Covid vaccine | Mumsnet

ddoodle55 · 2023-10-05T08:22:34+00:00

Morning all, Can anyone please share any advice or opinions on getting the covid vaccine in pregnancy? I'm not anti vax at all and previously had every covid vaccine/booster offered to me, will get flu and whooping cough etc. However I just can't shake anxiety over getting covid vaccine and wasn't planning on getting it but now covid seems to be rife where I live so having second thoughts. Any advice at all will be much appreciated thank you! X

Senso21 · 05/10/2023 09:38

Following x

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 05/10/2023 09:45

Covid is more serious during pregnancy (as are most diseases because your immune system is somewhat dampened).

Diseases that cause you to run a fever can be markedly worse for you, and can harm the baby. Low oxygen saturation is hostile to both as well.

Plus there is evidence of impairment of placental function (covid is also a cardiovascular disease)

There seems to be a lot of covid around at the moment.

Your call.

timetorefresh · 05/10/2023 09:51

COVID has always been more dangerous to pregnant women and babies (pre and post delivery). The COVID vaccine has been through all the same safety tests as any other vaccine. There's no reason not to get it if you'd take all the others.

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:05

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 05/10/2023 09:45

Covid is more serious during pregnancy (as are most diseases because your immune system is somewhat dampened).

Diseases that cause you to run a fever can be markedly worse for you, and can harm the baby. Low oxygen saturation is hostile to both as well.

Plus there is evidence of impairment of placental function (covid is also a cardiovascular disease)

There seems to be a lot of covid around at the moment.

Your call.

Thanks for your reply - I know getting the vaccine is the right thing to do just needed a bit of a shove! Thanks x

OP posts:

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:06

timetorefresh · 05/10/2023 09:51

COVID has always been more dangerous to pregnant women and babies (pre and post delivery). The COVID vaccine has been through all the same safety tests as any other vaccine. There's no reason not to get it if you'd take all the others.

Thank you this makes me feel better about getting it just needed some encouragement x

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Cowlover89 · 05/10/2023 10:14

Get it if you've had all the others. I personally won't be getting it. Only the flu and the whopping cough one

LittleMrsPretty · 05/10/2023 10:17

I had my first covid vaccine in 2021 at 26 and 34 weeks pregnant. I had a healthy baby but at the time evidence was conflicting so I waited until I was as close to the 3rd trimester as possible.

I am now trying for no2 and as an NHS worker have just received the yearly flu and covid jab.

I also agree with previous posts that getting covid during pregnancy is more of a risk than the covid vaccine.

how far along are you?

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:20

Cowlover89 · 05/10/2023 10:14

Get it if you've had all the others. I personally won't be getting it. Only the flu and the whopping cough one

Cow lover do you mind if I ask why? X

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Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:22

LittleMrsPretty · 05/10/2023 10:17

I had my first covid vaccine in 2021 at 26 and 34 weeks pregnant. I had a healthy baby but at the time evidence was conflicting so I waited until I was as close to the 3rd trimester as possible.

I am now trying for no2 and as an NHS worker have just received the yearly flu and covid jab.

I also agree with previous posts that getting covid during pregnancy is more of a risk than the covid vaccine.

how far along are you?

Edited

Thank you for this, nice to hear from someone who has both had it in pregnancy and also nhs worker x

18 weeks but in the last few weeks my parents, PIL, sister and friends have all had covid so really does seem like only a matter of time before DH or I catch it x

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MariaVT65 · 05/10/2023 10:25

Hi OP

The interesting thing is that different NHS trusts across the country seem to have different opinions on it currently.

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and haven’t been offered or encouraged to have it, as i’ve had the first 3. Only whooping cough and flu.

My close friend who works in another trust says their current advice is that you don’t need it if you’ve already had 2 previous vaccines.

None of my pregnant friends have had the vaccine last year or this. Many of them expressed concerns that the vaccine isn’t actually tested on pregnant women.

I also actually have covid for the first time right now. It’s basically just been a bad cough, the worst effect of which is that it’s making my old section scar hurt.

The maternity unit just sent me device to monitor my oxygen levels. Other than that, as long as you continue to feel good movement, they aren’t worried.

But feel free to have it if you wish.

Cowlover89 · 05/10/2023 10:32

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:20

Cow lover do you mind if I ask why? X

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Just not bothered. I've had the first 2 and just don't want anymore. X

Cowlover89 · 05/10/2023 10:33

Plus the midwife never urged me to get it. Just flu. X

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:48

MariaVT65 · 05/10/2023 10:25

Hi OP

The interesting thing is that different NHS trusts across the country seem to have different opinions on it currently.

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and haven’t been offered or encouraged to have it, as i’ve had the first 3. Only whooping cough and flu.

My close friend who works in another trust says their current advice is that you don’t need it if you’ve already had 2 previous vaccines.

None of my pregnant friends have had the vaccine last year or this. Many of them expressed concerns that the vaccine isn’t actually tested on pregnant women.

I also actually have covid for the first time right now. It’s basically just been a bad cough, the worst effect of which is that it’s making my old section scar hurt.

The maternity unit just sent me device to monitor my oxygen levels. Other than that, as long as you continue to feel good movement, they aren’t worried.

But feel free to have it if you wish.

Sorry to hear you have covid Maria hope you are feeling better soon!

That's so interesting I hadn't realised the advice was different across trusts. As you say hard to know what to do when the advice varies and it's not tested on pregnant women. I doubt flu/ whooping cough are tested on pregnant women either but feel better about them because women have been taking them for years x

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MariaVT65 · 05/10/2023 11:00

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 10:48

Sorry to hear you have covid Maria hope you are feeling better soon!

That's so interesting I hadn't realised the advice was different across trusts. As you say hard to know what to do when the advice varies and it's not tested on pregnant women. I doubt flu/ whooping cough are tested on pregnant women either but feel better about them because women have been taking them for years x

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Yes that’s a good point about flu and whooping cough :) Maybe also because women who have been pregnant before have had the whooping cough vaccine previously and had no side effects compared to the covid vaccines. I personally felt a hell of a lot more ill after my 2nd and 3rd vaccines than I have with actual covid.

Maybe text your midwife to ask for some general advice? :)

I think some places are offering covid and flu together, but i’ve also heard you can feel more poorly if you do that.

TTCbaby2023 · 05/10/2023 11:57

@ddoodle55 I feel exactly the same way as you. I have had my 3 Covid vaccines in the past with minimal side effects and I very much understand the risks of having covid during pregnancy especially due to evidence of what it can do to the placenta. And yet for some reason I feel hesitant about the vaccine. I am doing all I can to avoid catching Covid but sometimes that isn't enough.
How far along are you and what did you decide in the end?

Olika · 05/10/2023 11:59

I took one when I was pregnant and TG I did as I caught covid at 6m.

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 12:04

TTCbaby2023 · 05/10/2023 11:57

@ddoodle55 I feel exactly the same way as you. I have had my 3 Covid vaccines in the past with minimal side effects and I very much understand the risks of having covid during pregnancy especially due to evidence of what it can do to the placenta. And yet for some reason I feel hesitant about the vaccine. I am doing all I can to avoid catching Covid but sometimes that isn't enough.
How far along are you and what did you decide in the end?

It's so hard isn't it! On the one hand totally understand how dangerous it can be and heard all the horror stories. On the other hand just really not sure about the vaccine. If I didn't get the vaccine and then got covid I know I will be an anxious mess for the rest of pregnancy.

It took us 1 year to conceive which I think adds to the anxiety of always wanting to do the right thing 😫

I'm 18 weeks and haven't decided what to do yet. How far along are you? X

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LolaJ87 · 05/10/2023 12:04

I got it when I was pregnant. No side effects or other issues, glad to have given my winter baby some protection from it!

My friend got a nasty dose of covid at 7 months pregnant which caused complications that meant weekly checkups and blood tests until delivery. I'd definitely prefer the jab to that.

Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 12:05

Olika · 05/10/2023 11:59

I took one when I was pregnant and TG I did as I caught covid at 6m.

Thanks Olika and were you and baby fine?x

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Original poster

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 12:07

LolaJ87 · 05/10/2023 12:04

I got it when I was pregnant. No side effects or other issues, glad to have given my winter baby some protection from it!

My friend got a nasty dose of covid at 7 months pregnant which caused complications that meant weekly checkups and blood tests until delivery. I'd definitely prefer the jab to that.

Yes that's a good point hadn't thought about baby having some protection from it too. It would be a worry if covid is still going about when it's born and having visitors x

How far along were you when you had it if you don't mind me asking ? X

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Olika · 05/10/2023 12:12

Yes thank you. I went to observation once just to make sure baby was moving ok as I was Ill for about two weeks. I was surprised how mild my covid was and I think it was because of all the vaccines I had taken by then.

LolaJ87 · 05/10/2023 12:26

ddoodle55 · 05/10/2023 12:07

Yes that's a good point hadn't thought about baby having some protection from it too. It would be a worry if covid is still going about when it's born and having visitors x

How far along were you when you had it if you don't mind me asking ? X

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I had to go back and check because I couldn't remember! I was 22 weeks when I got it x

TTCbaby2023 · 05/10/2023 12:51

@ddoodle55 I am 16 weeks. I'm wondering though, will the vaccine prevent any damage to the placenta and other things? I'm giving myself a bit more time to decide and will be extra cautious until then.

mashm24 · 05/10/2023 14:07

I had mine yesterday - no side effects, all good.

I also had one with my first child. I'm really glad I did because when he was born we all caught covid. My husband was by far the worse and bed bound for days - me and DC were absolutely fine!

ES1986 · 05/10/2023 14:19

I had mine, no side effects.

Also, it’s not just about me. Whilst a vaccine won’t prevent me from getting Covid it will lessen the probability. I’m definitely going to go into hospital in the next month, and if I go in with Covid and infect midwives, they may have to have a week off the rota. Or I could infect another mum and baby. That’s lives being put at risk for no real reason. We still all need to do our bit IMO.