Whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy?

[Mamabear12]

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!

[Cheerymum]

It is available up to 38w I believe

[Ginformation]

IME not all midwives are clued up about this. At work we have come across several cases of women who have seemingly been discouraged, or simply not told about it by their ill informed MW. At our gp surgery we are sending a letter to every pregnant woman at 28 weeks to invite them in for it. I am fairly sure it is a national campaign, recommended between 28-32 weeks but you can have it later (but potentially not as effective).

As others have said, it is not only in the uk where this is done. whereas it is new here, there have been many years experience of using this vaccine in pregnancy elsewhere. So unless you have a history of allergy to this vaccine, there is no evidence to say don't have it.

[Ginformation]

Just checked, it is nation wide. So if your MW didn't mention it, she forgot! Definitely chase it up. But it is likely to be your practice nurse who gives it you, rather than the MW.

[Mayanbob]

I am currently being freaked by this because I read my little NHS reminder e-mail I signed up to which said I should have had this by now. I haven't had it. Now 38 weeks. Peed off to say the least. It was mentioned at my booking appointment but unsurprisingly I had not remembered since.

Gutted and worried. Little baby better not get whooping cough.

[Ginformation]

Mayan, you can still have it now, phone your gp tomorrow. There is no cut off, as long a you still pregnant.

[rootypig]

My MIL is an American nurse and there they recommend DTAP for anyone who will be in regular contact with a baby. She encouraged me to get it, so around 20 weeks (mid 2012) with DD I went to ask the GP - and got a very condescending no, you don't need it. 19 weeks after that, on my due date, in the grip of an outbreak and new guidance from the CMO, they were desperate to vaccinate me

Have it if they're offering. Pertussis is on the rise in many developed countries and can kill a small baby.

[Mayanbob]

Thanks Gin will do. We have community midwifery (not through GP) which is possibly where I got missed.

[PseudoBadger]

I had it last week at 29 weeks. It had been mentioned at my booking appointment so I was expecting it at my 28 week MW appointment. However the MW said that their trust funding for the vaccine had run out so women have to get it at their gp surgery. So I did. So ask if you haven't been reminded!

[lisbapalea]

When are you recommended to have it? My mw has mentioned it but I haven't booked anything in yet - am 20wks.

My DD (3.6) needs her mmr booster, so am thinking of getting it done at the same time as her, to show injection solidarity!

[rootypig]

28 to 38 weeks lisba

[Ginformation]

Lisba, you can have it after 28 weeks, no point having it sooner as it won't give your baby enough protection after birth.

[Mayanbob]

Phoned up GP and have now received said vaccine. Hoorah for efficient practice nurses. 38+1 so not as much of a disaster as i'd feared.

Thanks ladies.

[lisbapalea]

Thanks rootypig and Ginformation

[ShadowMeltingInTheSun]

My midwife didn't mention the whooping cough vaccine at all at my 28 week or 30 week appointments - thanks to the OP for reminding me about this!

Will have to ask the midwife next week at my 32 week appointment.