Does tdap protect mother from tetanus?

[OuchMyFoof]

I know that seems a stupid question!

I had the Boostrix vaccine for whooping cough and remember the midwife saying “this doesn’t do much for you it goes straight to the baby” but would that count as a tetanus booster for me?

I’ve not stepped on a rusty nail or anything but just for reference really

If you get given a vaccine then you get the protection. Passing antibodies on the to the baby is a nice side effect.

Not sure I understand the comment 'doesn't do much for you, it goes straight to the baby'? The DTaP is diptheria, Tetanus and acellular Pertussis, if it was Boostrix or Repevax it also contains inactivated Polio vaccine. The aim of this vaccine is to offer passive protection to the baby but also to offer protection to the mother. So, yes, this counts as a tetanus booster (and of course a booster for all of the others as well).

Yes, it is a tetanus booster as well as it's the combined booster shot. So like the pp said, it will protect you against tetanus, usually for a specified period of time. I think it's usually 10 years before you need another? Odd thing for the midwife to have said as it's not accurate. Any vaccination you have in pregnancy works by helping expose baby to your antibodies. All of them work on you first and via the placenta, then baby. Maybe she was trying to be reassuring to let you know that the bulk of the benefit really is for baby (which is probably true as you've likely had a tetanus booster at some point as an adult?).

I thought it was an odd thing for her to say too I couldn’t imagine how it wouldn’t offer me any protection if it’s going through me to get to my baby it can’t just bypass me lol

I don’t think I have had a tetanus shot unless it was one we got at school? (School was about 15 years ago!)

You dont routinely need another tetanus booster after the one you have when you're leaving school unless you come into contact with a potential risk (e.g dog bite etc). Just nice that we get a bit extra with the whooping cough vaccine. Although don't let this stop you going to A&E in the future if you do think you've been exposed, they should always give you a top up just to be sure