Are newborns protected against measles?

9 replies

Reenypip · 22/04/2013 12:49

I'm just curious. I've had all my jabs, but obviously a long time ago now. So is baby protected or not?

For example, they offer the whopping cough jab to give immunity to newborns. (Even though have had this jab many many years ago)

Do they advise pregnant women to have an MMR to give newborn protection?

I'm in South Wales where the outbreak is at the moment.

OP posts:

rrreow · 22/04/2013 13:27

I think on the 12w scan/bloods report it should say whether the antibody to measles has been detected in your blood (it could've been something else though.. going off a vague memory & can't check my notes at the moment). If you do have the antibodies then I'm fairly sure the baby is protected as long as it's taking colostrum/breastmilk.

Hopefully someone will be along soon with definitive knowledge. Can imagine it's worrying to live in a place with an outbreak!

scaevola · 22/04/2013 13:30

For measles, it's not bfing; it's transferred maternal antibodies across the placenta. Obviously these can come only fom a mother who knows she is immune.

Although German measles immunity is routinely tested for during pg, I do not think it happens for rubeola measles. Or does it now?

scaevola · 22/04/2013 13:31

Oh, and absolutely do NOT have MMR if you are pg, or think you could be. This is because of the rubella component.

RhinotheHamster · 22/04/2013 13:35

I read that babies up to six months are protected if mum has had measles. but I have not had it. I am a bit concerned as measles cases are now being reported in my county and I have a three month old.

Petcat · 22/04/2013 13:38

I asked the nurse about this when I had my whooping cough jab at 28 weeks. She said baby will share my immunity for the first few months of life. MMR isn't usually given until after 12 months but I know some younger babies have been vaccinated due to the outbreak around Swansea (starting at 6 months I think)

I had measles as a baby and have no hearing in my left ear as a result, so I am very pro-vaccination. I also live in south Wales and find the news about the number of children being hospitalised with a preventable illness really scary and upsetting. I am planning to discuss getting an early MMR for my baby when I take them in for their 4 month jabs.

PurplePoppySeed · 22/04/2013 13:56

I also had measles as a tiny baby but have to admit I didn't think my baby would be immune. I'm not in Wales or due that soon, but in your shoes I would probably try to get them immunised as early as is sensible (not sure when that is) and be careful about who you let hold the baby over the first few months if the outbreak is still going when baby arrives.

MyNameIsAnAnagram · 22/04/2013 14:54

Rubella is german measles isn't it, and that's what they test for during pg. Not sure about measles.

scaevola · 22/04/2013 15:05

rubella = German measles
rubeola = measles

MorganLeFey · 22/04/2013 19:46

They routinely test for rubella not measles on booking bloods so they can offer vaccination once you've delivered to protect in future pregnancies. As people have said - can't have MMR if pregnant or TTC.

I am mildly concerned as fall in a born-in-1980s group before the new MMR schedule and so may not have had all the M components but the approach seems to be give another MMR (obviously not an option!) rather than routinely doing blood tests for the M components immunity.

Flip