To vax or not to? To formula or bf?

[Spottyzip]

Hi all,

I recently gave birth about a week ago. I did not get the vaccine whilst pregnant out of choice as I was very concerned with it being so new and affecting the baby.

Now I’m in the same predicament. Should I vaccinate whilst bf? I know ppl are doing it but it just didn’t sit right with me that it’s a new vaccine and long term effects are not known. Should I vaccinate and formula feed instead?

Other kids have school in Sep so worried they will deffo bring covid home.

Did any of you vaccinate while bf? Any side effects?

Do you know anyone that’s had adverse effects on baby because of it?

Or any friends in the US that vaccinated while bf, have baby’s developed normally/reached milestones since the US were ahead of us.

I’m so confused, thinking of getting vaxxed 4 weeks pp.

Thank you all

I'd discuss with your professionals but other than that, congratulations on the baby! and I hope all goes well with bfing

Here is an article I found helpful in deciding (with excitement and relief!) to get my two jabs while pregnant then while breastfeeding my newborn.

<a class="break-all" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01680-x;!!EIXh2HjOrYMV!IPWiWLoExHcZZEYpczBLpiolgZ4EGMC4Fqt9PJUF5NvCDFecdUYVU6C6d4qakN7t6Eaf$" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">urldefense.com/v3/www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01680-x;!!EIXh2HjOrYMV!IPWiWLoExHcZZEYpczBLpiolgZ4EGMC4Fqt9PJUF5NvCDFecdUYVU6C6d4qakN7t6Eaf$

For what it’s worth, DS is 9 weeks old, happy and healthy, zero side effects from the jabs on him as far as I can tell. He’s my third baby, and I’m watching with interest the Pfizer and Moderna trials for the toddler set! Maybe there’s a tiny risk from vaccines, but lockdowns have been so tough for my kids (and for us!). We need a path out.

@stopchewingeverything I'm doing the same. Still feeding ds at 16m and will be expressing and adding to 4yo DD's porridge.
Apparently the antibodies are present for 6weeks after each shot with Pfizer.

I'm a medical doctor and had both vaccine doses (AZ/Oxford) while breastfeeding - my baby was 6-7 weeks old at the first dose so pretty young. I couldn't see any medical/scientific reason to be worried, it's not like a drug that passes in to breast milk, it's an immune response (i.e. antibodies) which I hoped, if anything, would pass to my baby in the milk and protect him. Breastfeeding confers so many medical benefits to both you and your baby that it would be a real shame if you avoided it over having a vaccine, but at the end of the day it's your choice.

Can I just turn this round and ask what are the effects if you did get covid? Can you still safely breast feed?

I had the first dose, dc 4 mo. No problems with supply/ side effects.

Then caught covid a couple of months later very very mild, hoping dc now has some antibodies from me as bf throughout.

I was hesitant to get vaccinated at first due to bf but am so glad I did as I'm sure that's why I had such a mild case of covid.

@ivykaty44

Can I just turn this round and ask what are the effects if you did get covid? Can you still safely breast feed?

Advice from WHO is to practise "respiratory hygiene" around your baby so wearing a mask where possible even when feeding.

Coronavirus isn't passed on in breastmilk so totally fine to continue as long as you feel up to it.

www.emro.who.int/nutrition/news/breastfeeding-advice-during-the-covid-19-outbreak.html

I got my jabs while breastfeeding my toddler. I doubt she’ll be stopping any time soon so it’s not a question of being able to wait. Very happy that I did (and proud that I’m still breastfeeding).

I didn’t hesitate to get the vaccine while breastfeeding (and I am generally quite anxious). My baby was 6 months old at the time but if it was available when he was younger I would have had it, actually I felt reassured to have it because of antibodies going to him through my milk. He had absolutely no side effects.
Also if anyone else pregnant is reading this, please please look at the official advice regarding pregnant women, 1 in 10 pregnant women who are admitted with covid are needing ICU and this puts you at a much higher risk of stillbirth and premature birth. People say we don’t know the risks of the vaccine but we do know the very dangerous risks of covid while pregnant. (Source for that is royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists).