Covid vaccine while pregnant? Undecided

[Josie9998]

Hi everyone.
I'm 34 weeks pregnant and haven't had any covid vaccines at all. I always said I would wait until I had given birth to receive my vaccines, however I have just heard fatally terrible news about a women from my area who was pregnant and caught covid shortly before birth and heartbreakingly passed away, I don't know any more circumstances around this but it just really did scare me with only 6 weeks to go. Has anyone had their vaccines while pregnant? How did it go ? Positives and negatives to receiving it? I have did research but I am still very undecided

Where did you do your research? Reputable sources such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the NHS are recommending the vaccine for all pregnant women. Getting covid in pregnancy is bad. There’s loads of data now showing the Pfizer vaccine (which is what you’ll be offered) is safe in pregnancy for both mum and baby.

You could talk to your GP, or your midwife about any concerns you’ve got.

I am merely hesitant as to getting the vaccine mostly due to being told at one of my first midwife appointments that the covid vaccine was not recommended in pregnancy but last week I was told otherwise at my appointment.

The advice has been updated with more data

I am 25 weeks pregnant and had my 1st vaccine after my 20wk scan. I believe the rcog guidelines have been updated to recommend the vaccine now to pregnant women:

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/

Just before I found out I was pregnant, I had been invited to receive Vaccine (would have been AZ). I delayed because I knew I was ttc and wanted a bit more clarity. Once I found out I was pregnant, I discussed with midwife, gp, obstetrician and haematologist. Early on the answers were more like: it’s a choice, but no harmful effects known. But by the time I spoke to obstetrician she said evidence was tipping towards getting the vaccine (by then pfizer was advised rather than AZ). I decided to wait until 20wk scan showed that fetal development was going fine and then have the vaccine. My reasoning was the higher risk of stillbirth and complications for women and baby if testing positive for covid around delivery (see rcog website). The healthcare professionals I spoke to thought I was being reasonable. Since then, I think more pregnant women have had the vaccine without detectable problems - so I think the rcog advice has changed to recommend the vaccine rather than just give it as an option.

Do re-discuss with your midwife +/- gp or obstetrician to talk through your concerns though.

When you first got pregnant there was no data about the effects of the vaccine on pregnant women, no research had been done on this group. For this reason it was not actively reccommend.
That isn't to say that scientists/ doctors thought it would cause a problem at all, it is that they didn't have proof that it was safe.
We are many months forward from that, they now have the proof that it is safe and are strongly reccomending it, particularly as pregnant women and their babies are vulnerable.

I have just had my first jab a week ago at 19 weeks pregnant. I received my text of eligibility at 7 weeks pregnant but definitely wanted to be out of the first trimester before considering it.

I recently got to the point being fed up of everyone talking about being double jabbed and me just standing there like the lemon unvaccinated still.

Had my 2 pfizer jabs at 5 and 13 weeks and my pregnancy has progressed fine since, normal scans, and I feel much safer with covid rates being so high.
I would get you'd first jab as soon as physically possible!

The downsides of not having it? Potentially, death. It doesn't get more clear cut than that

I accidentally had my second vaccine when I was five weeks pregnant before I found out. I had no side effects and was totally fine.

Public Health England/ NHS would not be advising it if it wasn’t safe. The data shows not being vaccinated as a pregnant woman leaves you at higher risk.

Absolutely loads of women have had the vaccine while pregnant, just search here and you'll find hundreds of threads. I had it at 17 and 21 weeks, am 30 weeks now.

I wasn't going to have it until after birth, but I felt scared into it, I have now had my first jab at 31 weeks. I feel fine just an achy arm.

For me that's not the point tho, I'm happy for me to have the jab, and I'm being made to feel ridiculous for being worried how it will affect my baby long term, which is exactly where there is no data.

But I've been considering the risks of Covid in late pregnancy, so I got the jab but I still worry what I have done.

@Garman how come your jabs were just 4 weeks apart? I thought it had to be 8+ weeks?

4 weeks is standard gap between them where I am, same for everyone with Pfizer, Astra Zeneca was the only one with a longer gap.

Vaccines that are not live vaccines don't usually cross the placenta barrier so there's no reason it would affect your baby.
98% of pregnant women hospitalised with Covid are unvaccinated, and they are twice as likely to have a stillbirth.
I've had both of my jabs for this reason. Currently 34 weeks pregnant and all is fine.

I'm (UK), had the Pfizer and was told 8 weeks, it used to be 12 weeks.

I'm just glad the first jab is done and I dnt have to think about the second jab for a while

I’m waiting until past 20 weeks to have my first jab - passing some antibodies to the baby seems a huge bonus to me, to help keep them safe too. Baby will have siblings too young to be vaccinated. Note the last 20 weeks is my best guess based on seeing data on COVID antibodies passing to baby in utero and the dates recommended for whooping cough in pregnancy.

(Note antibodies are completely different from the vaccine which shouldn’t pass through to baby)

I'm double jabbed, I had my second jab 8 days before DS was born. I had an ELCS with minor complications, so far no issues with DS. He's alert, feeding well and was a good weight (8lb 10oz). I was anxious about the vaccine but I am a student nurse and was placed on wards with recovering covid patients and it was truly awful seeing the effect it had on them. I also wanted to be more protected as my placements put me at higher risk of catching the virus so I decided to go for it.

My mum and sister caught covid the week before I had DS, both double vaxxed but it put the fear of god in me to see how poorly they were. (They do have underlying health issues)

I can understand why pregnant women wouldn't have the vaccine, there is limited local information and midwives seemed to be unsure in most cases.

Loads of threads on here OP, and the guidance changed months ago that pregnant women are advised to have the jab (I'm about a week behind you in gestation and have been double jabbed for over a month now). There did seem to be a bit of hesitancy from some medical staff not actually following the nationally provided guidance to advise women to have it so I can see how some ladies have fallen through the gap. But there's been lots on the news recently about the high numbers of unvaccinated pregnant women in ITUs and worse, unfortunately, so if it were my I'd take the view that one jab is better than nothing at this stage. Don't forget if you test positive that may affect your birth options/plan so would be worth checking that with your hospital too, if it would help you in making your decision.

Definitely get it ASAP. Those who work in the NHS are seeing lots of pregnant women in ITU and some dying because of no vaccine.

I would get it without hesitation…absolutely tragic about the poor lady In Ireland.

I'm 13 weeks and have had both jabs, I was advised to wait until 12 weeks to have my second which I did but I know my midwife was pushing to make sure I had both before 3rd trimester as apprently that's when you get more ill if you get covid

I’ve had both while pregnant. I did talk it over with my consultant who really recommended it the risk of maternal death or stillbirth from Covid is very real.
So far I’ve had no ill effects other than feeling rubbish for a day.

Get it! You’re at higher risk of serious complications if you do catch covid now and this could affect both you and baby.