but was willing to take it in order to not be the social piranha, despite my reservations.

I have not started to ttc yet. My fertile window is in a week. I dont know whether to praise ttc until I get the vaccine, even though I'm not sure how long it will take (beaurocratic process) or start trying straightaway and get it after I have the potential baby. The fact that the advice is in a constant state of flux is making me uncomfortable and even if I get the first does, I will have to wait to get the second does after that. Then do I have to wait to ttc? Only a few months ago it said you did, and now it has changed.

I was just about ok with the prospect of putting the vaccine into my body and taking that risk, but it takes on a new weight when I considered my fertility and the health of the baby (who doesnt exist yet!). I am aware that the AZ vaccine has messed up some women's cycles (that is what's on offer).

I am 39 this year. My cycles have been a bit different lately and I dont know how long it would take to conceive. Every month is important.

Can someone please give me some advice? We decided we will stop trying at the end of the year so I dont feel like I have loads of cycles to waste!

Any suggestions?

Personally I'd get the vaccine first, it's one less thing to be nervous about. Cases are rising in some areas and even if vaccination is recommended in pregnancy that may not be first trimester, it depends where you are. You say "abroad", what's the time difference between jabs where you are?

Similar situation though a bit older and realistically no. 3 might not happen, I know. We've been trying for a few months. Initially I turned down the offer as there was advice not to have it while ttc or pregnant. Then advice changed to being OK to have it while ttc as long as definitely not pregnant at the time, so I booked in for the first dose (also AZ) during my period (so definitely not pregnant). That was a couple of weeks ago and I seem to have moved into my fertile phase perhaps a few days later than I was expecting, but not really out of the ordinary, and I had some other stressors at the start of the cycle too which could well have delayed things a bit anyway. We are going to have to take a break from ttc for 2-3 months after this cycle anyway, so I'll have the second dose in that period; in the unlikely event that I conceive this cycle, I just won't have the second dose. I had Covid quite badly just over a year ago, so it's likely I had some immunity anyway.

Just go for the jab. No guarantees you'll conceive, I'm TTC and was wondering the same, turns out I've had both and still TTC so there we are. Did have a chemical pregnancy between the doses, not blaming the jab.

I’d get the jab.

It delayed my ovulation by three days but I also got pregnant that cycle, so it doesn’t seem to have done any real harm...

I've had the vaccine, both doses pfizer, and am currently TTC. I'm a year older and only on baby number 2(hopefully) but the vaccine is now ok for use in pregnancy.

I guess it depends on how worried you are about COVID. I struggled to conceive when I was older and had several miscarriages. I would have been very reluctant to do something that would have made me worry that I had jeopardised a pregnancy in some way.

Thanks everyone:
@MRex I'm not sure what the difference is but it seems to be well over a month.

@kalidasa are you taking a break because of the vaccine?

@ILookAtTheFloor good point.

@TakeYourFinalPosition congrats! Did you get both doses?

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee thank you.

@bumbleymummy no I am have never been very anxious about catching it. I'm not high risk and neither is anyone in my family. I do all the precautionary stuff and follow all the rules etc but have never felt like my life was under threat should I get Covid. However I wouldnt like to catch covid caring for a newborn and apparently pregnant women are the new 'at risk' category.

I dont know how comfortable I would feel ttc straight after a vaccination. It was only recently that the advice was to wait 3 months...what has changed? Have many of the babies of the pregnant women who have had the vaccination even been born yet?

Honestly OP covid is not that safe in pregnancy. I'd get vaccinated first.

I think I'd get it done first too, as I'd be a lot more worried about the effects of Covid on pregnancy, and I'd feel more guilty about potentially jeopardising an actual pregnancy than a theoretical one. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that it affects fertility at all.

(I have to say that the idea of being a social piranha did make me smile, though!).

I would get it if I was you. Currently 6 months pregnant and I wish I didn’t have to worry about catching covid every day :(

@Anonapapple - you should be able to find out. If it's a very short period it's worth waiting, if they say 3 months then maybe there is an additional consideration of whether to risk one dose, depending on which vaccine you get.

Important research reported yesterday - Covid increases risks in pregnancy:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/04/22/health/pregnancy-covid-19-risks-wellness/index.html

I was going to post the same as pp. Covid risks in pregnancy to mother and baby.
If in any doubt I would just use contraception for a nother month or two.

I'd take the vaccine. I'm 30, been TTC no2 for a year. 2 MCs, if I put it off until after any potential pregnancy I could be waiting forever. There is no evidence to suggest the vaccine affects fertility, at this stage I'm hoping it might help me 😆

Meant to say I had my first dose yesterday 😊

Thank you everyone! You have all given me points to think about! Really appreciate each reply.

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/

The latest advice says the vaccine in pregnancy is safe. 90,000 pregnant women were vaccinated in the US with Pfizer/Moderna and no safety concerns where raised at all, so the recommendation is now Pfizer in the UK for pregnant women.

Pregnancy + covid is a potentially dangerous combination. I wouldn’t go into pregnancy without being vaccinated.

Good luck with whatever you decide OP