Pertussis titer instead of getting vaccine?

oywiththepoodlesalready

Hello ladies,

I'm having an issue with my MIL being willing to get the pertussis vaccine. She says that she thinks she had pertussis so she is immune and therefore doesn't need to get the vaccine before baby comes. When we told her that "thinking" she was immune didn't work for us, she said that she would be willing to have a titer test done to see if she has the antibodies. I can't easily find any information online about how reliable a titer test is, does anyone have any experience with this?

nbpa3027

I would ask your doctor. I know when I got pregnant the first time they ran titers for all of the things I should have been current on and they seemed to trust that enough for me not to have to get any boosters or anything.

Her saying she "thinks" she is immune would definitely not sit right with me. I also might question the results unless I see them for myself. That being said, if she is willing to get the titers run, it may be useful to know if she is still immune to all of the other big ones since now they are saying some older vaccines have worn off for some people.

wildbutterfli2001

I have had it and that does not make me immune. I would insist that she get the vaccine or be forced to have limited access to the baby. She may not like it but those are the options. As someone who has had it, is scary and I would never risk giving it to a baby, I would think she would have that mentality too if she's had it and knows how awful it is! Good luck!

AiramJ

My midwife laughed when I asked her whether family members should get vaccinated. She said as long as I have it done during pregnancy, the baby will be protected until he gets them done at 2 months. I am still unsure about getting it done during pregnancy, I have been doing a lot of research and it seems it's not 100% confirmed to be 100% safe during pregnancy. I have been putting it off and plan on having it when I am 36 weeks.

ajblanks11

I had the vaccine at 27 weeks which does pass on antibodies to the baby to help protect them but it is not the same as a full vaccine for the baby from what I hear and as you mentioned they cannot receive the vaccine until 2 months old.  My husband also had the vaccine and I had my parents and my in-laws get it as well.  I'm not willing to take the risk when pertussis can be life threatening in a newborn.  

AiramJ

I wanted my in laws to get vaccinated, but my husband sat in with me when the midwife said no one but me needs it.

ElleMF728

When did she have pertussis? She probably still needs a booster.  Anyone who spends a significant amount of time around my children got it with my first but he is only 2 so their boosters are still effective. 

oywiththepoodlesalready

I personally feel like it should be a no brainier to get the vaccine but I am trying to keep an open mind and will be ok if she proves with titers that she has immunity (and doctor says that is ok). I don't know when she thinks she had it and I do know she was never officially diagnosed so I question if the titers will show immunity.... Just a hard situation because I want to do everything I can to protect my baby and having to deal with this stress does not make me happy!

As a side note: My parents and FIL will be getting the vaccine and hubby already got his. I got mine at 28 weeks.

Chirorocks15

If the titers come back okay then great, that is obviously the best case scenario. If not, then it's definitely your call if you are going to ask her to get a booster.

mollypuss1

AiramJ said:

I wanted my in laws to get vaccinated, but my husband sat in with me when the midwife said no one but me needs it.

Mine too. Where do you live? I'm in the UK and it's only recommended to the mother here, not the father or extended family.

AiramJ

mollypuss1 said:

AiramJ said:

I wanted my in laws to get vaccinated, but my husband sat in with me when the midwife said no one but me needs it.

Mine too. Where do you live? I'm in the UK and it's only recommended to the mother here, not the father or extended family.

I am in the UK too. I am not sure what to do. Surely pertussis and the way you catch it is the same all over the world?! Did you have yours done yet?

mollypuss1

I had mine last week and my SO came in the room with me so he could ask the nurse if he needed it. She said no.

ColoradoHiker

My midwife told me anyone who will be having close contact a lot with the baby should at least make sure they are up to date.

przemosbabe

There is evidence that cocooning ( that is what they call it when adults get vaccinated for pertussis to protect baby) doesn't work. I'm not anti vaccination I'm just telling you what i read. I have no advice to give other than that, I am sorry. I wish you the best whatever happens.

loveleighmami

I actually had the vaccine last year, since I work with small children, and my doctor is still recommending me to get it again.

MeganKGarcia

Titers are very reliable. But, unless she is immunocomprimised or pregnant herself, there is no real reason not to just get the vaccine.

oywiththepoodlesalready

Interesting that many have been told that SO and grandparents don't need to be vaccinated. I'm in New York and there is a huge push here for mom, dad, grandparents and care givers to all get vaccinated. 

@przemosbabe I had seen some of that evidence as well but all the health care works are telling me that they see it working to protect babies.... so confusing.....

wildbutterfli2001

And just an fyi if your mil had it,she would know for sure. There is no "I think I had that"with pertussis. It is no joke scary shit. I thought I was going to die. I would cough being the point of choking, could not catch my breath and literally thought I was going to suffocate to death. You can't breath.

crbpjb

You can trust the titer.

twogirlsandagreen

The vaccine is only 85% effective, those vaccinated can become silent (asymptomatic) carriers and still infect your baby, and cocooning is not effective. The most effective thing you can do is to get the tdap vaccine to pass antibodies directly to your baby through the placenta. I HATE the thought of vaccines while pregnant, but the research has shown that direct protection is much much much more effective than cocooning. Not worth ruffling feathers over with your parents or in laws. Just instate a rule that if anyone feels the least but run down that they are to stay away from the baby. If they have the tdap vaccine then they can be completely symptomless, yet contagious, after exposure to the bacteria and come around your baby and infect him/her.