Covid vaccine today - help!

[Notsurewhattodo3]

Hello,

I have my covid vaccine today. I booked it a while ago before I knew I was pregnant.

I really don't know whether to cancel it or go as normal?

Does anyone have any experience of having it this early? Or have advice from their midwife about it?

I'm not booked in due to only being 8 weeks tomorrow and my GP is just saying it's my decision to make. :(

I don't know whether to wait until 12 weeks. But this new variant is scaring me so I would like to be covered ASAP. But also worry about my bb

Depends where you are, in the nw or another big city I would have it, risk of covid is higher than the vaccine. If you are rural then I think I would delay until 24 weeks or so.

@motogogo I'm close to Sunderland city centre x

I meant 14 weeks not 24!

Tough call @Notsurewhattodo3
Drs really don't have the answers unfortunately. The risk if you caught covid in a real though. Do you think you have had it already at any point? Also are you wfh makes a difference.

On balance I think I would have it in your circumstances, I had AZ but I presume you'll get Pfizer so less side effects

Virtual hugs, sorry for this horrible decision to make

@motogogo I definitely don't think I've had it.

I stay in usually. But my DP works on a big construction site, and my MIL who I see frequently is a primary school teacher. So whilst I haven't caught it yet, with everywhere opening back up the risk is quite real.

I'm just so unsure

I think when you go to the vaccine centre you will be able to talk to someone about any concerns you may have. Maybe that would be the best way forward?

@MikeWozniaksMohawk I think what concerns me about that, is they'll just tell me the guidance. That pregnant women can have it but some like to wait to 13 weeks plus.

I was just hoping some women in my position had booked or already had the vaccine xx

Had my first vaccine in the first trimester as like you I wanted the protection from covid for me and baby. I will be having the second in pregnancy too.
The jab doesn't work immediately, it takes time to build up immunity so I want to give the jab a chance to work, otherwise I'd want to be at home basically shielding which I just couldn't see myself doing for another 8 months

@SouthwestSis thank you, that's helpful. I presume the 12 week scan etc was all normal? Xx

@Notsurewhattodo3 I had my first in early pregnancy, my second last week at 13 weeks. Because my first was before the guidance on giving pregnant women Pfizer, I had to have AZ for both.

It's been absolutely fine. I was scared going, but there was a midwife there who was lovely and reassuring, and I've felt fine since. I'm glad I did it - I wouldn't be very good at staying home and shielding for the rest of pregnancy, and with the mask/social distancing/work from home advice looking like it'll all go next month... I wanted to give the jabs chance to work.

It's absolutely your call, and nobody can make it for you, so you have to go with your gut - but I thought I'd say that I fought with the decision to, struggled to make it, had it and I'm glad I did.

The subreddit CoronaBumpers helped me decide when I was 7 weeks (9 now but private scan looked good). In the US the interval between vaccines has been shortened so many women have had both doses in the first trimester and they are sharing tales of their scans being all good. It's anecdotal but alongside the current data it really doesn't look to be a problem. There's nothing genotoxic in it and the immune response caused by the vaccine shouldn't be a problem. Pregnant women are regularly given other vaccines and are bombarded by pathogens all the time so I can't see any risk from our immune systems just doing their thing

The only problem with getting it in the first trimester from all the research I did is due to the fact vaccines can give you a fever, and a fever in the first trimester can cause issues. I personally didn’t get a fever after either doses, and nobody that I know of did either. If you do get a fever it’s more likely after the second dose too. I ended up not getting my vaccine till 22 & 26 weeks just because it wasn’t available earlier but I’m 33 weeks pregnant now and all is fine. If it was me with the new variant and everything opening up, I would get it but have a thermometer and paracetamol beside you for 48 hours so you can monitor if your temp is going up and if so you can treat it with paracetamol

I had my first vaccine (Pfizer) at 7 weeks and had no side effects and have been completely fine. Had a scan at 9 weeks that showed baby wiggling around. Midwife, GP and vaccination centre all said it was up to me but could see nothing against getting it, and currently the national guidance is to get it. Hope that helps : )

Thank you everyone, you've all been extremely helpful. I'm swaying towards getting it, but taking precautionary paracetamol for 48 hours, to try combat fever.

You've all been such a great help, thank you! C

I had AZ the week week before I conceived and had my second dose a few weeks ago at 10 weeks. I’m asthmatic and figured the known risks of covid were higher than the unknown risks of the vaccine. It is such a personal choice though and it certainly doesn’t help when there seems to be inconsistent advice being given.

Just had Pfizer and the nurse wasn't concerned by the fact I was pregnant at all. Feel a little relieved that in 2 weeks I'll at least have a little bit of cover!

@Notsurewhattodo3 I know it's a bit late and you've just gotten it but wanted to share that I got my vaccine 3 weeks pregnant and had no fever although did have nausea. I took paracetamol a couple of times for about 2 days and that took the edge off. I'll be getting my second dose as soon as possible.