Pregnant.. what swayed your decision?

[expectinglittlebear]

Sorry if this has been done before, but really hoping for some real opinions.

I have been completely on the fence about getting the vaccine while pregnant. My first midwife advised me to wait until baby is here, but I now have a new one and she is advising I get it before the third trimester. I have done research on the risks etc and know it is risky to catch it in third trimester etc. (For reference I am 15+4)

I am now super close to wanting to get it, but for some reason something is holding me back. What I want to know, is if you were like me and also unsure to begin with, what swayed your decision to get it in the end?

Hi OP. There are lots of threads about this on the Pregnancy and Coronavirus boards. Hopefully the previous discussions and opinions of others will help you come to a decision.

Nothing in life is risk free. The vaccine was the least bad choice.

I made my decision to have the vaccine early May when I was around 8 weeks and actually before I was called up. At the time, the advice had just changed from pregnant women who were at risk (including HCP) should get the vaccine to it’s safe for pregnant women to get the vaccine but each woman should make her own decision. Since then, the guidance has changed to recommend all pregnant women get the vaccine and more data has come out which has confirmed to me that, even if there is some unknown and unforeseen effect in the future, this is still the least bad option.

What swayed my decision was making an appointment with my GP and basically saying ‘convince me’!

Also the reality of the wait of 8 weeks between doses plus a further 3 weeks for the double jab protection to fully take effect. I want to be fully vaccinated when baby arrives to minimise my risk of passing it on to her if I catch it, or becoming too ill to take care of & bond with her. I will be being super careful in the 3rd trimester anyway, and want to look forward to visits from friends and family once the baby arrives - not hide away for the first 12 weeks waiting for vaccine protection to kick in.

Had mine at just under 16 weeks and just over 21 weeks. I wouldn’t consider not taking any vaccine that was available and safe, at any time.

I was dead against it early on and every midwife I asked said no, don't have it.

Then the delta variant got worse and that made me have it. I had one jab at 14 weeks and another 7 weeks later. I had Pfizer and only resit had a sore arm and bad stomach after the first.

Honestly have it. Google pregnant covid and you'll that many icu beds are taken up witb pregnant women. Sometimes they deliver while the mum is ventilated. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

I'm now 27 weeks and all is great x

Pregnant women in intensive care with Covid

Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives are advising pregnant women to get the vaccine.

For me it was seeing the consequences of several pregnant women who contracted Covid in the last wave, badly enough to be hospitalised. Grace Victory being on of them and obviously her story was documented in the media because of her being an influencer. But I also knew someone who had a similar terrible experience where their baby had to be emergency c-sectioned out of them early so that the mother could be put on a ventilator in intensive care. Baby was in NICU as was born terribly prematurely and I KNOW that this won’t be massively common but the statistics of third-trimester pregnant women who were hospitalised on top of my own experience of seeing it happen to people… there was not a single doubt in my mind and I was DESPERATE to be vaccinated. First one at 36 weeks, second was last week when my baby was a month old.

I have it on good authority that half of the beds in my local ICU are pregnant unvaccinated women.

I have no vested view and am all for personal choice but that is quite scary fact. Many of them are in induced comas

For me it was the latest research on covid and stillbirth. That really scared me- still does even though I’m now double vaccinated.

This thread has terrified me. I am 28 weeks pregnant and have covid and don't feel good
So scared

Please OP get a vaccine, covid in third trimester is so so dangerous. I had both vaccines and recently my DC1 gor covid and I never got it. My husband neither. The vaccines really do work.
I am 34 weeks now and so so relieved I didn’t catch Covid in my third trimester. Baby will have antibodies from breastfeeding too.

Well done everyone who has got it,my My partner is 12 weeks on Saturday,we are consultant led due to ivf so plan on asking the consultant at the appointment on Monday. However all research we are reading is encouraging her to have it. In the Republic of ireland it is recommended after 14 weeks the UK doesn't seem to have strict guidelines but we might go with there's if the consultant agrees.

Just wondering what type of reaction if any did anyone get? I know I wasn't too bad but I did need to take ibuprofen as my arm was so sore...few people we know,not pregnant had worse "flu like" symptoms.

@Newchances I have only had my 1st dose of Pfizer so far (at 21 weeks) and had no noticeable side affects. I had a sore arm for about a week with the whooping cough vaccine.

A pregnancy pillow is really helpful for sleeping comfortably with a sore arm! So if your partner doesn’t have one yet I’d recommend it

@Newchances I had two doses AZ: first one about 24 hours flu like symptoms, headache and shivering. Completely fine after a day. Second dose the same but for about 8 hours and milder symptoms. Had first one when I was 13 weeks. Glad I didn’t wait until after birth as wouldn’t want to be so poorly with a newborn at home and obviously as I didn’t catch covid when DC1 had it.

I wouldn’t say I was as unsure as you, but like every pregnant woman you make decisions more carefully. Hearing about regret is what clinched it for me. Reading about pregnant women in ICU wishing they’d had it, versus no evidence that it harms the baby in any way – in fact that it may even give them early protection. I had my first jab at 13 weeks, my second at 21 weeks. I would get it before the choice is taken out of your hands xx

@TinToms this is me now not in icu but at home unwel with all the symptoms I will get the vaccine as soon as I'm allowed to after testing positive

Being pregnant is a risk factor in becoming seriously ill with any virus/bug. The risk of premature birth, and ITU admission are high in 3rd trimester. I am also overweight, have high BP and diabetes so I am a walking risk factor!!!!! There was never any doubt in my mind.

@mrssunshinexxx sorry to hear you’re unwell! Try not to be scared – not everyone gets it badly and chances are you will feel rubbish but ultimately be absolutely fine. I think you’re wise to get it as soon as you can when you’re better. Hope you have someone looking after you! Take care X

Thank you @TinToms we all have it so everyone feeling crap I'm hoping I'm through the worst x

If your still unsure, I follow a page on Instagram‘Pregnant then Screwed’ there are links to videos with scientists, immunologists etc and a raft of unbiased COVID-19 information. I got mine 6 weeks ago and it’s really put my mind at ease that I’m slightly more protected. Also, lots of people don’t seem to know but due to the vaccine not being live, research carried out shows it does not pass through to baby. (Definitely worth reading up via the page on Instagram!)

Good luck - and remember it’s your decision 🥰 X

Thanks @Juliejay I've had covid very recently so won't be getting the vaccine now whilst pregnant x