Covid Jab & Pregnancy am I worried for nothing?!

[Levi91paige]

I’m currently 14 weeks pregnant with twins and was told by my midwife to wait until I was at least 16 weeks before getting my first dose.
After announcing my pregnancy to family and friends etc, I’ve had a mixed bag of reactions in regards to the jab. Some have said they know women who have miscarried after the jab and some say they had premature births because of it. I’m always one to vaccinate myself and my children as I know it’s the right thing to do. But am I being silly by waiting or even considering not getting the jab at all whilst I’m pregnant?!
I find there are so many mixed communications going on that I just don’t know who to talk to without feeling judged. Has anyone else thought this way or even had experience with the jab and pregnancy? Xx

The risk to you of contracting Covid is much greater than the risk from the jab.

The NHS website deals with this issue specifically, and it is safe for you to have either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine

To quote:

This is because these vaccines have been more widely used during pregnancy in other countries and no safety concerns have been identified

I trusted my consultant’s advice and as it was a twin pregnancy he strongly recommended I have it. He seemed it safe of course but outlined that the repercussions to me and the babies should I catch COVID were worse (and more likely) then side effects of the job.

I had my first dose at 16 weeks and second at 28 weeks and I’m very glad I did. Babies are fine (now 31 weeks) and will have some antibodies hopefully.

I had both jabs whilst pregnant with DD2 who is now 5 weeks old, perfect and lying in my arms happily! I had the jab as soon as it was advised as being safe as I work in a hospital and know first hand the devastation the illness has caused. In my mind any unknowns involving the vaccination were far less than the unknowns of how the virus might affect my unborn baby and me. I don't regret getting it for a single second.

All pregnant ladies in the US have been offered the vaccination for many, many months now so there is a greater record of safety than just in the UK.

Ultimately your choice of course but it was a no-brainer for me and I think it will be routine within a year for pregnant ladies, just like flu and whooping cough.

There have been no differences in rates of miscarriage, premature births, stillbirths or NICU admissions between mothers who have had the vaccine and the rates pre-pandemic.

There have been increases in stillbirth, premature birth and NICU admissions in women who had Covid near or at the time of birth.

So it would seem from the data so far that having the vaccine doesn’t change your risk, but getting ill with Covid does.

I had the vaccine at 24 weeks. I then had a growth scan at 28 weeks (due to previous pre-eclampsia) and all is fine. I didn’t want to take my chances with Covid in late pregnancy.

Article in today's Guardian - forward it to your anti-vax family and friends. They shouldn't be spreading misinformation.

My specialist told me to get the vaccine asap. I'm 8 weeks and have had 3 miscarriages previously but she was adamant that I get it with rising case numbers. Took her advice hoping all goes well.

My main thought was the risk of covid19 harming the pregnancy is real and no evidence to say any risk of getting the vaccine so made sense to me.

My SIL got covid at 34 weeks and nearly died because of it. Her son was born by emergency cs, he was in NICU for 2 weeks, she was in a coma on a ventilator for over a month, and didn't meet her own child until he was 3 months old. She has suffered multiple, very serious complications and may very well never fully recover. She was a very healthy woman with no underlying conditions aside from being pregnant. Being pregnant makes you extremely vulnerable to covid.

Ignore the ignorant fuckwits who only want to spread sensational rubbish. Please get vaccinated.

Remember that anecdotal evidence barely counts as evidence it’s so unreliable. So all these stories from your family are, while sad, quite irrelevant in forming any sort of conclusion.

I’d take a look at information from the Royal College of Midwives, RCOG, and the CDC V-Safe program.

Ultimately, the vaccine is not shown to produce adverse pregnancy outcomes. COVID does produce adverse pregnancy outcomes 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm having twins. Mu midwife never told me to wait. First at 11 weeks followed by 19 weeks. All fine. Currently kicking me more than ever.

I don't think the OP is really interested in real science ...

I’ve got Covid right now at 21 weeks pregnant and I’m soooo pleased I had the first vaccine before catching it! I’ve had minor symptoms, no high temp and no cough or chest symptoms. I really think I would have suffered more without a vaccine

So relieved to hear someone who has been in the same situation as me 🙏☺️ None of my friends or family are pregnant or have had twins x

I have said how worried I am not being vaccinated then catching it. Seems to fall on deaf ears at the moment, I have my jab booked for when I’m 16 weeks. I think it was just seeing who else has actually had it as I have no support or anyone else to ask x

That’s brilliant, again so relieved to hear someone else with twins has had it and having a normal pregnancy. Thank you

So sorry to hear that, it’s awful. I’m pleased everyone has been so open and sharing their experiences with this. I’m all about listening and gaining knowledge. I do have my jab booked for 2 weeks time and ultimately I know it’s my choice x

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I've had both doses while pregnant, now 30+3 weeks, baby is well and kicking. I'm very happy about my decision.

Here I found recent advice of the chief midwife:
www.england.nhs.uk/2021/07/chief-midwife-urges-pregnant-women-to-get-nhs-covid-jab/

And here of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
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/

A twin pregnancy is no different to a singleton pregnancy having the jab, and there have been many of those posts.

[quote Rmka]Congratulations on your pregnancy

I've had both doses while pregnant, now 30+3 weeks, baby is well and kicking. I'm very happy about my decision.

Here I found recent advice of the chief midwife:
www.england.nhs.uk/2021/07/chief-midwife-urges-pregnant-women-to-get-nhs-covid-jab/

And here of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
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/[/quote]
Thank you 🥰
That’s great to hear thank you x

@DinosaurDiana

A twin pregnancy is no different to a singleton pregnancy having the jab, and there have been many of those posts.

I’ve never even had twins so no idea what to expect let alone with the jab as well. And sorry if my post came across as repetitive, I’m new to mumsnet x

A twin pregnancy is different from a single pregnancy. It's higher risk,without covid which is why you are monitored more. The chance of covod affecting women in third trimester is high with a single baby pregnancy, no say of knowing if it is more dangerous with twins or more but a twin pregnancy is already higher risk. You should definitely get the vaccine to protect yourself and babies from you potentially catching and being really ill with covid

OP, I was very against it and adamant I wasn't getting it. Iv done lots of research on both sides and I think it would be extremely silly for me not to get it now. Do I agree with how they are scaring people into getting it? No I don't, but then its the same with the anti vaxxers who also like to scare people who do get it. I'm due February and I work in a school so definitely high risk I'm now booked in to get it this Friday at 14 weeks 6 days I would be lying if I said I'm not worried but I'm more worried about getting covid in later stages of pregnancy and not recovering..I'm pretty sure I had covid when it first came about and I never been so ill in my life, I couldn't breathe and non stopped coughed for about 3 weeks I keep thinking back to that and if I was heavily pregnant I don't think I would of been able to recover at home. Xx

I completely understand how challenging it is to navigate all the conflicting information and misinformation out there.

The medical guidance is now clear though - covid risks are much higher than any vaccine risks (which are minimal). And there are some pretty scary stories about pregnant women in ICU. I got covid in March 2020 and from that horrific experience was desperate to get the vaccine as soon as I could. Which for me was 20 and 28 weeks. Had Pfizer and no side effects other than a sore arm. I’m 33 weeks now and all fine, and no regrets about being double jabbed!

Had my jabs at 5 and 13 weeks, the sooner you get some protection the better.
Remember the first jab takes 2 or 3 weeks to even start giving you immunity so you need to keep being careful about who you're mixing with indoors for several weeks yet, especially if lots of your friends/family remain unvaccinated.

I asked my friends to take lateral flow tests the day I saw them until I had my 2nd jab and all were happy to.