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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Covid Vaccine at 27 Weeks - what to do?!

242 replies

MintGreenLife · 05/05/2021 16:37

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?!

OP posts:

Daffodil21 · 18/05/2021 16:25

@Iris2020 disgraceful they told you not to report it! I hope everything eases off soon ❤️

Flutterby8 · 18/05/2021 16:30

@Sparkl thats really good to know. There aren't any set rules of when to have the vaccine in the UK as far as I've heard. It is a case of, when your age group is called, get jabbed.
Second trimester does sound like a better option though. I think I would def wait until minimum of 14 weeks.
Cases in our area are currently at their lowest but I'm still being an absolute hermit and going nowhere!

Rubyrecka · 18/05/2021 17:06

I had Pfizer done around 16/17 weeks I’m now 21 weeks along. No issues. Had my anomaly scan done last week - all looks completely normal.

Iris2020 · 18/05/2021 18:42

@Lullabymummy17 @Daffodil21 thank you. I think baby is doing its best to reassure me: I felt it twice for the first time today :)

Sparkl · 18/05/2021 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 07:54

I’d like to have it and I’m almost 20 weeks.

I have read a few articles though about non pregnant women having vaginal bleeding / early or heavy periods. What scares me a bit because what if that happened in pregnancy?

This is the only thing which is making me hesitate a bit now as I’ve had two miscarriages xx

kingfisher657 · 19/05/2021 08:13

@Cafeaulait27 I've heard about women having menstrual changes with AstraZeneca, but you won't be offered that one as it hasn't been studied in pregnancy.

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 08:22

@kingfisher657 ah is it just with AZ that that’s happened? That’s reassuring to know, I wasn’t sure if it was across all of them.

I’m still planning to get it but haven’t been offered yet (I’m 33)

Iris2020 · 19/05/2021 08:32

@Cafeaulait27

I’d like to have it and I’m almost 20 weeks.

I have read a few articles though about non pregnant women having vaginal bleeding / early or heavy periods. What scares me a bit because what if that happened in pregnancy?

This is the only thing which is making me hesitate a bit now as I’ve had two miscarriages xx

That was exactly my fear about the vaccine. As mentioned above I had the vaccine last Saturday at 16+3. I'd never suffered any bleeding or spotting before - not even a drop. But I had a big scare following the vaccine with some bleeding. (along with diarrhea)

It's impossible to know if it's linked, but when I came back from hospital I saw a post from that very day from someone in the US who'd had exactly the same sequence at 17 weeks - diarrhea then spotting for her.

If you're worried about it, as I was, I'd give it a miss. I'm not having the second dose and I feel the whole incident has completely robbed my peace about the pregnancy. It was going so well until then...
There could be other causes (damage to the cervix) or indirect relationships to the vaccine (extreme bowel movements as a secondary effects of the vaccine in turn caused blood vessels to explode, which can happen). Or something more serious. But it's deeply shaken me and I'm sure I'm not the only person to have had a bad experience.
So I'd say go with your gut.

Original poster

MintGreenLife · 19/05/2021 08:53

Not going to lie, feeling quite anxious about today especially with the recent posts on here! Got my first Pfizer jab in two hours. Here’s hoping I manage not to cry 😭 am just reminding myself of all the positive data that’s been gathered so far, as well as the horrible risks associated with COVID, and how many of you have shared positive experiences xx

OP posts:

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 09:00

@Iris2020 oh you poor thing! Is everything ok with your pregnancy now? I know that would terrify me. Which vaccine did you have?

I read an article online from a US source, can’t remember where now, which said that the bleeding symptom isn’t being taken seriously as a side effect. Apparently it’s still the case in medicine/science that when women complain of side effects they are labelled as hysterical or imagining it or making it up, but when a man says their side effects they are taken seriously. Obviously this side effect can’t be recorded by men so I worry that it’s going unnoticed.

A change to the menstrual cycle isn’t a big deal if that’s really all it is, and the woman isn’t pregnant. But I’ve been lucky to have no bleeding so far and I’m worried about it happening.

I’m so pro vaccine and want to have it, but I am worried about this and gps don’t have a clue.

Original poster

MintGreenLife · 19/05/2021 09:03

Thinking maybe I need to stay away from this thread this morning as seems to have taken a change in tone 🤦🏻‍♀️😭

OP posts:

Daffodil21 · 19/05/2021 09:03

@MintGreenLife good luck today!!

@Cafeaulait27 my GP practice didn't want to know, couldn't even get passed reception! This pregnancy follows 3 MCs so I know how you feel. I did end up taking it and all seems ok (I had it at 26 weeks) but I am worried I'll regret it!

Iris2020 · 19/05/2021 09:10

[quote Cafeaulait27]@Iris2020 oh you poor thing! Is everything ok with your pregnancy now? I know that would terrify me. Which vaccine did you have?

A change to the menstrual cycle isn’t a big deal if that’s really all it is, and the woman isn’t pregnant. But I’ve been lucky to have no bleeding so far and I’m worried about it happening.

I’m so pro vaccine and want to have it, but I am worried about this and gps don’t have a clue.[/quote]
Thanks. Unfortunately, more spotting this morning. I'm pretty terrified.

I think there's a major problem about the way data is being collected. It's impossible to know because as of now, if a pregnant woman gets the vaccine and experiences side effects that are not a miscarriage but less serious, there is no reporting of them.
I have gone out of my way to find the yellow card website and write a report and also on the pfizer website. But I suspect the vast majority of women wouldn't think of doing that and trust the medical professionals to collect the data. They are just not doing that.

None of the medical professionals treating my bleeding asked me if I'd recently had the vaccine. When I volunteered the information, they weren't remotely interested.
They were really supportive in other ways, but there clearly is no mechanism in place to track the experience of pregnant women getting vaccinated aside from collecting general miscarriage data. That is not good enough.

Daffodil21 · 19/05/2021 09:19

@MintGreenLife I've sent you a message x

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 09:22

@Iris2020 oh I’m so sorry. Are you having extra monitoring? Are you able to go in and have a scan/heartbeat check? I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.

I read the below BBC article about bleeding after the vaccine, and it does say at the bottom that there is no link to miscarriage at the end:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/health-56901353.amp

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 09:29

@Daffodil21 hello again 😊 glad things are still going well for you.

When I spoke to the receptionist about getting the vaccine and being pregnant (as at the time we’d been advised to ask GP as apparently they know where the Pfizer and moderna hubs are) she was like ‘you shouldn’t be having the vaccine in pregnancy’ I was like do you not know the advice changed months ago?! She didn’t understand and said they’re only vaccinating over 50s at the practice. I gave up... just going to wait for my letter. I imagine I’ll get mine somewhere between 20-25 weeks xxx

Daffodil21 · 19/05/2021 09:40

@Cafeaulait27 thank you, you too! Ha, that's exactly what the ward said when I called to try and speak to my consultant (no luck there either as she was on hol). Someone snatched the phone away from her who was much better informed. She was also a vaccinator and had done some research for me over her weekend (I called the Friday to speak to consultant and she said to call back Monday and I might be able to speak to the stand in). She said if I would take it not pregnant then there's no reason why I shouldn't take it while pregnant which I found reassuring

Iloveyou3x · 19/05/2021 09:46

I had my first vaccine 2 months prior to getting pregnant (precious suffered fertility issues, lol. Made me laugh when they said it affects fertility! Dramatically improved mine!!) and my second at 12/13 weeks. I had horrible side effects and felt AWFUL but I’m so glad I had it. I had a private scan afterwards to check the baby too. Just for reassurance. I am also a trained vaccinator and there have been 90K women in the USA vaccinated.

Iris2020 · 19/05/2021 09:57

[quote Cafeaulait27]@Iris2020 oh I’m so sorry. Are you having extra monitoring? Are you able to go in and have a scan/heartbeat check? I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.

I read the below BBC article about bleeding after the vaccine, and it does say at the bottom that there is no link to miscarriage at the end:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/health-56901353.amp[/quote]
Thanks. I had a scan on Monday evening and everything appeared fine with the baby, which was reassuring. Since we'd had 2 scans in 48h and I don't want to put the baby at risk, I will ask for a doppler in a couple of days to check things are still ok unless the bleeding intensifies.
I'm going to call the midwife now.

kingfisher657 · 19/05/2021 10:28

@MintGreenLife for what it's worth I really think you're doing the right thing getting the jab (not that it's my call to make). I hope it goes well and you can rest a bit easier knowing that you and the baby have some protection.

MyBabyBoyBlue · 19/05/2021 10:33

@MintGreenLife good luck today - for what it's worth, I also think you're making the right decision - I really believe vaccine unknowns are less risky than the unknowns of a new disease in addition to all the info we do have about how it can affect pregnant women and their babies.

It's a scary decision and you're bound to feel emotional but wishing you the very best of luck and, in the end, just go with your gut xx

Cafeaulait27 · 19/05/2021 10:50

@MintGreenLife good luck and I hope I haven’t scared you! Xx

37TTCLeeds · 19/05/2021 12:30

@MintGreenLife I had my first Moderna jab this morning and was a bit hesitant at first. But on balance, I'm 36 weeks now, decided bump has done all of his brain/spine development etc and the known risks of getting Covid at this stage outweighed the risk of vaccination. Hope you feel ok

Original poster

MintGreenLife · 19/05/2021 13:57

Thanks for your messages @kingfisher657 @Cafeaulait27 @37TTCLeeds @MyBabyBoyBlue :)

Had the jab three hours ago now. Felt like such an idiot but as soon as I pulled into the carpark I started crying. First person I got to in the vaccination centre I let out a squeak when trying to talk! Continued to cry the whole way round and after too. On the way in the car I felt fine and much better about it all, but when reality hit I just got very emotional. I thought I might cry a little after, but didn't expect that to be honest!

Everyone was absolutely brilliant and so so kind. The chap that gave me the vaccination was very understanding and went to get a GP to talk to me first, who told me that the vaccination is safe to have and is very similar to the flu jab. She also helped me figure out what to do about my second jab as if I wait the full 12 weeks that'll be a couple of weeks after my due date. She advised I call my GP in 4-6 weeks time to see if it can be brought forward.

I feel much better for getting it out the way now. I really trust the data, and I've had a lot of reassurance and read a lot of info about how these sorts of vaccinations work and that in theory, they shouldn't get anywhere near the baby. I feel for me it was the right thing to do to protect myself and provide my baby some protection too.

Also wanted to say sorry to those that have had a negative reaction or something negative happen after the vaccination (whether that was the cause or not of course it's impossible to tell at this stage). I know it probably seemed like I was being really dismissive this morning of any posts of less of a positive nature - I really just needed to focus on trying to feel confident about my decision and was starting to second guess myself. I completely appreciate that not everyone has positive things to say about the vaccination, and I'm sorry to anyone that has had scary symptoms afterwards xxx

OP posts:

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