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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Booster and fever concern at 7 weeks

23 replies

Pengiundisco · 08/12/2021 10:28

Hi all,

I am booked for my covid booster on Friday at 7 weeks pregnant, but can't decide if I should postpone until past 12 weeks. The reason for potentially postponing is because when I had my first dose (astrazeneca) I was pretty poorly for several days with a high temperature. I'm worried about the same thing happening, and have read fever is most dangerous in the first trimester.

I absolutely will get my booster, I'm just trying to work out when. Has anyone had their booster in the first trimester? Did you have any side-effects?

I can't get hold of my GP to discuss but I imagine they'll just repeat that it is safe at all stages (which I'm not questioning) and encourage me to get it ASAP.

Thanks. X

OP posts:

ajayelbee · 08/12/2021 20:50

I don’t have any advice, but posting to bump as I’m in quite a similar situation and would be interested to hear others’ stories. x

SouthwestSis · 08/12/2021 20:52

I would definitely not postpone if you are due your booster as you leave yourself vulnerable to covid as the first 2 jabs wear off.
You will be given pfizer or moderna for your booster.

LefttoherownDevizes · 08/12/2021 20:55

I am as pro Vax as they come but have been scared about having three buster as I was so ill after my AZ. A straw poll of different ages/health had shown other than the vast majority a much smaller reaction to booster than to the first two. Sore arm seemed to be the worst.

Greentomatoes21 · 08/12/2021 21:00

I had covid at 7 weeks pregnant, unvaccinated (not available at the time) and I had high temperatures for about 4 days. Like you, I was really worried about fever in first trimester! However, my midwives and consultant weren't in the least bit bothered...genuinely not worried at all! They just said take paracetamol and no more was said about it. Baby is now a healthy one year old. Can you talk to your midwife or doctor perhaps? I'd go with what rbe medical folks suggest xx

Original poster

Pengiundisco · 08/12/2021 21:15

Good to hear some thoughts and experiences.

@Greentomatoes21 I did actually ask the fertility nurse at four weeks (this is an IVF pregnancy) and she said to get it but to hold off a few weeks! And I think that's when the doubt started creeping in about having it in early pregnancy.

I've been trying the Tommy's helpline all day but couldn't get through.

Argh!! I'm so conflicted. If my experience with astrazeneca wasn't so bad I wouldn't think twice, but my temperature was spiking for about three days.

OP posts:

trrk · 09/12/2021 08:31

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and asked my midwife a similar question at my first appointment yesterday. She recommended to get it as soon as possible and just take paracetamol if I do feel feverish. I was also worried as I had bad side effects after my first AZ dose but I'm even more worried about getting Covid so I'm going to go ahead and book my booster.

Sammilouwho · 09/12/2021 08:37

I'm last trimester (6 more weeks to go!) And had my booster on Saturday.
I had AZ for my first 2 doses and had a fever and sore arm, the booster was Pfizer, apparently they are not offering AZ for booster. So far I have had no symptoms apart from a sore arm for 24 hours. I have also been very sick during my pregnancy and the booster has not exaggerated symptoms of that or anything.
It is entirely up to you whether you have it (I had my 2nd AZ at 6 weeks pregnant), if you do not feel happy having it now then wait a few weeks.

Original poster

Pengiundisco · 09/12/2021 08:53

Thanks @Sammilouwho good to hear! Enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy

OP posts:

Original poster

Pengiundisco · 09/12/2021 08:55

@trrk yes Covid could bring a lot more than just a fever.

OP posts:

SW1amp · 09/12/2021 09:01

I had AZ for my first 2, and felt pretty rotten after the first

Then had moderna for my booster at 36 weeks, because they aren’t using Az for third doses

Other than a sore arm, I felt absolutely fine

I’m under the care of Fetal medicine consultants due to a complication with a previous pregnancy, and they take no chances with anything, but have been completely pro-vaccinations the whole way through, and I trust them more than someone trotting out the standard national blanket advice

Matilda128 · 09/12/2021 09:01

I'm in a different country and was due my first vaccination in my first trimester. I was at a recurring miscarriage clinic so I asked about fever in the first trimester and they thought it was absolutely nonsense to worry about this. The fever risk is when you have a very high temperature for weeks- for example if you catch malaria or are seriously ill from Covid possibly with a subsequent long infection. Short bursts of high temperature for no more than a couple of days has no consequences. Just take some paracetamol to keep it down as much as possible. X

bumphope2020 · 09/12/2021 09:43

@Pengiundisco I went to get my 1st vaccine at 12 weeks and the pharmacist recommended I wait until 14 weeks to be safe. He did say that advise was dependent on my circumstances and the risk I faced each day. E.g. I work from home vs public facing.

I'd recommend talking to a pharmacist about your worries and weigh up the risk of the vaccine now vs in a few weeks time.

SouthwestSis · 09/12/2021 09:51

How long ago was that @bumphope2020 ?
Sounds like outdated advice and is not in line with the advice we give now (I am a vaccinator )

The risks of harm from significant covid infection far outweigh any theoretical risk from the vaccine booster, so pregnant people should take up a booster as soon as they are offered one.

ajayelbee · 09/12/2021 09:57

@SouthwestSis and that’s the advice for any stage of pregnancy, even very early in the first trimester? x

SouthwestSis · 09/12/2021 10:59

@ajayelbee yes absolutely.

bumphope2020 · 09/12/2021 17:48

@SouthwestSis this was 13 weeks ago so perhaps out of date now. I was super nervous as TTC for a long time but Im really glad I got jabbed so not trying to put anyone off, just sharing my experience.

Tor88 · 01/01/2022 10:22

@Pengiundisco what did you do in the end?? I have the same predicament and just came acrt this thread. I'm only 4 weeks pregnant so very early days, got my booster booked for the 4th but was quite ill with the first two (in bed for three days with a fever). I've been reading loads about it and I'm leaning towards just going for it, but I am worried about this fever and wondering if I should wait to get to 12 weeks?? I am pretty low risk for covid given I wfh, but obvs no guarantees....

Original poster

Pengiundisco · 01/01/2022 10:30

I got it in the end, my doctor was pretty unconcerned about the fever risk when I raised it. I had Pfizer and felt a bit tired/headachey but no fever thankfully.

OP posts:

Tor88 · 01/01/2022 11:27

@Pengiundisco good to know thank you

Nik84 · 01/01/2022 11:35

I hadn’t booster when I was about 4-5 weeks, I hadn’t actually tested them but the nurse asked me if I was pregnant. I told her there’s a good chance I am and if it was safe. She reassured me that it was safe and it is recommended. I felt very tired the next day and a few days later I had a red patch and soreness in my arm at the injection site. Apart from that, no other issues x

Nik84 · 01/01/2022 11:37

Should read I had my booster.

Tor88 · 03/01/2022 12:15

@Pengiundisco @Nik84 thank you, I've got my appointment tomorrow (will be 4+4 so v early days). I think I'm gonna go for it but super nervous as I basically know I'll get a fever as I did with the first two. But on balance I guess the fever could be worse if I get covid... Ugh what a mare!! I'll be obsessively taking paracetamol to keep it down!

Thanks @penguindisco for setting up this thread, it's super helpful x

Tor88 · 10/01/2022 12:59

Hi all just coming back to this thread in case anyone else comes across it with the same worries.

Having had side effects for vaccine 1&2, I ended being completely fine with the booster. I ate loads of veg for a few days beforehand, drank tonnes of water and proactively took paracetamol every 4 hours after the jab to keep any potential fever at bay, and hey presto was completely fine. I was 4+4 when I had it, now at 5+3 and so far so good

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