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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

BBC article urging pregnant people to get the COVID jab

78 replies

lillg · 11/10/2021 18:18

The BBC are again urging pregnant women to get the COVID jab. Can anyone please point me to the research on which this news article is based?

I was concerned when I heard the headlines that 1 in 6 people needing the most intensive care were pregnant. But then I think they said that there were 118 people needing this care between June and September, of which 20 were pregnant? Did I miss-hear?

The message and the statistics don't seem to add up to me so I want to look at the original study and reach my own conclusions.

OP posts:
Original poster
lillg · 11/10/2021 19:41

@ohdeariforgot

1st Feb 2021- 30 Sept 2021 1714 covid symptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospital 98.1% were unvaccinated

235 admitted to intensive care.

98.7 % were unvaccinated

85% of the pregnant women who died were unvaccinated.

Sources given above

This is all correct:

However, I believe of the 1714 approximately 50% were admitted for the purpose of labour or birth, not COVID?

Also, of around 650k pregnant people (live births UK) 1714 COVID cases is 0.2% or 1 in 500.

Am I correct in saying the number of pregnant women who died was 4?

This kind of sums up my point. The statistics you share show a clear and definite risk. But it's skewed to look even worse than it is and I just want the facts without spin or opinion (I'm aware I've put a spin on your statistics, but it's only to play devil's advocate)

OP posts:
Original poster
lillg · 11/10/2021 19:45

@potter5

Pregnant people?
@wheeliebinprincess

I'm sorry - I must have missed the memo where women were no longer classified a people. What are we?

OP posts:
Original poster
lillg · 11/10/2021 19:47

@Arubaa

There's only about 5 centres in the UK that do ECMO...and they've all seen an increase in pregnant unvaccinated women. About 30% lose their babies and others are born very premature. Please get your vaccine, these are some of the saddest cases we see.
That's interesting to know. Thank you.
OP posts:
Arthien · 11/10/2021 19:49

@ohdeariforgot

1st Feb 2021- 30 Sept 2021 1714 covid symptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospital 98.1% were unvaccinated

235 admitted to intensive care.

98.7 % were unvaccinated

85% of the pregnant women who died were unvaccinated.

Sources given above

So roughly how many women were pregnant in total during this time period? Must be at least tens of thousands, surely? Meaning the vast majority either didn't catch covid, didn't have symptoms or weren't ill enough to be hospitalised. Given rates of vaccination are so low in pregnant women, the 1714 hospitalised should be put in perspective.
dunroamingfornow · 11/10/2021 19:54

One death is too many , if it's avoidable . Heartbreaking stuff

FartnissEverbeans · 11/10/2021 19:59

‘Only’ four deaths but 235 admitted to intensive care out of 1714? That’s a horrendous statistic. Why are you trying to downplay it?

Maybe that’s a risk you’re willing to take with your baby. I’m not. I was double vaccinated in my second trimester. Absolute no brainer

Peachi82 · 11/10/2021 20:08

The thing is even if they don't die or loose their baby, recovering from intensive care is very often not a walk in the park.

Original poster
lillg · 11/10/2021 20:10

Who said "only"? Not me.

OP posts:
ohdeariforgot · 11/10/2021 20:11

Every preventable death is one too many. As is every preventable serious illness and ICU admission.

Aggy35 · 11/10/2021 20:15

Currently pregnant and got my jab 4 weeks ago.I just thought if I was getting an advise from a car mechanic on my car I'd take it as gospel .My doctor and general advise is to take care of yourself so I did.I might be wrong but I am not educated enough to make decisions of this sort myself.

Coffeey · 11/10/2021 20:16

@Arubaa

There's only about 5 centres in the UK that do ECMO...and they've all seen an increase in pregnant unvaccinated women. About 30% lose their babies and others are born very premature. Please get your vaccine, these are some of the saddest cases we see.
That's heartbreaking.
FartnissEverbeans · 11/10/2021 20:17

@lillg

Who said "only"? Not me.
You didn’t say it but the ‘only’ was certainly implied in your post.
GinnyBee · 11/10/2021 20:18

It makes since, given "just" the flu can also be dangerous if pregnant. Our immunity weakens with pregnancy so we're more likely to catch viruses, and when we do, they're more likely to cause serious illness.

LadyoftheWoods · 11/10/2021 20:18

The bmj (doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3320) has a systematic review of 192 worldwide studies. 339 pregnant women died of covid which represents 0.02% of the women across the studies. So yes, a small percentage died.

However, it's not just about death. Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women had a higher chance of ending up in intensive care, of having preterm babies and of their babies needing neonatal intensive care. There is a proven risk of covid to both pregnant women and their babies (you decide what level of risk you're comfortable with), there is no evidence whatsoever that the vaccine is harmful to either.

I fundamentally believe everyone should have a choice over what they put in their bodies and absolutely no one should be forced to have a vaccine Personally however, I cannot understand why anyone would choose not to when the research is so clear.

Coffeey · 11/10/2021 20:20

I'd ask the consultant/midwives and trust their expertise to be honest.

countbackfromten · 11/10/2021 20:24

Patients on ECMO are the most terrifyingly sick patients I have ever looked after in my 12 years as a doctor. I worked at one of the ECMO centres in the second wave and treated pregnant women on ECMO bd side of COVID. This is a step so far beyond normal ventilation on intensive care that most people couldn’t ever understand it’s complexity. Even moving patients for a scan terrified me and I have been doing this for years.

The figures are stark and very scary. I would beg any pregnant women who haven’t had both vaccine doses to get them ASAP.

BBC article urging pregnant people to get the COVID jab
NeverTalksToStrangers · 11/10/2021 20:29

amp.rte.ie/amp/1239230/

Article from August. Was a real issue in NI... still might be. Hope not. There was at least death in the news around this time. So tragic.

Level75 · 11/10/2021 20:34

Are you pregnant @lillg?

If so what's preventing you booking in for a vaccine now? Specifically, what's the evidence you're relying on to counter the statistics on this thread and the advice of the Royal Society of Obs and Gynae?

MissChanandlerBong81 · 11/10/2021 20:42

However, it's not just about death. Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women had a higher chance of ending up in intensive care, of having preterm babies and of their babies needing neonatal intensive care.

Yes. And if the lack of data on ‘long-term effects’ of the vaccine is what’s bothering you, I think it’s worth looking at the data on possible long-term effects on babies of premature birth or neonatal intensive care admission (not just in connection with Covid infection in the mother - more generally). There’s plentiful data on that, it doesn’t make for fun reading, and that was what swung it for me.

Coffeey · 11/10/2021 20:49

Just reading into ECMO is terrifying. Clever science but it sounds like a lot for a body to through.

CausingChaos2 · 11/10/2021 20:51

I’m not pregnant (is there a way to hide this topic from the ‘active’ list?) but have been referred for IVF. Not vaccinated and no plan to be but this headline has given me pause for thought. I am able to stay at home so my contact with others and risk of catching covid in the first place is small though.

Like you OP, I did also wonder if this statistic has been skewed to make the risk sound disproportionately high.

OliviaL9530 · 11/10/2021 20:55

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and have my first vaccine on Saturday morning as it's the earliest I could get it.
I had COVID back in January and felt the antibodies would keep me safe enough until birth (nïeve I know but this was before there was any statistics around pregnant people getting it and any repercussions)

I, like many other cautious mums to be have stayed clear of it because we're just not happy with the science or statistics behind it but these new figures are alarming and it's a risk we have to be willing to take for our own health and our unborn babys! I wish I'd of booked sooner.

countbackfromten · 11/10/2021 20:59

@Coffeey it is a huge amount for the body to take. This article about one of the units is interesting but I warn you, is a bit scary www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/at-the-edge-of-life/

SylvanasWindrunner · 11/10/2021 21:00

It's terrifying, isn't it? I'm double vaxxed and just found out I'm pregnant with DC2. I'll be getting my booster the second I'm eligible. This is one occasion when I think the evidence really does speak for itself.

Coffeey · 11/10/2021 21:08

[quote countbackfromten]@Coffeey it is a huge amount for the body to take. This article about one of the units is interesting but I warn you, is a bit scary www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/at-the-edge-of-life/[/quote]
Truely harrowing. I had my LO in the first wave so was in a way lucky enough not to have known too much about how severely it can affect pregnant women. I think they should advise women to isolate if they aren't going to get vaccined to be honest.