Covid vaccine and pregnancy

[Ems2111]

Hello!

I’m currently nearly 21 weeks pregnant and I have booked a Covid vaccine in July.

Anyone like me had a really really difficult time trying to decide what to do for the best?
My midwife didn’t comment and I found it really hard to get a doctor to comment and when they did they weren’t sure.

I just wondered what other people’s experiences have been with this?

Thanks in advance :)

I talked to an obstetrician about it. She said that it is a choice and there is not a huge amount of data either way - but at that time evidence was slight tending towards getting it. I explained that I was considering getting it at around 20 weeks when most of the baby’s development would be complete. She said that sounded reasonable and to keep checking on the rcog (royal college obestetricians and gynaecologists) to see any updates closer to the time.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

Basically the way I see it there are 3 strategies:

1. Isolate as much as possible now and for duration of pregnancy
2. Have vaccine now
3. Wait until x number of weeks until more baby development has occurred and then have vaccine.

I think the increase in risk to mum and baby if they contract covid close to birth (in 3rd trimester) - pushes me toward option 3. I’ve picked potentiallly around 20-22weeks as the main scan is at that time and can feel baby’s movements.

Other things to consider are:

1. Your personal exposure (are you wfh, do your kids attend school, does partner wfh, corona rates in your area).
2. Pre-existing medical problems you have (eg asthma, high blood pressure, high bmi, immunosuppression or multiple allergies).

These may influence your risk of contracting covid and becoming seriously ill. If my exposure was greater and I had more medical problems (apart from relevant allergies) - i’d probably get it sooner (currently I wfh as does partner and no school kids).

But it is true that we won’t know all the full effects until several years down the line after the babies now have become adults. So all options are reasonable - I hope you can come to a decision you are comfortable with.

@Namenic

Excellent advice IMO

If it helps I’m a vaccinator and as of about 2 months ago, 90,000 women in the USA who were pregnant had received a vaccine and no safety concerns were raised. I also used to work in clinical trials and feel very sure if they weren’t sure or if there was a whiff of concern they’d simply pause vaccine in pregnancy til they knew more. But both of these experiences make it easy for me to feel comfortable - I understand others might not. Hope that helps though!

I asked my midwife and she said she wasn’t allowed to give her personal opinion, but gave me a few websites to look at

I had it at 35 weeks. My midwives were positive about it, just reiterated that it should be Pfizer or Moderna. I have been strict on social distancing because of the slight increased risk of stillbirth if I contract it but with everything opening up it is getting really difficult. At 37 weeks someone brushed past me with so much force I lost my balance and when I said "excuse me" he just didn't care that I am heavily pregnant because "all the vulnerable people are jabbed". I can't control other people unfortunately so I can only do what I can for my baby. On balance I felt the jab was the right thing. It also means I'm protected in hospital when I am in labour. All decisions are valid as there just isn't enough research. FWIW I did have a brief pang of guilt afterwards, in case there are long term effects. But I reconciled it knowing there will be lots of decisions I have to make on my child's behalf over the coming years.

I had the first dose in my 1st trimester and will be having the second in my 2nd trimester.
The number of pregnant women who have now been vaccinated with no adverse effects on babies was enough to reassure me, and I know it tales time to build up immunity after the jabs, they don't work straight away and my area is now swarming with covid once again.
I can't stay indoors all 40 weeks again for my mental health whilst everyone is out and having fun, and everything has gone well with my pregnancy since the first jab. I know covid can be really dangerous to catch in 3rd trimester so hopefully I will have decent protection by that point.

I've had it. I cannot isolate - I work in a school and am crammed into poorly ventilated classrooms with 30 + teens all day, who now don't even need to wear masks. I'm also going to be having a c section so I'll definitely be in hospital 1 night or maybe 2 - my last c section I was in for about 36 hours - so, again, I think that may well expose baby and me to covid. I felt that, on balance, my risk of covid (and therefore potential pregnancy complications) was higher than risk from the vaccine. I also read the RCOG website and other info which makes me think it is probably safe to have, plus recently read babies born after their mothers had both vaccines in pregnancy had antibodies in their system at birth and since my baby will be born this autumn I feel like that will really benefit them. I had the first dose 3 weeks ago and at a scan a couple of days ago all looked fine with the baby so there were no immediate problems. I also didn't get any side effects from the vaccine which was a plus. That's just my experience and thoughts! Do what you think it best for you (and baby).

I've just had my first Moderna dose at 26 weeks + 2 pregnant.

I had such an emotional crisis (yes really!) trying to decide what to do. At first I was so against getting it but I've done lots of reading and research...I found the Stellar Creasy Pregnant then Screwed website particularly helpful. I work in a hospital and whilst I can WFH at 28 weeks I also didn't want to spend the mast stage of pregancy socially isolating. With the numbers beginning to creep up again and the inevitable fact that there will be another variant emerge at somepoint I decided to go for it.

I actually feel really positive about having it and feel it is the right decision! It is tough but my advice would be to do your own reading and follow pretty much what @Namenic said!

It beats getting covid in the third trimester which can have serious implications for mother and baby, hundreds of pregnant women in Brazil dying ever month from it.

I had it at about 7 weeks - no sign of any issues. I had a private scan at 8 weeks and all was fine. My 12 week scan is on Monday and I’m sure it’ll all be grand.

I’m a teacher and the benefits outweighed the risks for me.

I had it at 33 weeks. I was backwards and forwards thinking about it I must admit on balance I felt that risk to me was high in the third trimester and I wanted some protection, especially with new variants emerging. The actual injection itself was painless, just a mildly sore arm a couple of days later, no other side effects. I’m glad I’ve had it now.

I had my first vaccine at 15 weeks.
It wasnt a decision I made easily either. I struggled for a long time knowing what to do and had zero suppprt or guidance from either my GP or midwife.

For me the benefits outweigh the risks.
I work in an industry where social distancing is impossible. We wear full PPE but the risk is still there, especially with client appointments all day.
I will have numerous hospital appointments and by the time baby is due, it will be winter where covid could be worse.
I took the vaccine on the basis that it isnt a live vaccine, therefore cannot replicate and the chance of it crossing the placenta is tiny.
Since having the vaccine Ive had a midwife appointment and heard the heartbeat which was lovely and strong so I feel safer knowing my baby is ok in that respect.

It is such an individual choice with no right ot wrong answer unfortunately.
Just do lots of research and make your own decision.

I'm pretty much the same as other posters. Uhmmed and ahhhed for most of my second trimester and then got vaccinated at 26 weeks when I'd seen baby at the anatomy scan and knew all was okay development wise.
It's a huge decision but I too read a lot and came to the conclusion that with the volume of pregnant people being vaccinated now if anything untoward were to be suspected it would be a quick decision to pause the rollout. I know we don't know the long term effects, but that's the case with most things and I choose to trust in science and medicine just as I have with all of the other vaccinations I have taken. Also given it is an mRNA vaccine which isn't 'new' I felt very confident in the end. That being said I did still have a breakdown when I went to get the jab! Good luck with your decision