Whooping cough vaccine

[Sazbirl]

Hi,

I was just wondering peoples opinions on this jab, im seeing my midwife on Monday for my 31 week check and im going to question her about it (she's not mentioned it at all to me) I've been reading up about it and im confused whether to have it or not, women who have had it have said they had less fetal movement after and it scared them, another had it at 32 weeks then the baby was stillborn 2weeks later. The manufacturer says its not suitable for pregnant women, but the nhs say that's just because things aren't tested on pregnant women. Its not been used on pregnant women long enough to know the effects it can have, if i have it and it affects my baby's development while in the womb id never forgive myself.

So im swaying towards not having it but then if my baby gets whooping cough and i could have prevented it i would never forgive myself. Im so confused.

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[missy1978]

Hey Sarah, I had mine a couple of weeks ago now - it was sore for a few days afterwards but ok! Like with the flu jab there is no live vaccine in there so it doesn't give you whooping cough so to speak, just boosts your immunity. I had no drop in movement (he was busier if anything!) and baby is still doing well.

It's worrying when it says not suitable for pregnant woman but no medicine actually is as it's not considered ethical to test on pregnant women! I know I wouldn't volunteer lol So there is a risk but I trust my doctor not to give me anything that would hurt him. This will sound awful and I don't mean it to but I think we look for connections, our brains work that way, and if baby is suddenly moving less one day we'll try and link it to something, even if the two things aren't actually related. Does that make sense? It does in my head but didn't want it to come across badly.

It's a tough a decision and I can't say that I wasn't worried too but I'm glad I did it now. The idea of him getting whooping cough when he's tiny terrifies me so I didn't feel like I could leave it. It's totally up to you though. Would it be worth going through it with your midwife or doctor again to go over any worries you have? xxx

 

[Kim26]

I personally am going to have it as anything that provides baby with immunity against a disease that can potentially kill them is worth while. I would say the story of the stillbirth is probably a coincidence rather than caused by the jab, but again you don't know....and could they ever prove it. I know if i have the jab and then have reduced movements i will certainly be going to get checked out....even if it is a side effect i'd never take chances with reduced movements.

I don't think any manufacturer would say something is safe in pregnancy (i believe paracetamol has a warning on it yet you are advised to take it if needed and it's given in early stages on labour for pain relief) because as you said nothing is tested on pregnant women, but we have to trust that the people who deem these jabs safe have enough knowledge and expertise to make that decision and they would never advise something knowing it could be a problem. I also think they give young children the whooping cough jab so it must be safe for little ones.

I think it's entirely up to each individual what jabs they accept or don't accept. I personally would never forgive myself if baby got whooping cough, and god forbid something happened to it, and there was a chance i could have helped it's immune system by having the jab and thats enough to make me want to have the jab in pregnancy. But as i say, thats my opinion and i'm sure a lot of people aren't having it done because they aren't sure and thats fine too. We have to do what we think is best for ourselves and our baby.

 

[missy1978]

AFAIK the whooping cough vaccine we get is the same as the one they get at about 3. Babies can't have their jab until 8 weeks, which is way too late given that whooping cough is now becoming more common in littlies. It's horrible that we even have to think of these things but we do, the first of many hard decisions with our children's health. xxx

 

[Sazbirl]

Thanks for your opinions Sarah and Kim, im going to talk to my midwife about it because she's not even mentioned it to me, im still confused, but its good to hear that your baby's movements didn't slow down Sarah, i can't believe the midwifes haven't told us more about it, its a big decision putting something in your body, especially when pregnant, I'll see what she says on Monday, but i will have to get booked in quick if im having it because I've read its best to have it before 32 weeks if you can so the mothers body can build antibodies and pass it on to the baby in time, think you can have it after that time but its more effective before then. Thanks again guys.x

 

[missy1978]

Thanks for your opinions Sarah and Kim, im going to talk to my midwife about it because she's not even mentioned it to me, im still confused, but its good to hear that your baby's movements didn't slow down Sarah, i can't believe the midwifes haven't told us more about it, its a big decision putting something in your body, especially when pregnant, I'll see what she says on Monday, but i will have to get booked in quick if im having it because I've read its best to have it before 32 weeks if you can so the mothers body can build antibodies and pass it on to the baby in time, think you can have it after that time but its more effective before then. Thanks again guys.x

It is a big decision so definitely speak to them. There's plenty of info on the NHS website too so I'd definitely have a read on there too. Whatever choice you make will be the right one for your circumstances, just make sure you're happy and comfortable with whichever choice you make xxx

 

[missy1978]

This link was in my 34 weeks email from the NHS mailing list this morning - just leaving it here for more info on the whooping cough vaccine if anyone is interested xxx

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant.aspx

 

[Sazbirl]

Im booked in to have both this and the flu jab tomorrow teatime, the midwife said she would have them if she was me so that's good enough for me, hope i'll be ok having them both at the same time.x

 

[missy1978]

Im booked in to have both this and the flu jab tomorrow teatime, the midwife said she would have them if she was me so that's good enough for me, hope i'll be ok having them both at the same time.x

Glad you managed to come to a decision on the end, I guess you've had then by now so hope it went well and you don't have too much of an achy arm xxx

 

[Sazbirl]

Hi Sarah,
I went to see the asthma nurse and she was giving me them, she thinks i do have asthma so is testing me and doesn't want to give me the vaccinations till she knows im booked back in with her on Friday so she's giving me them, then.x

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[Dubchick81]

I'm not having the flu jab or the whooping cough one.. If they can't tell me what the long term implications are, there is NO WAY i'm taking the risk.. Not after the epidemic in the 80's over the MS tablets... Its not worth the risk.. As long as you do your research and make an educated decision, that's the best you can do...

 

[bunnycd]

Thanks for the insight. I wonder if they give statistics anywhere on what the chances are of contracting whooping cough. I know that with immigration whooping cough has increased in city areas. I am not sure what to do. Have had the flu jab.