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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Just been offered Whooping Cough jab - please help me decide!

142 replies

crackcrackcrak · 04/10/2012 21:33

I'm 36+2 and need to have it by 38 weeks if I want it. So I need to decide and book within a week.
I am concerned this is new so hard to research and make decision based on history of side effects etc.
ATM I am more worried about having it BUT I am in the south west where the outbreak was.
I have never reacted to a jan before but allergic to penicillin and often react v strongly to medication - cant be dealing with that!
Please advise....
TIA

OP posts:

LadyMetroland · 04/10/2012 21:48

I will be having it. These things are subject to incredible scrutiny and at the end of the day the baby's health is paramount.

Also, as I understand it, the vaccine is virtually identical to the one babies get at 8 weeks so it's not some brand new untested thing.

mrsbugsywugsy · 04/10/2012 21:53

I will have it.

There are no known side effects of the jab, and it has been used on pregnant women in other countries.

In my opinion the risk of there being as-yet undiscovered side effects is much smaller than the risk of the baby having whooping cough and being very very ill.

trilottie · 04/10/2012 21:55

I had mine today. She explained and showed me that its the same one toddlers have and nothing new. Make sure they write it in your notes so you're all admin'd up.
Also she said its not a single vaccine it's a combined one of Diptheria and tetanus as well.
However I didn't have any pressure to get it so its up to you. My parents said I had W cough when I was young and it was pretty nasty.

PacificDogwood · 04/10/2012 21:55

It is the SAME vaccine your baby will be getting at 2/3/4 months of age (Repavax).

It is not licenced for use on pregnant women which is simply a legal category, not an indication that it is not safe. Studies involving pregnant women are not often done due to ethical issues.

The main purpose of the vaccine is to protect the newborn before he/she has the first vaccine, hence the timing. Not too early, so maternal antibodies will 'get through' to the baby, not too late, so your body has time to create antibodies.

It is usually a very well tolerated vaccine.
Your penicillin allergy really does not come into it.

And btw, having whooping cough while pregnant is no fun either (personal and professional experience).
I'd have it, but then again I'd pretty much have anything going

Good luck, whatever you decide .

AlisonDB · 04/10/2012 21:56

From what i have read they routinely offer this vaccine in the USA, France & Germany,
I think this is why the NHS have made the decision to give this vaccine,

The vaccine that you will be given is not a live vaccine so it's only the antibodies that will cross the placenta.

I actually live in the Netherlands, where they do not offer this vaccine, nor Do they intend to,
I am 29 weeks, so if I lived in the UK I would be having the vaccine,
Today I went to my Dr here and explained the current situation in the UK and requested that I have the vaccine.
For me, the risk of me not having the vaccine and god forbid something happening to my baby because he is too young to have the vaccine himself is too great.

bumperella · 04/10/2012 22:07

When I was little someone at schools little sister had whooping cough and died. it doesn't jsut happen to "someone else".

BoffinMum · 04/10/2012 22:35

I would be first in the queue. The thought of a young baby of mine getting it because I was irrationally nervous about the vaccine would be too much for my conscience to deal with.

tara277 · 04/10/2012 23:03

Unfortunately 'there are no known side effects' is entirely wrong! It's about trying to balance the risk of side effects which range from the very mild to extremely serious but rare with the risks of pertussis etc.

asking to read the pack insert is useful. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-dtap.pdf
Good luck with your decision!

BoffinMum · 04/10/2012 23:04

I think most people find it really hard to assess risk properly.

Northernlurker · 04/10/2012 23:04

Take the jab.

That's all I have to say.

BoffinMum · 04/10/2012 23:14

www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/pages/introduction.aspx

If you get it, you'll need antibiotics, which may cause you other medical problems, not the mention the increased risk of infecting your baby. Bear that in mind.

Clarella · 05/10/2012 00:40

I'm not immune to slapped cheek and the school was referred to the hpa website for guidance when we had an outbreak.

I've found it extremely informative to help me weigh the risks with whooping cough. It's a pretty nasty illness.

The outbreak is recorded in a number of countries and they've been monitoring it for sometime. For me it was a no brainer but we've all got to feel comfortable and confident with our choices.

OldandUnwise · 05/10/2012 07:58

My ds who is now 13 weeks old is now in approximately week 9 of having whooping cough. It is a truly nasty, terrifying illness. I promise you that you do not want to even risk your child getting it.

I was pregnant just a bit too early to be offered the vaccine but there is not question that I would have/had it.

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 05/10/2012 08:29

Oh oldandUnwise :( I hope your ds is ok.

I am nearly 30 weeks and shall be having the jab tomo (if the nurse has stock still. If not they'll book me a new appointment)

OctoberOctober · 05/10/2012 08:34

Oldandwise - really sorry to hear that, hope ds is getting much better. What a horrid thing to have to go through at what should be a joyful time

expatinscotland · 05/10/2012 08:37

A known side effect of pertussis in a newborn is death.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

LittleBearPad · 05/10/2012 09:08

I would definitely have the jab.

WC can be fatal to babies and they can't have their jabs until they are 8, 12 and 16 weeks old. I am so glad my 20 week DD is through her jabs as its a nasty illness.

StuntNun · 05/10/2012 09:21

I think the point of the whooping cough vaccine is to protect your baby, not so much to protect you. I'm 35 weeks pregnant and in good health, chances are that even with asthma I would survive a bout of whooping cough (although I might get very sick). The thought of my newborn baby getting whooping cough is terrifying so I'll be going ahead with the vaccination.

ValiumQueen · 05/10/2012 09:41

There is another thread in pregnancy section too. Maybe reading that would be helpful. I had the jab on Tuesday. As expat says, death is a side effect of WC in newborns. Also a no brainer for me. I was pg when the SF epidemic happened, and this has been a much easier decision to make.

Beatrixpotty · 05/10/2012 09:47

I'll be having it.It's given so the antibodies you make cross the placenta and get to the baby so they are born with immunity.Whooping cough in a new born is very serious, as sadly seen by oldandunwise Can't imagine going through that, and will do anything to avoid that.Really hope your baby is ok

mummybear12 · 05/10/2012 09:50

im 20 wks pregnant , and definitly would have it , because my husband nearly died from whopping cough when he was a baby , its too scary to tink about ! oh does anyone know if they are giving this jab in rep of ireland ? crack crack crak 4 wks to go id say you cant wait excited for you , good luck with your decision :)

starbug23 · 05/10/2012 09:52

I'm getting the WC jab in about 1 hour, I'm also getting the Flu jab a bit later in the day (why they couldn't do them together I've no idea!)
Nervous about having WC jab and more nervous about having them both on same day. This pregnancy has been a long, long time coming, been very difficult and I'm not sure I could do it again. I'm also on Clexane and asprin due to multiple miscarriages beforehand. It's a hard decision between not wanting to take more drugs incase they harm the baby and really wanting them incase by not doing so could harm the baby. On the whole I am putting mine and my baby's health in the hands of the experts and if they say it's okay then that's good enough for me because really what else can I base it on?

Tiago · 05/10/2012 10:00

OP - I am also allergic to penicillin and have not rected badly to a jab before. I had the WC vaccine yesterday (which I have never had in my life) and it was fine. No side effects or problems at all.

Theas18 · 05/10/2012 10:13

Have it and have it soon (in case you deliver early).

It's the same vaccine your baby will have at 8 weeks and onwards.

I'm biased as I'e seen tiny babies in ITU with pertussis its was horrific and I wasn't even related to the child.... to be that childs parent and know I could have done something- well you can just imagine how you'd feel. If any thing can be done to prevent it or lessen the impact it should be.

DialMforMummy · 05/10/2012 10:19

A no brainer for me. I'd have it.

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