Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

[Abby84]

Hi

I am coming up to 28 weeks pregnant with second child and I just wanted to some advice and info on other ladies experiences if having the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy as I am due to have this soon. I am aware that this is a combined vaccination with diphtheria, polio and whopping cough.

Any advice welcome

Thanks

I'm definitely getting it - I thought some places are giving the single vaccine if it's the combined vaccine that concerns you. You could ask your surgery.

I had the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough I think) vaccine as a child - I think most people will have - and was absolutely fine (well, no memory of horrors!)

Have you heard something that worries you?

No, I think I'm just overly anxious about everything! I will get the vaccine I was just worrying about the combined one being safe for baby.

I am having mine this afternoon at 31 weeks, I must admit I am worried about risks but after midwife told me that 12 babies on her unit had died from whooping cough recently, I decided that surely outweighs the risks :/ I hope Someone far more useful comes along and gives you some better advice. Sorry for rambling ??

The vaccine is the same one they give babies at their 8 weeks jabs, so is fine for babies :)

The side effect I had was a sore arm - if you sleep on your side, get it on the other side!

I had the DTP jab in February before going on holiday (and before I was pregnant - and yes we conceived during that holiday for those doing the maths ). Now 32 weeks and as I had it earlier this year I don't need it again.

I didn't realise this at first and did quite a lot of research on it and the benefits outweigh the risks by far! It's pretty common at the moment and babies can get extremely ill from it.

FWIW when I had the jab in Feb it was fine. My arm was a bit sore for a day or two but I get that with all vaccinations. If you're right handed get it done in your left arm and vice versa.

Thanks everyone, I'm booked to have mine at 29 weeks. I've read that it is best as whooping cough is quite prevelant at the moment and it is much safer for baby. I think it is just that I would prefer not to have anything like that during pregnancy, however baby will be fully developed by now so should be fine.

I had mind last week (33 weeks) and it was fine. Only side effect was a slight bruise.

I'm really worried about this as when I was given it as a baby they couldn't complete the injections as it made me so incredibly ill, so I have no idea whether to risk having a bad reaction or baby having a bad reaction or whether to risk the chance of catching whooping cough

Sinkymalinks - please can I ask where you heard of a single vaccine? I'm deathly allergic to tetanus but have been told there is no single vaccine in the uk, so I can't have the whooping cough vaccine. I'd be very interested in finding a single vaccine if you can help me!? Many thanks.

I had mine at 30 weeks, now at 37 weeks. It's a combined vaccine with DTPand I don't believe it's available separately.

It's not as strong as the one babies get at 8 weeks but the one they have at preschool which is a lighter dose.

I didn't have any side effects other than a sore arm for a few days and that is a result of the tetanus not the whooping cough.

I had one last year when I was pregnant. It's the same as they give to children for their pre school boosters.

It was fine, I had no problems. Only thing I will say is that it felt like someone had punched me in the arm a few hours later but that soon passed

Single vaccines definitely are available but pretty scarce.

Here you can't have your vaccine while pregnant. Have to have it pre conception or post delivery.

I had the vaccine and Ds is perfect. I had flu like symptoms and a painful arm for a couple of days, but as demonstrated by the replies here it's really not typical.

I was really unsure whether to have it or not (currently 25 wks) so I did some reading round and came across this blog post from somebody who had done far better research than me and I've decided against having it...

www.ramblingsofahealthfreak.com/2013/05/whooping-cough-vaccine-during-pregnancy.html

Please be careful with interpreting research from anti-vaccination enthusiasts. If a recommendation is made for something on the NHS you can bet your bottom dollar that the research they have studied is more robust than an individual's. The anti MMR scare was responsible for the deaths of several infants and the illness of several more. And they've now debunked and discredited all the evidence Wakefield based his research on.

I had it on Friday and whilst I could never regret anything that is good for my baby I just want to warn you that I did suffer reasonably severe side effects, although for a short period of time. It was like the worst flu ever with incredible arm pain and fever. I'm sure reactions like that are rare and I've never suffered side effects from anything before but might do to plan someone around to help or a day off etc for the next day. I couldn't have dealt with my toddler so it was a good job the worst of my side effects were on Fri night/Sat morning.

I would agree with MrsHY1 the list of cons is limited, for a start no medical study will get approval to test on pregnant women. This does not mean vaccine data cannot be extrapolated and applied. I believe (will need to check and ref later) that this vaccine was tested on pregnant rats with no adverse affects.

There is also very little actual evidence regarding the 'blunting' theory, the reason it is recommended for pregnant women is that they cannot give the vaccine until 8 weeks. Babies also lack the ability to make the whooping noise/physical movement and are more likely to suffer adverse affects should they contract whooping cough.

I had my jab several weeks ago at 29 weeks pregnant, I had also come across the scare stories about reduced movements and stillbirth. These are of course horrendous and distressing outcomes in a pregnancy for all concerned. However, no evidence at all was provided in the anecdotes about the vaccine being behind this.

I had mine at 30 weeks pregnant with DD2. She's now 19 weeks old and happy and very healthy!

I'm planning to have mine. I had something that probably was whopping cough last year, and it was awful. I'd be unable to catch my breath, coughing until I was sick, for months on end. I never got it diagnosed so can't be sure it was whopping cough, so I'll have the vaccine incase it wasn't.

DropYourSword - Can you please tell me where the single vaccine is available? Are you in the UK? I've been trying to find one, but keep getting a dead end, and told that only the combined in licenced for pregnant women in the UK. I'd be very happy if I could find a single vaccine! Thanks

I had it at 29 weeks,I'm currently 36+4 and I made my arm hurt a little but was ok,n numbs ok cx

I feel confused about it, as I would rather not have a vaccination that has only been given to pregnant women since late last year. I have looked at the government statistics for whooping cough and although there has been a rise, more recent statistics may to june 2013 seem to evidence that cases continue to fall. I am very confused as there is no evidence to say that there are no affects to baby long term or any evidence to say that this will definitely prevent baby from getting whooping cough it suggests it 'could' prevent it. I am so confused as I already have gestational diabetes and do not want to have anything that could possibly further complicate my pregnancy but i also feel extremely guilty if I was not to have the vaccination?!!!!!! I feel that I need further info but there is none available! Also whooping cough is more prevelant in the summer months my baby due Decemberbig decision and I accept that many ppl have had the vaccination and state that they are fine I just feel very dubious about it

Never even thought about not having it, had it last week at same time as flu jab. Both arms were hurting for a day or two from had both arms being injected but that's it.

42andcounting I'm not in the UK, I'm so sorry for potentially misleading you. It's definitely available where I live, so it EXISTS and I just assumed it would also be available in the UK.