Vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood - what was your experience? Win a £200 VEX voucher

[LibbyMumsnet]

Vaccinations can bring up lots of questions, and it’s completely normal to feel unsure or want reassurance.

We’d love to hear from parents of babies and young children - and from anyone who’s had vaccinations during pregnancy - about your real experiences.

You might want to share:

• What you wish you’d known beforehand
• Anything that surprised you
• What helped after the appointment

There’s no right or wrong answer here - just a space to share experiences and hear from other parents.

Share your thoughts below by 26th February 2026 for a chance to win a £200 VEX voucher (Mumsnet T&Cs).

If you want trusted information alongside the discussion, the NHS has clear guidance on pregnancy and childhood vaccinations.

I was a little worried about the time DS had to have 2 injections (9 months I think) as I thought the second one he would be worked up for because the first one had hurt. But the nurses were amazing - one injected him from each side while he sat on my lap, they coordinated perfectly and it was over in seconds.

I wasn’t informed about the devastating side effects. I wasn’t informed they contain neurotoxins like aluminium and mercury.

This - I was completely shocked when my LO
screamed more at the Calpol after than at the vaccinations. Also, mine never got a temp
from the first three she had so didn’t need to give her any painkillers at all. Worth waiting to see whether it develops.

On the vaccinations themselves - I’ve learned that pram-suits are a nightmare on painful little legs - I’ll use a star wrap instead moving forward. Same with the sleepsuits - zips or one sided popper ones mean scrunching one of their legs to fit it in, which isn’t nice for them. Normal popper ones actually work much better.

Otherwise, just lots of snuggles - I think she forgrts about them quicker than I do!

“I wasn’t informed they contained neurotoxins naturally occurring compounds that are perfectly safe at such low doses” is what you meant to say, I think. To any parents reading this, please read the independent fact-checking service Full Fact’s explainer here: https://fullfact.org/health/vaccines-infants-neurotoxins-honey/

That link takes you to independently verified scientific fact, not Facebook ‘I did my own research’ hysteria.

All vaccines, like all medicines and therapies, come with the potential for side effects - these are listed in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the vaccines and on the NHS website, for example here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/6-in-1-vaccine/.

The childhood vaccines have all been tested over many, many years in robust, wide-ranging and long-standing clinical trials, and have years of Yellow Card self-reporting data flagging any potential concerns following their introduction, not just in the UK but worldwide.

If your child suffered one of the rare side effects, I am so sorry for you…but then more than ever you should want those who can get vaccinated to do so. So your child, who can’t be vaccinated, can still be protected through herd immunity. That is the social contract we all make - I was genuinely scared when I took my little one in despite knowing there was only a tiny chance she might be allergic to them or get a rare side effect. I still do it to keep her safe and protect other children too.

But it’s misinformation like this, that adversely affects confidence in new parents who might be unsure of the reality. And leads to the deaths of young children from entirely preventable diseases like that poor child who contracted measles in Liverpool. These vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and save lives so please don’t render them useless because you’re scared of them.

I was taught at university in 2009 no vaccines for pregnant women. It stuck in my head. A decade later they jab pregnant women with tones of everything. What has changed? The only jab I take is anti D if needed due to Rh conflict.

I was stressed out and knew it was the right thing to do, and was worried about the fever and soreness afterwards. I used the distraction of looking out of the window at the birds in the trees outside the consulting room, and they were ok. I gave calpol afterwards, (and 4 hours before) A syringe dose of calpol works wonders

might have to read up about these metals... not as devastating as one would think...factsaboutaluminumadjuvantsinfographic.pdf
Vaccines don't contain 'harmful mercury' there are extensive surveys/studies around these. Just be mindful of "Dr Google" conspiracies

The vaccines I received ( flu and whooping cough) during my first pregnancy were I felt extremely necessary for the place I work. There was no second thoughts needed, I was definitely having them. No real side effects of either. My current pregnancy I was informed the whooping cough vaccine had changed slightly due to it being discovered the polio element wasn’t very effective in the previous vaccine. I was warned this one would sting a lot and my arm would be heavy and sore for a few days and I may feel a bit under the weather. The midwife wasn’t wrong! I felt like I’d been punched in the arm by Anthony Joshua. I also had a headache and runny nose for a few days. I’m also getting the RSV one at 28 weeks which I believe is new.

my 21 month old is fully up to date with his vaccine schedule. The only ones that upset me were his last set where they do both legs, he was very tender and grumpy for a few days. Calpol helped a lot. I’ll be ensuring he has his next lot which I believe will be pre-school boosters and also my new baby when born will be receiving all vaccinations.

For me, the thing that helped was having a nurse that was understanding and compassionate and not just another aloof one or one that seemed unbothered by my fears. And this was surprising to see; the fact that for a lot of nurses, it seemed like they didn't really care.

We need more compassionate nurses.

Having my husband there helped me and calmed me down. I have really bad anxiety and having a strong support system was really important for me.

When it comes to vaccinations, I have so much anxiety. Honestly, I wish I knew to stand up for myself and know that I wasn't alone.

What changed was the discovery that you can protect neonates and small infants from some potentially fatal diseases by vaccinating the pregnant mothers.

I delayed vaccination for my first only had one for my 2nd and none for my 3rd. I refused all for myself. My 2 youngest are the healthiest kids in nursery/school. While all the other kids come down with everything, they catch nothing. They've not been to the GP more than twice in 4 years and 6 years. In Japan they don't vaccinate their kids until they are at least 2 because of the growing immune system. The vaccination industry is worth billions and it's very very new to humans who have been on this planet and survived thousands of years. Vaccinations have a ton of unreported risks associated with them. Pharmaceutical companies don't fund research which is against them (meaning they would loose billions of dollars), there have been real risks associated with vaccines such as NHS given Swine Flu vaccine which gave narcolepsy to hundreds of front line staff and millions in compensation. A baby receives around 20-30 combined vaccines while its absolutely tiny and its not even got an immune system to absorb all this and the toxic ingredients in it. Breastfeed your baby - give it your immune system
and do your research properly before you stick anything in your baby or yourself.

My lovely nurse let me breastfeed while she did the vaccinations and my little one only flinched a little and no tears at all. Helped calm us both down and definitely gave us both something to focus on

I remember with DC1's first vaccines, I had planned to bf right after as advised on here but the clinic was running late and I had to feed before we were called. Turned out DC was absolutely fine anyway and barely noticed.

There is a lot of scaremongering out there so always best to look up information from trustworthy sources if worried.

Quote the randomised controlled trials against a placebo please. 👉

I was in the chronic depths of post natal anxiety after my first biological, we were told we would never have. I had twins by that stage, adopted. I am from a medical family, not me, but have always been pro vaccine.

I think for me, less scare more support and reality. I appreciate that’s different for everyone but as an older first time mum the fear if god was out into me. Stay in the waiting room for half hour. Go home and take temperature and it will peak after so many hours.

I don’t know.

come for a vaccination clinic, meet other mums, have a cuppa together. Here is what to do IF they spike a temperature.

I literally cleared days for them, and I know I was not alone.

the reality? Terrified mum, slightly warm and cross baby.

the hardest ones were preschool because they could object.

I am sadly in the depths of chicken pox with four this week, vaccine impossible rural Scotland. I was hanging on for the roll out and three out of four got it last week. One in hospital for two nights, one still clear. Way more scary.

so normalise it, show the illness side effects versus the majority of vaccine ones.

Forgot the number;

tel:0344 892 0111

Why can't you have the option of spacing out the MMR over weeks rather than all at once - never quite understood this

Thanks so much to everyone who’s shared their experiences so far - it’s really helpful to hear such honest reflections.
If you have specific questions about vaccinations in pregnancy or early childhood, we’re also running a live Ask the Expert with two NHS vaccination nurses, who will be answering questions throughout Feb and March.
You can post your question here.

Are the nasal spray vaccines as effective as immunisations ? My older DC's have asthma what are the risks for a younger child with a flu vaccine ?

I'm an ex nurse . Done loads of vaccinations on all ages. Dont mind needles myself at all.
Best thing is yo keep calm . Asl questions if needs be. And don't look !
With kiddies I used to put a video on for them . Dont fuss too much . Distraction is always good.
Sweets are good afterwards but not lollipops .

Can we still get the normal MMR? And have chickenpox vax separately? As uptake is low I feel that it would be a great idea to give choice