Pregnant - should I get whooping cough vaccine?

[333mumtobe]

Just wondering how many mums/expectant mums got the whooping cough vaccine when pregnant? And if not, why not? Xx

I’m very cautious too with vaccines. I wasn’t vaccinated for whooping cough myself and it was going around my work at the time. So yes I did. I declined the flu vaccine though!

@Hummingbird82 that's really bad, it should have been brought up by your midwife - although mine mentioned it early on and then forgot about it until I specifically asked about it, and then had to book it in with the GP. I think it's supposed to be done before 32 weeks otherwise it's not as effective but it's worth giving them a call and checking.

I had mine at 20 week scan, didn't hurt.

I had whooping cough at 10 days old and my midwife has advised that I get the vaccine x

@chubbyhotchoc Sorry I forgot to tag. I had whooping cough at 10 days old and my midwife has advised that I get the vaccine as baby is due in the winter months too x

@Giz17 You'll be best off starting your own thread in the Pregnancy section - lots of people will be happy to give advice that way. In my area you can phone the local midwife unit directly to begin your care. Can you phone your local GP surgery for advice? And register with them while you're at it.

I had whopping cough as a baby so got the vaccine done at 21 weeks as that's as soon as I could get the appointment for it, midwife advised me that you still need it if you ve had whopping cough yourself.

I can never understand people that question these things. If it's being offered, it's for a very good reason!
Had it with all three of mine which meant I had it twice in 12 months once.

Two of us have explained: cautious because of a history of vaccine damage.

It would be lovely if I had the liberty of bemusement when others hesitated over vaccines.

Absolutely. We can have it from 16 weeks where I am now. Hoping to get it at my 20 week scan next week.

@chubbyhotchoc I asked my midwife the same question because I had whooping cough as a young child. She didn’t know but said she would find out - never came back to me. Anyway I found this leaflet at my hospital and it says you should have the vaccination.

If you do opt for it, your arm can be quite sore for a few days after. So if you’re sleeping on your left hand side I’d recommend you get it in your right arm. It is t sore getting it, your arm just might feel a bit achy 24-48 hours later. x

I had mine yesterday at my 20 weeks scan, arm is still a bit sore but worth it! It wasn’t really a choice for me , had my scan and the sonographer said “ok, you are going to see the midwife now for the whooping cough jab” no problem

@Ayannah thanks. I will just get myself booked in.

I've had whooping cough as a teenager (it was truly awful. I thought I would die). I still got the vaccine.

Absolutely. I had whooping cough as a child (7y/o) (I couldn't be vaccinated when I was a baby due to medical contraindications at the time) and it was horrible. It lasted around 8 weeks and I would throw up between 3-6 times a day because I was coughing so much. Temperature of over 40c until antibiotics started to kick in.

It's particularly dangerous for newborns. They don't typically make the 'whooping' sound to gasp for breath because their lungs are still so small - instead they end up holding their breath which can lead to oxygen deprivation and brain damage.

A diagram here (vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/pertussis-whooping-cough) shows that it's incredibly likely that a newborn from an unvaccinated mother will catch the disease if they come into contact with somebody who has it.

@bluesapphirestars do you need to be so snarky?

@bluesapphirestars you still haven’t explained exactly what ‘vaccine damage’ is though.

Personally I think it sounds preferable to ‘whooping cough damage’ ie possible baby death but that’s just me.

I didn’t have it personally. But I have a lot of autism and auto immune conditions in my family.

Yes, don’t be so stupid!

Yes, definitely get it :)

If you are in two minds, have a look on youtube at some videos of babies with whooping cough.

I had a sore arm for a couple of days after having it but I would take the pain tenfold if it will stop my baby suffering.

@SugarbabyMilly

I didn’t have it personally. But I have a lot of autism and auto immune conditions in my family.

Vaccinations have nothing to do with autism! That study was completely false and the doctor was struck off for it.

I did with my second born January . I didn't with my first, born July, as they don't seem to push it. And unlike other appointments they leave you to sort it out.

I had a big anxiety over getting it with my first, but the time of year and my second being exposed to their older siblings snot made me do it. It was fine, I was being stupid to not get it with my first.

I’m going to. The thought of a baby having whooping cough is so awful, I’ll happily take a vaccination to prevent that.