Colleague has Whopping Cough

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Hi

I’ve not long started a new job where I attend the office once a week. I wasn’t in last week as I was on holiday so the last time I came in was 1st July.

a colleague has whooping cough and is now on antibiotics. She presented with cough/cold symptoms on 7th July so I haven’t seen her since.

our management team issued an internal note asking people to be sensitive to it but people need to know in case they have been in contact with anyone who may be pregnant.

work don’t know I am pregnant, I am 8 weeks today.

is there any risk, should I tell them? I can’t seem to find any info about risks in early pregnancy. How is it spread?

thanks 🙂

Tell them. The health of you and your child is more important than waiting for some social
rule on when to tell. This way they can take necessary measures to keep you safe.

Thank you @MrsBrightsidde. I will, the colleague is wfh so no risk I will see her now

I did smile at “ Whopping Cough” in the title 🙂

I caught whooping cough from a colleague at about 5 months pg and baby was fine. I was absolutely exhausted having only just got over 24/7 morning sickness.
This was over 20 years ago, before women were vaccinated for WC in pregnancy. Unfortunately I wasn't vaccinated as a child for health reasons.

I think the issue may be that other people may have caught it from the original person, and you may come in contact with them before they know that they have it. Are you able to work from home until you have your vaccination?

I don't think you're necessarily more at risk than a non-pregnant adult, if that helps - the vaccine you get is to protect the baby once born and before they have their own vaccine. but can you WFH to be safe? I told my manager at 6 weeks as I was so unwell with sickness.

@RabbitsRock 😂😂

Thank you all for replying

There is no increased risk to the baby but it's best to avoid catching things in pregnancy so have a discreet word with them about possibly WFH for a couple of weeks so you avoid coming into contact with anyone else who might have caught it.
They give the whooping cough vaccine to pregnant women to protect the baby when it's born not to protect the mums x

I'm not a doctor but as far as I understand, the whooping cough vaccine is more to protect your baby once they're here as it gives them antibodies, I don't think it's necessarily dangerous to catch it in pregnancy, especially such early pregnancy when the fetus is very small and well protected and the placenta hasn't taken over yet. I'm 31 weeks and have had Covid and mild food poisoning, both of which are said to be bad in pregnancy, and all has been fine. Try not to let yourself worry too much, you can't avoid everything for 9 months x

Once they’ve been on antibiotics for 5 full days they won’t be contagious anymore x

I agree with @minnieot the main reason for vaccination is to pass immunity to bb. Whooping cough is unpleasant but not particularly dangerous to adults and afaik does not pose risk in utero. But ring your midwife if you're unsure what to do.

Thank you all. I haven’t had a chance to speak with management as they are in meetings, but very reassuring 🙂