Covid Vaccine at 27 Weeks - what to do?!

[MintGreenLife]

I was called by my GP today to say they have been instructed to offer the jab to all pregnant patients. I'm 27+3 today, so just about to enter the third trimester when it's suggested that you can suffer more serious illness with Covid. I'm due on the 1st of August.

I am completely torn about what to do. On the one hand knowing I have some protection against covid and that maybe the baby would have some protection too would be a real weight off my mind, but at the same time, how on earth can I be sure that having the jab might not have long term implications for baby, surely there is no way of knowing?!

I work from home, get click and collect for food shop, order most things online. Have been meeting up with family outdoors since it's been allowed, in laws are jabbed. Only main concern at the moment is my SIL is expecting and due in 2 weeks, and so main possible risk would be from DH holding his new niece/nephew, who may very well be held by lots of other people! I myself have no underlying health conditions, normal BMI etc. This is my first baby.

Would love to know what everyone else is thinking/will be doing?!

@sundowners I’m also worried about spending time in hosp over the birth, will feel much better to know I have some protection. Plus I’ve had a few complications so far, and would hate to think if anything was working me over the next 11 weeks that I would hesitate to go in to be checked for fear of exposure to Covid. Think all round the lower risk option is to have the jab. Mines booked for 3pm tomorrow and I’m fairly certain I’ll be going ahead x

I had my first Pfizer jab back in January before we conceived and I’m now 14+3.
At my booking appointment around 8 weeks, I was due to have my next dose of the vaccine a couple of days after. I asked the midwife what her advice was, she pointed me in the direction of evidence (this was JUST before all of this newer evidence and recommendations came in) but said in first trimester maybe not such a good idea!
Now I’m stuck as I’ve missed my 12 week deadline but I’m guessing it’s good that I’ve had my first vaccine and I’m covered up to a certain extent!

Just a little update from me - feel totally fine and arm is pretty much back to normal (I'm going for a swim shortly!)

@MintGreenLife I know it such a hard decision but I think that's probably the right thing to do x

In case it helps you all - had first Pfizer jab yesterday at nrly 24 weeks. Just a slight sore arm but that's it!
feel so so relieved. Totally appreciate it is personal choice, but for me and hubby this was right decision. Risks of covid in pregnancy for over 35s are higher so as 38 felt like it was the right call, and work in healthcare setting but not frontline so wasnt eligible thru work.
I was getting nervous of the lack of need for social distancing from monday, as already dont like ppl getting close, so for me getting this now is big big relief. The data from the US seems sound, and no rationale that a vaccine like this can harm a developing baby. baby still super active and been kicking away so know he's grand in there! good luck for yours :) smallest needle ever and was so quick! im well impressed with the vaccination teams!

I'm 37+5 and received my invite this morning, I have booked it (Pfizer).

I trust the medical professionals and scientists, the fact 90,000 pregnant women in the USA have had it without side effects and have researched it lots. I'd also like to think it may pass on some protection to my baby?

I feel happy with my decision but it was definitely a difficult one, if I wasn't pregnant I would have snapped it up without question.

I'm similar to you OP. If I wasn't pregnant I'd have it in a heartbeat. But I'm currently 27 weeks and sooo torn about getting the Pfizer. I got invited today and the dilemma is killing me with worry.
I wfh fully do have managed to avoid contact with most people as much as I can.
DH thinks we can either stay very careful until we have the baby in August or get the vaccine and avoid any risks in the 3rd trimester.

Been reading so much about this but I can't seem to decide.

Let us know what happens tomorrow OP abs good luck! 😊

It’s really encouraging to hear that so many of you are thinking along the same lines and really reassuring to hear from people who have already had the jab ☺️

I had my 28 week midwife appointment today, as I was leaving I stopped at reception to double check it would be the Pfizer jab I would be getting tomorrow, to be met with blank faces saying no it’s an AstraZeneca clinic tomorrow!! I booked directly through the GP, and when I booked I double checked with them that it would be Pfizer I would be getting, so what went wrong there I don’t know. Not very impressed to be honest. I’m now booked in for Pfizer next Wednesday, but will definitely be calling in advance to make sure that’s what I’m actually booked in for. So glad I checked as I would have been feeling very nervous tomorrow and would have gone and not even been able to have it, or worse would have been jabbed with the wrong thing!

Just had my jab - didn't even feel it. There were several pregnant women at the clinic and one of the volunteers told me that they're seeing lots more pregnant women coming in now. I didn't know how I'd feel once I arrived but now I've had it I just feel relieved that I've done what I can to protect both myself and my baby. Didn't even feel the jab, all done in 2 minutes and then a 15 min wait. I'll let you know if I get any side effects later on.

@MyBabyBoyBlue brilliant, glad to hear it all went well. I just want to get mine over and done with now to be honest! Really annoyed about what happened with me being booked for AstraZeneca tomorrow instead of Pfizer. Only got to wait until next Wednesday now, but would rather have got it out the way tomorrow as planned. At least how I feel about it being pushed back makes me feel more confident in my decision x

@MintGreenLife oh that's so annoying! Although the extra wait I had after I cancelled my first one made me much more secure in my decision to have it. And it was also reassuring to hear that so many pregnant women are coming forwards and to see other pregnant women there when I was there too!I hope they sort out the booking system properly soon, although I've read on other threads that it's starting to allocate people the right jabs finally!!

@MyBabyBoyBlue worse thing is that I booked it through my GP and was told on the phone I was definitely booked in for Pfizer 🤦🏻‍♀️ Yes exactly, I now very much feel I just want it ASAP and has given me a lot more confidence in my decision. That’s great - I asked my midwife about it today and she said lots of her ladies were choosing to have it x

@MintGreenLife how bad is that! Although I can't say I'm surprised. I asked every person I got to 'is it Pfizer' including the vaccinator because I didn't trust them - now I'm glad I did!!

@MintGreenLife that is so irritating!! Let us know how it goes on Wednesday xx

@Daffodil21 I 100% will be doing the same! I’m
Glad you’re still feeling good post vaccine ☺️

@MyBabyBoyBlue I most certainly will x

MintGreenLife that's seriously annoying!!!

Just updating to say that 24 hours later, my side effects is still just the sore arm - similar to the dead arm feeling I get after the flu jab - so far so good!

Another one here advocating the Pfizer vaccine!!
I had mine on Thursday. Am 32wks and 38yrs so very pleased to have been offered it. I am nhs but decided against it a few months ago as the research wasn't there and I was able to reduce patient contact. However i have 3 other children in 3 different schools so cannot completely reduce the risk.
I am confident in the science, the fact babies are being born safely with antibodies and that with the restrictions lifting and the Indian variant just beginning to take off, I feel very pleased that hopefully I'll have some protection.
No side effects for me either (don't class a sore arm as a side effect) and baby is just as happy and active in there as he was beforehand.
It is a personal decision, but for me, having it was the best thing.

@MintGreenLife oh no how annoying! At least there’s not too long to wait but id feel the same and just want it done.

Has anyone had the Moderna vaccine rather than Pfizer? I’m booked in for Pfizer but have been told it may be Moderna if they run out. I’m booked in for 6pm tomorrow so as it’s the end of the day I’m wondering if there’s more of chance of stock going. I’m not concerned just more curious if the side effects are the same/different

I’m 14 weeks and have booked for Friday. I’ve cancelled it twice already!

I found an article about 2 Hong Kong ladies losing their babies after having Pfizer. I don’t know whether to believe or not but it’s really worried me 🥲

I’m 34 weeks pregnant, 38 with no underlying health conditions but also torn as to whether to get the vaccine. Like others, I’m very anxious about the risks of catching but also worried about any effects on the babies development. Has anyone found any good research about this point?

There’s a Facebook group linked on the previous page with lots of good references to studies :)

From what I’ve gathered, research has so far found that it’s very unlikely that the vaccine reaches the placenta as mRNA vaccines disperse in the body very quickly. With that in mind, it’s highly unlikely to cause issues further down the line. Obviously it is still an unknown at this stage but that is just the same as the long term effects of catching covid being unknown. There’s some good videos on YouTube too if you search covid vaccines pregnancy! It’s a really tough decision and totally personal, i don’t think there’s any right or wrong choice.

@mariebaby3 Thank you I will have a look and at the videos on YouTube.
I had previously decided to hold off until after the birth but this was due to low case numbers but with the recent press about the new strain, it has made me question what the right decision is 🤯And this is only the first decision of many to make as a mother I’m sure!

It’s so difficult and I felt the same as you. I cancelled my first appointment out of worry but ultimately decided to get it as I didn’t want to spend the next two months paranoid about the new strain and the kids going to school etc. Had my first jab yesterday and literally cried for most of the day out of sheer turmoil but feel a bit better about my decision today. My midwife at my appointment was also really supportive today which helped! You have to do whatever sits right with you though and weigh up your own personal risk factors etc. Good luck with whatever you decide :)

I had mine over the weekend at nearly 19 weeks. I was originally offered it a month ago but then they turned me away when I was in the chair ready for it as I was pregnant

I was very apprehensive, but my thought process was that I either have it and have some protection with a small amount of risk (my consultant and midwife have said that pregnant frontline workers have been receiving it from the start) or I don't have it and risk catching it and being really poorly which could also affect my babies.

I'm mid 30s, overweight (BMI 30) but pregnant with twins so higher risk even though it's a relatively straightforward pregnancy.

I also already have a child, and am a solo parent, and as horrible as it was to be a part of my decision process, my top priority has to be my health and wellbeing to be here for my DC because he has no other parent. I also work self employed in an industry where I will be exposed to many drunk and probably inconsiderate people this summer which I've been distanced from since the start of Covid last year, so I'll be in more of a position to potentially catch it unfortunately.

The side effects were minimal for me. First 12 hours or so my arm was in terrible pain, I felt a little woozy a few hours after it was done, but by 24 hours later I felt right as rain.

This is probably not the story people want to hear, but I felt it was important to post.
I had my Pfizer shot last week at 16 weeks. One day later, I started experiencing fairly severe diarrhea, which got worse over the next 24h. I then experienced vaginal bleeding which as you can imagine made me incredibly worried.
I had not experienced either of these symptoms all pregnancy - hadn't lost a drop of blood until then.
The bleeding has for the moment tailed off and I've been monitored. The baby appears well and there are no obvious signs of internal bleeding.

I asked if I should report the symptoms since I'd just had the vaccine and was told it was likely they'd be dismissed as a coincidence so wasn't really worth bothering. I did report them on the Pfizer website. I will not be having the second dose.
It's impossible to prove a link but equally impossible to disprove it. I just thought I'd share "the other side" of the story as it doesn't always go well.