Rubella vaccine / innoculation

[doodlelogic]

My wife is German and has some worries about the NHS!

We are thinking of trying for a baby later in the year. She had an injection for Rubella when she was a teenager. I'm not sure if this was the MMR vaccine or an old-style innoculation.

Basically we've had conflicting information, she went to see our GP and was given a leaflet which said that it's normal if you're trying for a baby to have your blood tested before you start trying and if there are no rubella antibodies to have a jab, wait three months. But she's been back to ask for the pre-pregnancy test and been told they only test when you are pregnant. Which seems too late!

Is there a difference between innoculation and vaccination for this? Should she have a blood test before we start trying?

I can't remember when they tested my sister but because we weren't in the UK when we were children, they wanted to test for immunity (as we didn't have the jabs people have here)

I THINK (but am not 100% sure) that dsis was tested after she was already pregnant. They found out she wasn't rubella immune (good thing they found out too as she's a teacher so probably at higher risk than most) and she had to have the MMR as they won't/don't give it as a single jab any more BUT I seem to remember she had it after she'd had the baby and before her subsequent pregnancies.

a bit long but good info here

in the UK they test for rubella immunity while pregnant.

if you are not immune she'll be offered the MMR vaccine after the babe is born.

Has she asked her GP if she can be tested before she gets PG? If they won't then she'll either have to pay for a private test of take her chances along with the rest of the population.

When I started TTC, I was tested for my Rubella immunity, despite the fact that I'd had the Rubella vaccination as a teenager. It came back as immune, but still had to have further immunity tests once I was finally pregnant with DD (over 2 years later). I think the rationale behind the repeat tests is that immunity can disappear (even after being vaccinated). A friend of mine was tested for immunity when pregnant and was found not to be. Sadly she miscarried, so had to have an MMR before she started TTC again to re-establish her immunity. Not sure at all why they won't test before your DW gets pregnant - I'd challenge that with the GP.

Thanks all. Very helpful.

I too, pre TTC, had the GP test me to confirm immunity. Even if you have been immunised when younger, I believe, you might not be immune. If you aren't then once you are vacinated you have to wait a few months before TTC.

I was tested pre-pregnacy (on NHS) - should push / challenge GP for it as cant be vacinated whilst pregnant - they do test all pregnant women but bascially if you are found not to be immune its too late to do anything about it.