Covid vaccine

[Nashsophie13]

Hi all. I know this is going to be a very divided chat. But I'm wondering what everyone's views are on being pregnant and having the vaccine? I really didn't want to have it done and i haven't been called for it yet as I'm 33. Previously had a miscarriage so this time round I'm even more skeptical of things. I'm now wondering whether I should get it when I'm asked. It's a hard one isn't it

[shadesofblack]

@Mashagirl93 sorry ignore my comment below, i mistook this thread for another one!

[Mashagirl93]

@shadesofblack no problem, but thanks for jumping down throught anyways ;)

[Mashagirl93]

I'm think people who refuse to get the vaccine are scared to say their reasons because they will get shouted down by a pack of people who make out your ludacris and "foolish" for not receiving it. My friends father died of blood clots of az jab. If you feel like you don't want it don't let people guilt trip you. It's the governments fault we are in this mess not the public's.

[MammaBell]

thank you so much @8dpwoah @PlanetSmurf and @Smurftastic that helps as at the least I will be 14 days on the nose since I had my whooping cough jag. I'm still
trying to get through to my GP to discuss and also find out if the vaccination centre will have either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for me, and to see what they say on the whooping cough vaccine timing. I feel like if I am going to go for it then now is a good time since I am in the 2nd trimester and the second jag I would only be a few weeks into the 3rd hopefully. I'm still really torn and see both sides of those for and against it during pregnancy. I'm going to watch the pregnant and screwed webinar tomorrow night and see if it helps any.

[Smurftastic]

@MammaBell it is a very personal decision and I understand women who prefer to wait until they give birth to have their jabs. I'm 34 and not in any of the high risk categories, but I suffer bad chest infections even not in pregnancy. Plus I know of people who suffered from covid despite being my age. For me it's a no-brainer, especially since I might end up with a c-section and associated hospital stay.

[8dpwoah]

@MammaBell if you're under 40 you will have to have Pfizer or Moderna anyway so don't worry about the AZ complication. I had that worry until they changed the age guidance and it became just a case of writing for my age group to get called up. My surgery won't do whooping cough til after 20 weeks so I'm going to try to get in for that next week or two then I'll be the same, second Pfizer just into my third trimester and hopefully fully covered before the big trip into hospital! I was in for a week last time being induced so didn't fancy going in unvaccinated this time just in case, I know the protocols are all in place but no system can be perfect.

[8dpwoah]

Waiting not writing

[MammaBell]

You are totally right @Smurftastic it is a personal choice. I feel pressure either way. Work colleagues don't see why I shouldn't get it, but close relatives think the risk of me catching the virus is low and therefore shouldn't risk taking the vaccine till after baby arrives. So basically I'll be judged either way. Husband says it's more my choice than for him to say what I should since it's my body, but to me it's not about my body...it's about OUR baby. I'm getting frustrated and overwhelmed at all the views, recommendations and opinions out there. I wish "they" would make a definite recommendation on what pregnant women should be doing. Those who we are meant to seek advice from (midwife, GP) in my experience so far just won't entertain any level of conversation about it. I feel really let down xx

[MammaBell]

@8dpwoah you have your reasons for having the vaccine, and why shouldn't you have it since you have been offered it and it's your choice, you don't need to justify it. I had no luck at all with the GP today, simply told to call the vaccine helpline who of course are not clinicians. The girl did try to help though and said not to worry about the other vaccines being available at the vaccination centre as they are keeping a supply of all three and (like you said) they would give me the Pfizer or Moderna in any case due to my age. So that's at least one less concern. WRT the whooping cough vaccine she told me to try the vaccination clinic at the maternity hospital. After being passed from pillar to post I managed to get a hold of a lovely receptionist at the doctors clinic for the maternity hospital and spoke to a consultant doctor and they confirmed that yes it is indeed ok to have to Covid vaccine 7 days after the whooping cough jag. So now I have those queries cleared up, I just need to weigh up the pros/cons/risks of whether or not to go for it!!! So hard! I'm glad for you that you are settled on a decision. Will be glad to finally have baby here safe and have this all behind us!

[Iloveyou3x]

I had my first pfizer 2 months before I conceived and had my second at 13 weeks pregnant. I am a trained vaccinator and the evidence is really looking like it’s very safe in pregnancy. We DO know that covid is bad in pregnancy especially in the third trimester. I am also a nurse and have heard of healthy 20 year olds in intensive care with covid problems. for me it’s a no brainer. I am so glad I have had the opportunity to have it and have some protection during this pregnancy.

[Iloveyou3x]

Also meant to say I had hideous side effects! Nausea, banging headache, totally exhausted and joint pain for 2 days following the vaccine both times. However I think I’ve had covid and I’ve been told your side effects are worse if you’ve already had covid.

[MammaBell]

@Iloveyou3x ah thank you! Someone with some medical training and experience whose in the same boat and giving their opinion I really appreciate you sharing! xx

[Iloveyou3x]

That’s okay you’re welcome! It was a really hard decision however I was advised that (at that time) 90K pregnant women in the USA have received the vaccine and none have any reported problems. Some women in the original covid trial also got pregnant and have since gone on to give birth. Also the mrna vaccine isn’t brand new, we’ve been developing this type of vaccine for years. You literally ‘read’ the vaccine and the body recognises this as a foreign body and produces antibodies. The rest of the mrna vaccine is literally peed out of your body! There is no reason to think this can cause infertility or problems in pregnancy. Whereas we KNOW covid is very dangerous in pregnancy. The Indian variant was the thing that gave me a kick up the backside!

[Msha8819]

I got mine today and feel relieved now it’s done and I don’t have to debate getting it done any longer! I would rather have not put anything in my body while pregnant but to me the risks of covid were known and I’d have felt very anxious and vulnerable in later pregnancy if I hadn’t had it..it’s not an easy decision and I can totally see why people wouldn’t want it.

[Sleepyquest]

So i got my text to say I was eligible the day I got my positive test - great timing. The RCOG advice seems to subtly hint that waiting until second trimester would be best. Are there any healthcare professionals here you can shed some light on it for me? I'm 30, slightly overweight with no underlying health conditions and I work from home but socialise heavily on my days off with DD.

[murmur12]

I just had my first one, Pfizer, whilst being just over 9 weeks and 37 years. I probably had covid last March but wide testing wasn't available yet so I am waiting to see how I am going to react. So far it's only pain in the arm. For me the main factor was to get fully vaccinated before the 3rd trimester and as I work in a customer facing job it's better not to risk it. I am yet to see a midwife and I am sure I wouldn't have got much advise from the GP so it was rather my call based on what I have read so far.

[Jackiev1985]

Hi, just in case helpful to others: I wanted to share that when I went to get my vaccine last week (I was 12 weeks), the vaccinator + doctor on site told me that they were only allowed to give the vaccine to pregnant women who were 12 weeks+. I hadn’t seen/read that anywhere, so wanted to share so others knew to check in advance with their GP/midwife if you are in fact eligible for the vaccine - should you decide to do it before 12 weeks. The 12 week minimum was a surprise to me (and perhaps it was specific to my town?), so wanted to make sure others knew to check! Thanks

[Kooooie1]

@HowCanYou
Hi,

I am unsure about getting vaccine, can I ask if everything was okay with baby as I cannot find any babies that were born post vaccine

Thank you

[Howcanyou]

H

[HowCanYou]

Hi @Kooooie1, baby is 3 months old now and absolutely fine. He was born at 38 weeks (because of gestational diabetes, which I had well before the covid vaccine) weighing 7lb 2oz, in a quick and easy labour. I also had no symptoms from the pfizer. It's completely personal choice, but I would definitely make the same decision again if I had to. I hope all goes well for you.

[Kooooie1]

@Howcanyou

So pleased to hear that you and your baby are fine.

I am on the fence but definitely swaying more towards getting it, I am totally freaking out going into my final 8 weeks with no protection and know it is the right thing today. I know there is enough research now but needed to hear from a mother and new baby that everything is okay (smile)