How long after birth to get covid vaccine?

[sarah13xx]

I’m due in 6 weeks and have only just been offered my vaccine. Have decided to wait til baby is here. I’m having a section and asked my consultant how long I should wait after it to have the vaccine (due to increased risk of blood clots for 6 weeks I think). She just gave the standard line of it has a low risk of blood clots so wouldn’t make a difference. I’m still a bit wary to get it within the first 6 weeks after birth but feel like I’m one of the few people I know who still have no immunity from it 🙈 get it within the first 6 weeks or wait til after?

I'd get it before birth tbh and then you'd be partially protected.

@dementedpixie that would seem like the better choice but I just don’t want to risk it. I know a lot of people have had it and been fine and the main risk seems to be pre term labour which wouldn’t matter if I was far on anyway but I just want the baby out first

I waited 19 days, because that was the earliest I could book. Didn’t have a section though. Good luck with the baby!

@recreationalcalpol thanks! Obviously people have had it then. Physically I probably won’t want to be going out to get it until after 2 weeks after so I should maybe just wait and see if there’s an appointment available after that

@sarah13xx I have a baby who is 3 weeks old today, I had mine the Saturday just gone so about 17 days pp, I also had a section!

Surely the best way to protect your baby is to have it now, so you are protected when they arrive and far less likely to give the baby Covid in it's first few weeks. I understand the anxiety, but you need to trust the doctors recommendations, I assume you are with other aspects of your health care?

I’d have it now - there is evidence that the antibodies you produce will provide some protection for your baby .
It is of course entirely your decision .
Re blood clots these are very common in those hospitalised with Covid .
RCOG website will have a patient information factsheet on Covid vaccination . As a pregnant person you would get Pfizer or moderna .

Definitely now. Pregnant then screwed have done some very helpful podcasts on it

I would definitely get it while still pregnant, you will pass protective antibodies onto your baby so you would both get protection.

The pregnant women I know have had it before birth as there is some evidence antibodies (not the vaccine) pass to the baby too.

@Sycamoretrees

Surely the best way to protect your baby is to have it now, so you are protected when they arrive and far less likely to give the baby Covid in it's first few weeks. I understand the anxiety, but you need to trust the doctors recommendations, I assume you are with other aspects of your health care?

You can still catch and pass on Covid after a vaccination so I'm not sure of your logic here?

Personally I'd get it before birth. There has been evidence of babies being born with antibodies to covid after their Mums had the vaccine whilst pregnant. Makes most sense to protect you and the baby really.

I'm waiting till after baby is born - I will
Book once they are here so expecting 2-3 weeks after birth

There is no blood clot risk with Pfizer and Moderna which are the ones you get whilst pregnant. It will also mean you can pass antibodies to your child.

@Pinkroseuk yeah I think this sounds like a good idea

I got the AZ 3 weeks after giving birth x

I had az 11 days pp just had 2nd dose last week 8 weeks after the first. It's ur choice but I would have it now to pass on the anti body's. Study's have also showed anti body's in breast milk

Totally your call if you want to wait until after the birth. I’m glad that I didn’t have to make that decision because the vaccine wasn’t available to me when I was preg. You will still pass on antibodies in your breastmilk anyway.

I had mine at 6 days post birth, I got the text just as I went into labour and that was as soon as I could book it

You’d get Pfizer or Moderna which have been tested on tens of thousand of pregnant women with no ill effects.
If you get it now you also pass protection the to baby.
Getting seriously ill with Covid would surely be worse for pregnancy and after birth

I had a section too btw, and just made sure I checked with my midwife about the anti clotting jabs I was on, and mentioned it to the person doing my jab. I figured the anti clotting jabs had to be a good thing if there was a slight risk of clots

I had it 8 days post birth. I’d had a significant bleed (but not a section) but midwife said no indication to wait longer. No side effects, which was a relief as had a toddler and a newborn to manage, and DH had vaccine same day!

I agree with the majority of people here. You'll get offered Pfizer or Moderna if you were to get the vaccine now, and there is lots of research to show those vaccines are safe in pregnancy.

Combine that with the fact you are likely to pass antibodies onto the baby (much like the whooping cough vaccine) and it's a win win. Then you don't have to worry about after birth and can get your second shot at your leisure. Plus you can be sure your second dose will be Pfizer or Moderna so no risk of clots.

@1940s you are right, however it does significantly reduce the chance of you passing it on.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56904993#:~:text=A%20single%20dose%20of%20a,to%20half%2C%20a%20study%20shows.

Have it now. I had an EMCS and I have think it reacted with all the meds /anaesthesia I had... I kicked myself for having it when I had a newborn baby tongue look after.... It was so stupid to have it then!