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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Whooping cough vaccine

46 replies

AlwaysBelieve19 · 04/08/2020 09:35

Hey everyone I agreed to get my whooping cough vaccine but I want to know other people's opinions on the vaccine so I can get some more information as I'm a first time mum thank you x

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Phiphi123 · 04/08/2020 09:39

It protects your tiny, vulnerable newborn baby from a potentially deadly and entirely preventable illness...no brainer surely?

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scaevola · 04/08/2020 09:40

Having the jab causes you to produce antibodies which transfer to your baby and confer some immunity in the weeks when your baby is too young to receive their own immunisations.

It was introduced after 14 babies (too young for their own jabs) died of whooping cough in UK in 2012.

Most people opt to protect their newborns in this way (you need the jab for each pregnancy, as you have enough circulating antibodies for adequate transfer in the weeks just after the shot)

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Zippy1510 · 04/08/2020 09:40

It will prevent your baby from get whooping cough. So that’s a win.

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PaulinePetrovaPosey · 04/08/2020 09:41

It causes you no harm other than - potentially- a slightly sore arm, and protects your newborn from a horrific and sometimes deadly disease.

What other info might you need?

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AlwaysBelieve19 · 04/08/2020 09:42

Yes that's very great but I heard people saying getting vaccines while pregnant can hurt the baby which has scared me a bit I haven't got to talk to my midwife yet about this

OP posts:

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Rainbowafterthestorm · 04/08/2020 09:48

@AlwaysBelieve19, it’s not a live vaccine and there are very few vaccines that could harm the baby. Hospital have to follow very strict ethical procedures for pregnant woman so they would give it you if it was a concern.
I had an allergic reaction to it when I was a baby and never had boosters (it was advised that I didn’t) so the hospital is reluctant for me to face it, I have expressed interest as I’d like the baby to have the antibodies, so I’m being referred to immunology to hopefully have it under controlled conditions.

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Rainbowafterthestorm · 04/08/2020 09:48

That should say *wouldnt

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cecinestpasunepipe · 04/08/2020 09:48

I had whooping cough when I gave birth to my first DC over forty years ago. I think it was probably the reason she was born three weeks prematurely. Fortunately she didn't catch it from me, but it did mean that we were separated for the first two weeks of her life , with me being sent home without my baby and her receiving barrier nursing in the Special Care Unit. The trauma of not being able to see her for those two weeks will stay with me for ever, no mobile phones or skype either although I did have a Polaroid photo.
When I was allowed back in to collect her, I think that they could have handed me any baby, and I wouldn't really have known the difference due to the two pounds she had put on while we were apart.
And don't get me started on the pain of whooping cough and stitches...

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BeMorePacific · 04/08/2020 09:49

I personally chose to get it. If you do opt for it, I recommend you get it on the arm you don’t sleep on, so if you’re mostly sleeping on your left side get it in your right arm. Your arm can feel quite achy after it xx

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vinoelle · 04/08/2020 09:54

I still don’t really understand how in this day and age, people can be so uninformed about vaccines. OP why do you think the nhs would actively recommend something that hurt your baby?

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Tinyhumansurvivalist · 04/08/2020 09:55

@AlwaysBelieve19

Yes that's very great but I heard people saying getting vaccines while pregnant can hurt the baby which has scared me a bit I haven't got to talk to my midwife yet about this

Don't be so ridiculous. They would not permit dangerous vaccines to be given to pregnant women.

Would you prefer to risk your baby to dying of a completely preventable illness? I have had whooping cough twice as an adult. It is hideous. I coughed a hole in my lung as a result. How I didn't break ribs from coughing is anyones guess. I am a 15 stone woman, imagine that in a tiny 6lb baby...the immense pain they will be in...

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VanillaFrais · 04/08/2020 10:04

Oh my god. The OP asked a perfectly valid question and in response some people are being unnecessarily unpleasant on here. It is possible to answer a question without being rude, judgemental or self-righteous.

OP, the whooping cough vaccine is safe for you to have during pregnancy and will protect both you and your baby from getting whooping cough.

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Lockdownseperation · 04/08/2020 10:09

The vaccine is given in the hope it will provide protection for newborns until they have their own vaccine. It was brought in after several new borns died from whooping cough.

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MaverickDanger · 04/08/2020 10:20

Please google Light for Riley.

This demonstrates the effects of not being able to have a whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.

There have been studies of over 20000 pregnant women, none of which reported any issues with their pregnancy or child due to the vaccination.

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Emilyw1993 · 04/08/2020 10:30

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countbackfromten · 04/08/2020 10:35

Please @AlwaysBelieve19 do not go onto any forums/groups like suggested above. They are anti-vax, lie about the science and frankly I wish didn’t exist because they do real harm.

The whooping cough vaccine is incredibly safe and effective. It protects your little one against a horrible disease - how amazing is it that we are able to do that!!

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Bluejayway91 · 04/08/2020 10:39

I had mine done yesterday.

The only downside is that my arm aches, so I would go for it in order to protect your little one.

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Emilyw1993 · 04/08/2020 10:48

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countbackfromten · 04/08/2020 10:56

@Emilyw1993 you are linking to something that is anti-vax. If you read the insert leaflet of any medication fully it would be worrying but it lists absolutely everything that could happen even in the smallest number of cases. It isn’t a good forum, it is downright harmful.

@AlwaysBelieve19 - if you want good sources of proper evidence based scientific information on the vaccine

The NHS webpage on it - www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant/

Tommy’s webpage on it - www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/midwives-answer/whooping-cough-vaccine-safe

The Oxford Vaccine Knowledge Project webpage on it - vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/pertussis-vaccine-in-pregnancy

All very reliable source with proper reviewed evidence on the safety of the vaccine.

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Emilyw1993 · 04/08/2020 11:02

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YorkshireIndie · 04/08/2020 11:04

Please please get the vaccination as it protects your baby. In my job I have to investigate why a baby has died from whooping cough before they are 8 weeks old. It is heartbreaking because most of the time the mum refused to get vaccinated in pregnancy. It is your choice at the end of the day but it will hopefully protect your baby and you from catching a horrible disease

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countbackfromten · 04/08/2020 11:05

@Emilyw1993 there have been a huge number of studies that show the safety of the vaccine. The evidence is overwhelmingly positive. The harm from having whooping cough is awful and it can kill babies. It is an anti vaccination forum, I have just been on there and horrified at what I have read!!

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Emilyw1993 · 04/08/2020 11:13

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Laserbird16 · 04/08/2020 11:14

There was a great documentary in Australia called Jabbed. In it is a tiny little boy Osman who contracted whooping cough before he could get his first scheduled vaccinations. Watching him struggle for breath and his poor mother unable to do anything for him was awful.

Get the vaccination and don't put yourself or your baby in that position. Plus the documentary is great...unless you're an antivaxer and then you'll hate it as vaccines have overwhelming been positive for humanity and are very effective and safe.

If you still have doubts why not talk to a medical professional like your doctor or midwife

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Alychloe · 04/08/2020 11:22

Hi OP, I had this vaccine two weeks ago, absolutely no problems, just a sore arm for a few days. The vaccine is offered to protect your baby for the first 8 weeks after birth, after that the baby will get the vaccine. As a pharmacist I can say that these vaccines would NOT be offered if the risks outweighed the benefits.

@Emilyw1993 just FYI this vaccine has been tested on pregnant women :) www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/28679

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