Vaccine & Breastfeeding

[FearlessFairy]

I know there has been threads on this before but as more time has passed wanted to find out more people's opinions.

I am 30 yo and been offered Pfizer as surgery near me have an overstock. I have booked it but I am still hesitant as breastfeeding my 7mo baby regularly day and night. I'm nervous because it is still in testing phase, although I know all the information so far states it is safe.

Would you get it in my position?

I’m about to get it just as I start fertility treatment for a second baby, because

1. I’ve decided I’d rather take the possible risks of the vaccine than the definite risks of covid, and

2. I’m a teacher and see over 300 students each week, so the covid risk feels very real to me.

If I was still on maternity leave and mostly at home I might feel differently I guess.

It’s so hard to work out when there’s limited data.

I'm bf my two year old DS and have Pfizer booked for next Monday. I'm not concerned at all. In fact I wanted to still be bf when I had the vaccine in the hope I might pass on some antibodies to DS.

You might find this helpful:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/coronavirus/

That makes sense @verbena87

I will be going back to work in September so not that far away really. I guess I will need it around that time then anyway as I travel around for work.

Thankyou for the link @sunshinegirl82
I agree about the antibodies too, just in the back of my mind the lack of testing is worrying me and I can't shake it. I want to continue feeding until she is one at the earliest.

It might be useful to rationalise what exactly you're worrying about, is there something specific that concerns you? What do you think from the ingredients could pass through breastmilk that might be problematic for your child? There is lots of evidence for other non-live vaccines and all that passes are antibodies.

My toddler is older, he and I had snotty noses a week after, but that was probably a cold. I had AZ, but many US women have had both Pfizer and Moderns with no ill effects. As well as the breastfeeding network link above (a fantastic resource by the way if you get prescribed anything while breastfeeding, because most GPs and dentists know very little about what is or isn't recommended), you might read this: 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/.

Breastfeeding my 6mo and had first dose of Astra Zeneca about a month ago. There’s no mechanism for this kind of vaccine to travel through milk so I had no concerns, this vaccine may be in testing stages but we have many other similar vaccines using the same process to compare and guide our thinking. It’s not an entirely new kind of vaccine. Baby may get some protective antibodies through the milk once you’re making them though.

@BuffaloCauliflower

Breastfeeding my 6mo and had first dose of Astra Zeneca about a month ago. There’s no mechanism for this kind of vaccine to travel through milk so I had no concerns, this vaccine may be in testing stages but we have many other similar vaccines using the same process to compare and guide our thinking. It’s not an entirely new kind of vaccine. Baby may get some protective antibodies through the milk once you’re making them though.

Same. I had rotten side effects but baby was absolutely fine. I’d rather have the vaccine while bf than covid while bf.

Hadd az 3m ago and bf my 3yo child. They are all approved for bf mums and millions have already taken them around the world. If something would have had happened we’d have known by now. Even Pfizer has been approved for when pregnant now so you should be fine having it

BF my 17mo and had the Pfizer a few days ago.
Doctor encouraged me to and said I could pump and dump for 3 days to minimise any theoretical risk. I told him my DS wouldn't tolerate that and he laughed.

I had AZ and am breastfeeding. Hoping some of my antibodies will go through my milk. Was even considering pumping and giving some breastmilk to my older child for any antibodies!