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

Original poster

Whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy?

39 replies

Mamabear12 · 05/08/2013 20:02

I went to my 28 week appointment and the midwife asked if I wanted the vaccine, she basically suggested it. I do not like taking vaccines unless absolutley necessary. Please post your opinions and if you plan to get the vaccine or not.

My husband does not think I should get it.

Curious what others are doing!

OP posts:
Cheerymum · 05/08/2013 20:04

I had it. New babies are very vulnerable in the current outbreak until at least there first imms without it, but you will make some antibodies that will cross the placenta. Large scale studies show it seems safe in pregnancy.

Onlyconnect · 05/08/2013 20:09

I had it a coupe of weeks ago. I don't understand why you woudn't have it - what are your reasons?

RoadToTuapeka · 05/08/2013 20:12

I had it as whooping cough was prevalent in London when I was pregnant. No problems at all, quick, no side effects and DS is now 7 months and no ill effects on him.

In New Zealand where I live now, it is also recommended. In fact here they recommend that family who will be in contact with a new baby have the vaccine too.

It is an awful illness for a baby (or anyone really) to have so imo worth being vaccinated, you especially as the baby needs protection til they have their vaccinations.

impatienttobemummy · 05/08/2013 20:15

I've had whooping cough last year and was so lucky my baby had had his vaccinations (he was 8months) or he'd have caught it I'd have it and I'm cautious about vaccinations

Excited85 · 05/08/2013 20:37

On the flip side I'm not having it as we have a very bad family history with the vaccine and as a result I never had it myself as a kid. I asked my mw for an honest opinion as I wouldn't deliberately go against medical advice but she was very blasé about it and said not to worry, it's only new and up until last yr the majority of babies were fine without it. Obviously I'll be very much aware of the symptoms and keep an eye out but for me the risks (in my circumstances) outweigh the benefits.

emilyeggs · 05/08/2013 20:41

I had it, it was fine. Just helps pass on immunity

sazzle82 · 05/08/2013 21:02

I had it and was fine. The following week my HR department called me in to let me know there were confirmed cases where I work.

My understanding is that it can be very bad if a baby catches it, with permanent damage in some cases. As they don't get their jabs until 8 weeks this gives them immunity until then.

PurplePoppySeed · 05/08/2013 22:18

I'm also not having it, a few reason spring to mind, but none that have really made me think I'm doing the right/wring thing. I'm just not too fussed either way tbh and don't really think there is a right or wrong answer on this.

As said above, it's a new thing, the baby has to have nothe WC jab at 3 months, there has been no formal testing on pregnant women & the immunity in their babies for this, the can be side effects for mum (rare), I would have to be around in the week to have it, but work in London, so it's difficult, etc etc....

Also last year my previous preg stopped developing the week I had the flu jab, which went on to be a MMC so from a stress perspective, id rather not be injected with anything, even if the flu jab was a coincidence. BTW-I still got flu anyway, so I'm a bit 'over' jabs "just in case"!

Do what you feel is right for you :)

PurplePoppySeed · 05/08/2013 22:19

..and right for your baby of course too

CruCru · 05/08/2013 23:33

Yes I had it. It is a dead vaccine. I am quite pro vaccine though.

SeriousStuff · 05/08/2013 23:50

I had it done today - didn't even consider not having it.

monniemae · 06/08/2013 00:33

I had it. My friend's 3 month old got whooping cough and was hospitalised earlier this year. She had had the vaccine, he had had his first jab (but not booster), he got it anyway, and she was told it would have been life-threatening had he not had some protection already from the jabs she/he had had. Still, it was a week in hospital separated from toddler with baby on oxygen.

12 babies his age or younger died last year of WC apparently.

Still, we have a friend who didn't have the jab (or any) and is adamant her baby's health vs this baby's hospitalisation proves that vaccines cause more harm than good. I'd argue it's people not vaccinating that reduces the overall efficiency of vaccinations. If my child got WC I'd rather know they had been vaccinated and it could have been worse, than be kicking myself for not vaccinating because of some vague unease.

Sophie Heawood wrote a piece in the Evening Standard about her reasons for not vaccinating, and why she emchanged her mind after her baby (and parents) caught WC. As she began from a default anti-vacc position it might be worth googling & reading x

chocolatesolveseverything · 06/08/2013 05:10

I had the vaccine. These things can save lives.

LandsN · 06/08/2013 06:37

I had it yesterday and feel fine apart from a sore arm but I don't go into vac lightly as with the mmr I was not offered this with my last 2 but for the sake of protecting my baby and my 2 dcs from wc I think it is well worth it and the fact there is no known affects to the baby other than protection against what can be a fatal infection surely it is better to be safe than sorry I jumped at the chance!!

LouiseD29 · 06/08/2013 08:08

I had it. I was working with the Department of Health last year when they started the campaign to get pg women to have the vaccine so learnt a little bit about the reasons behind it. There was a massive increase in cases last year and it can be fatal to babies. I had whooping cough when I was small and the horror stories my mum tells are enough to convince anyone! I strongly recommend it.

lucybrad · 06/08/2013 14:49

Its a terrible illness for baby to have. Why would you chance it, by not having the vaccine. Imagine if your baby caught whooping cough and you could have prevented it? Yes vaccines do not 100% mean you wont catch the illness but they lessen the effect of the illness on the body as some immunity has been built already. I can't understand why anyone would not have the vaccine. What ill effects have been seen from it? Are you planning on not vaccinating your baby with its routine 2/3/4 month injections? What's the difference?

snickersnacker · 06/08/2013 14:54

I had it and didn't think twice about it. Slightly sore arm afterwards but a small price to pay to protect my baby.

If you are still unsure it is worth considering when your due date falls - if your baby's first three months will be during the peak whooping cough season of autumn / winter then that is a strong argument in favour of e vaccine during pregnancy.

Smerlin · 06/08/2013 16:00

I had it last week- had a sore arm for two days and that's it. Baby is now protected against a nasty virus- what's not to like?!

mycatlikestwiglets · 06/08/2013 21:41

Had mine yesterday too - it was a no brainer for me, the risk of a sore arm for a day or two against the risk of my new baby contracting a potentially fatal illness.

Excited85 · 07/08/2013 06:42

Lucybrad Just to elaborate, if it was any other jab I would have it without a doubt, but we have had a death and serious illness in the family both as a reaction to the whooping cough jab. This is why I wasn't vaccinated and when discussing it with the mid wife she said she wouldn't give her baby something that had caused an immediate family member to die, so as I said, for me it is more risky to actively have the jab than the risk of baby potentially catching the illness. Of course I will have all other jabs as will baby and I'll be extra viligant for any signs of illness but I'd never forgive myself if anything happened from me taking the jab in this knowledge. Completely individual circumstances though and if it wasn't for this I wouldn't think twice.

islingtongirl · 07/08/2013 07:34

I had it at 31 weeks - also a no brainier for me. Had a sore arm for a couple of days but that's it. As I think a PP has said it isn't a live vaccine either. Understand re individual circumstances though and there may be something to be said for risk vs due date and timing if someone really has concerns about having it.

anastasiakrupnik · 07/08/2013 07:43

I wouldn't know about it if it wasn't for this thread. I had my 31 week appt yesterday and the midwives have never mentioned it. Is that normal? Is this something I have to be proactive about?

islingtongirl · 07/08/2013 07:50

I only knew as I saw it on the news around Xmas/new year and I think my midwife mentioned it at the booking in appointment but I had to remind my midwife at my 28 week appt! Have a look into it (there is a page on the NHS website, sorry not sure how to link on iPad) - but once I reminded her midwife highly recommended I get it and kept asking me whether I had it in subsequent appointments!

mycatlikestwiglets · 07/08/2013 22:00

I think it varies by area as to whether it's offered/recommended. My midwife brought it up at my 25 week check and suggested I book myself in to have it at 28 weeks (South East commuter belt). I wouldn't have had it otherwise. Maybe incidences of whooping cough have been lower elsewhere and the vaccination programme isn't UK wide.

Newmum0113 · 07/08/2013 23:18

I forgot about this! I remember my MW saying about it at booking on but she didn't mention it at my 24 or 28 week appts!

I'm 30 weeks - can I still get it tone do you know?? I don't want to risk not having it if its available to me and will help my baby. I had very bad asthma as a newborn and was hospitalised for over 2 weeks! I wouldn't want that for my baby if avoidable at all.