Have any pregnant ladies had the vaccine / will you?

[Jessa89]

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant (4 weeks) and days later I got invited for the vaccine..I’m only 32 and didn’t think I was in a particularly high risk category but do have asthma so that could be why. My doctors didn’t know I was pregnant before sending the invite, I’m really hoping they will still let me have it to be honest due to potential covid risks and pregnancy.

The UK guidance seems vague and I think says if in a high risk category you can have it after discussion with a doctor. Has anyone else been in this situation and did you decide / did they let you go ahead?

There are decision guides written by bodies such as the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology which summarise what evidence there is.

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2021-02-24-combined-info-sheet-and-decision-aid.pdf

yes, it is limited but there is new data all the time. Lots will come out of the US where they’ve been routinely giving in pregnancy and breastfeeding since early Jan

COVID is not benign in pregnancy and can be very serious in a minority. At my hospital there were several pregnant women in ITU at the peak. Most had had to have their babies early so they could be ventilated. There are also documented still births due to placental failure from COVID (rare, but has happened).

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-19-and-stillbirth-what-does-the-latest-research-say-about-possible-complications-1.4502384%3fmode=amp

I will have it if offered. I've been following the VAERs data out of the US and currently have no concerns about risks to pregnancy/fetus. There is an Obgyn and Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist on Instagram called @babiesafter35 who does regular breakdowns of new information that I find really helpful as well.

I want it. The vaccine uses a non-live version of the virus. All other vaccines that use non-live versions (such as flu vaccine) are routinely offered to pregnant women and are considered to be safe.

Pregnant mice that have been vaccinated have been fine.

The US is offering it to pregnant women, so there will probably be some fresh data out soon.

I'm far more concerned about catching COVID while pregnant (risk of more severe symptoms and small risk of premature birth, which are same risks as catching flu while pregnant) than I am about vaccine.

Unfortunately, midwife seems pretty against the idea. I'm going to push for it as much as I can, though.

Thanks everyone I’ve decided to get it on Wednesday and managed to get approval from my GP although told it was very much a risk assessment and down to personal choice. @mouldygrapes thanks I’d seen that article from Ireland, that was enough to convince me!!

I did debate should I wait until I’m out of the first trimester because of the potential for fever from the vaccine but my friend who is a doctor pointed out you have to weigh that up with the risk of getting covid in the first trimester and having a 2 week fever as opposed to 1 day likely low grade from the vaccine.

I totally understand and respect people’s decision to not have the vaccine by the way, I’ve been very torn myself but for me it’s the right thing to do. I’m worried that as lockdown eases everyone will go a bit wild and infections may temporarily soar so I’m nervous to be in a vulnerable position and spend the pregnancy being anxious.

I’ve been looking at the history of problems with vaccines being recalled / causing problems and there’s actually not that much over the course of the entire vaccine history I could only find 3-4 accounts like swine flu vaccine causing gueillian bar syndrome in a small percentage in the 70s. A lot of the suspected cases were then found to not have any link so feeling a bit better about. I know the case of thalidomide which is what everyone will think of but I couldn’t find any vaccines causing birth defects ever (correct me if I’m wrong!). Even though the vaccines are new the platforms have been tested on pregnant women so hopefully nothing to worry about.

Good luck OP, I would have done the same given the option. Data is starting to flow from the US and little ones are born with antibodies :) same for breastfeeding mums. Hopefully there will be enough info soon in the medical community to be officially offered in the UK too.

I won't be offered the vaccine for ages, but if it comes along when I'm still pregnant, I will definitely take it. It's non-live like the flu vaccine, and there's no biological reason why it could be harmful. A fever from Covid, on the other hand...

Why are you so concerned being pregnant and “the risks”? If Covid was so dangerous to pregnant women we’d all be told to shield etc. It’s really not. Taking a vaccine that’s had no real testing on, or time to research its effects on unborn babies is the main risk.

FeistySheep and what- why the big worry about getting a fever while pregnant exactly? All available evidence suggests that pregnant women are at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell than other healthy adults if they get coronavirus.The large majority of pregnant women experience only mild or moderate cold/flu-like symptoms.
I’d definitely NOT get a vaccine so new that’s not had any degree of testing (for a reason!) on pregnant women & their unborn babies. Cases in the UK are so low now anyway, the chance of getting Covid right now or being badly affected is so tiny.

@DollyParton2 The main risks for me (although I know most people won’t develop severe symptoms) were increased ICU admissions compared to non-pregnant women of the same age, pre-term labour as some women needed to have the baby out so they could be ventilated and the ongoing investigation in Ireland into stillbirths following covid infection of the placenta. There’s also the risk of testing positive in hospital when you go in for labour and then having to isolate from baby, interrupting breastfeeding and bonding etc and obviously being a pretty horrible thing to happen. Prolonged high fever in first trimester has also been linked to neural tube defects in babies. For me it was enough, as well as myself having asthma so being of higher risk for severe covid anyway...but again I totally get why people wouldn’t get it and I would have been more torn if not for being at a higher risk I think.

You've attracted the anti-vax loons OP but talk to your HCP.
Both of my pregnant colleagues had the Vax the same day the rest of our workplace did. I noticed that at the "interview" prior to the actual jab they were interviewed by the doctor overseeing everything rather than the nurses we all got.
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Also I was concerned about how new the vaccines are but from what I’ve read they haven’t actually skipped any steps just accelerated them. Pregnant women were excluded from the clinical trials but some accidentally got pregnant and outcomes were followed. Israel, Ireland and the US are also giving it to all pregnant women so we’re getting some data there.

The vaccines have been tested on pregnant animals (a step skipped when thalidomide was fast tracked). Not saying there’s no risk but it’s a matter of weighing up the known risks of covid for mum and baby on an individual basis with the unknowns.

I'm in third trimester now, and as early 30's with no health condition its unlikely I'd be eligible for a vaccine for ages yet anyway (probs after due date at this rate!) but if I was I would take it. Risks in pregnancy increase as you get in to third trimester, and at that point the baby is formed. There's no data to suggest it would be damaging and other countries are actively trying to encourage pregnant ladies to get a vaccine.

I will have the vaccine after the baby is born. I just wish they would stop sending me letters and texts about the vaccine. It's beyond a joke now.

My friend has had it because she has bad asthma (UK).

She's 34 weeks.

I had my first vaccine before getting pregnant. Second is due when I will be 6+4 so doubt I'll get that. Will wait now until after pregnancy

@Geamhradh I did what my HCP and the RCOG advise currently, which is to not have it unless you are a frontline worker or have underlying vulnerabilities so maybe you need to do a bit more reading yourself 🤷‍♀️

No, Geamradh is right, this thread has attracted the usual incorrect statements from one or two, such as the person who said the vaccine is not fully tested! This is untrue; it has been fully tested as much as every other vaccine released.

Most people on this thread have commented with the reasonable position that they'd rather wait until there was concrete evidence that it's safe in pregnancy, but there's always one person who trots out misinformation isn't there!

FWIW, I would be happy to have it in pregnancy but understand those who would rather wait. But, like Geamradh, I object to lies being propagated about the vaccine being improperly tested.

Apologies in that case @Geamhradh I didn't RTFT and see the true antivax comments, only the informed cautious ones early on.

I’ll be demanding it. I’m not sitting home alone while the vaccinated are free. Pregnant women are advised to shield from 28 weeks.

In had the swine flu jab with dd2 and that was fine.

I’d much rather not risk having squashed lungs and COVID thanks.

@DollyParton2

Geamhradh so you think pregnant women following government guidance and not getting the vaccine, not even being offered it unless in a vulnerable group/ workplace are “loons” do you? You are disgraceful. Don’t you dare insult the majority of pregnant women who can’t have the vaccine anyway and would choose not to, while pregnant.

Er, no. I think the anti Vax loons on the thread are anti Vax loons. Don't put words into my mouth and RTFT.

I had my 2nd jab 2 days before I got BFP and would of been around 4 +4 when I had it. For me two close friends have lost parents to covid and another pregnant friend caught it before going into labour and therefore had her baby and then went into isolation. I’m glad I’ve had it and would of had it even if I had known after doing lots of research. Israel and America are encouraging pregnant women to have it. I believe it will be given to pregnant women by the winter like the flu is.