Protecting a 3 week old from whooping cough

[stargirl1701]

Baby is 3 weeks old so still 5 weeks till vaccination for WC. How do I protect her? What symptoms should I be looking out for? Panicky first time mum.

Erm, thanks Leonie - I think you'll find you're the one browbeating me. I have said nothing one way or the other about choices.

ok... that justthevax blog is pretty much lifted from the BBC website.

No-one's 'brow-beating' you for the choices you make.

All I'm doing is pointing out that the views you hold are not based in any scientific evidence.

So if it crosses the placenta, can it be transmitted through breastmilk?

Do you mean immunity from having the vaccine Starlight? Or do you mean Whooping cough?

If a mother of a 5 week old were to have the vaccine, would the 5 week old benefit if the mother bf?

LD.

Much as I would love to take credit for inventing the scientific method, I think you may find it's according to Galileo, Descartes, Newton and others.

I did ask you to share the plenty of scientific evidence that you say you have. I note that you haven't.

From what I understand Starlight I think so. The idea is the mother would develop antibodies and much the same as other antibodies pass through breastmilk, I assume WC antibodies do the same. But I'm not a doctor, I would say speak to your GP.

By the way Leonie - just reading back on this... you know this current campaign is to get pregnant women vaccinated, not babies - though naturally the baby in utero will get some of the effect of the vaccine. The reason why things may be different now to when your 4 year old was born is that this latest upsurge in cases started in 2011. There are surges of outbreaks and we're currently in one. We weren't when your 4 year old was born (still not saying anything about your choice btw - just putting a little background detail in to the current vaccination programme)

Starlight - ur best off asking ur dr these questions I don't think ur going to get any where on this thread! My educated guess would be some antibodies would travel across but not sure how much.

So one of the things the OP could do was top up her vaccination?

Woukd the baby subsequently overdose on the 2month vaccines then?

We're not just talking WC are we, but the 5in1!?

My doctor doesn't even know you can give birth to back to back babies at home, absolutely no point asking him anything!

Well. This isn't the thread I started! HV said to limit visitors, ask anyone holding dd to wash hands first and keep strangers from touching her when out in public.

I believe in vaccination - both personally and as a public health issue. I don't want to debate the issue, thanks.

Would you get the vac yourself OP?

It's OK LD. It's kind of cute. My kids enjoy a similar kind of game. The big one will ask the little one a difficult question. Of course, she hasn't got a clue but she goes 'I know but I'm not telling you'.

And you're quite right, I'm guessing that your 'evidence' wouldn't hold up to critical appraisal. I suspect that you know that too.

Apologies for the thread hijack stargirl.

Enjoy the time with your newborn!

I would. Speaking to GP tomorrow. I assume my immunity has worn off. The HV felt I my immune system would be fairly robust as I am a teacher but I would always vax if I can.

Oh my god I can't believe there are still people who don't believe in vaccinating their children. I wish the government would make it mandatory.

You could also check to see if you are in an area which currently has an outbreak? Practice good hand hygiene and ensure that all visitors are well.

FWIW I think you are extremely sensible.

say LD, how does the ohsotoxic polysorbate 80, all 50 µg of it, get from the upper arm of the woman into the uterus to the baby? Same for phenoxyethanol?

HV said today that there are 2 babies in the regional teaching hospital from the area. One is only 5 weeks . Just awful.