tdap while i'm pregnant????

sapphirerose915

I'm scared to death to get any vaccines.. let alone when im pregnant...they originally told me i would get it after the baby was born in the hosp.. and now they want me to get it before im 36 weeks. have any of you ladies opted out of getting it while pregnant and are waiting til afterwards??
i talked to the babies pediatrician and did some research, and i dont think im ok with it...
wondering what you ladies thought??

LadySamLady

I did get the vaccine and I think it is extremely important. Why aren't you OK with it? Pertussis is deadly to infants and is not uncommon. Getting vaccinated while you are pregnant allows you to pass antibodies to your baby so that they can be protected from pertussis at birth.

ayeshaohara

There are multiple threads about this. Most of us have or are having it before birth. It doesn't make sense it get it after giving birth. The point is that you pass on some immunity to your baby before they get their own vaccinations. It's takes at least 2 weeks to build an immune response to a vaccination so if you're going to get it, get it sooner rather than later! 

scbonnell04

I am the first to admit that I'm pro-vaccine.  I see no need to risk our babies' health and livelihood for diseases we can fully prevent.  I have two very healthy girls who were vaccinated on schedule and DH and I just received our TDAPs yesterday at 35 weeks.

I think the recommendation is to ensure that you have full protection against pertussis which can be deadly to unvaccinated infants.  The chances of them getting it go up greatly if someone they are around regularly gets it which is why they recommend that everyone in the household be vaccinated.  Your doctors have been extensively trained to identify risks to you and your baby, training that you simply cannot get from Google.  Whatever you decide, be sure you are using trusted sources for the information you rely on not someone's blog.

Here is what the CDC has to say about it. 
https://www.cdc.gov/features/pertussis/

sapphirerose915

scbonnell04 said:

I am the first to admit that I'm pro-vaccine.  I see no need to risk our babies' health and livelihood for diseases we can fully prevent.  I have two very healthy girls who were vaccinated on schedule and DH and I just received our TDAPs yesterday at 35 weeks.

I think the recommendation is to ensure that you have full protection against pertussis which can be deadly to unvaccinated infants.  The chances of them getting it go up greatly if someone they are around regularly gets it which is why they recommend that everyone in the household be vaccinated.  Your doctors have been extensively trained to identify risks to you and your baby, training that you simply cannot get from Google.  Whatever you decide, be sure you are using trusted sources for the information you rely on not someone's blog.

Here is what the CDC has to say about it. 
https://www.cdc.gov/features/pertussis/

thank you!!! Will do....
I have never really been pro-vaccine unless it is a necessity.. it just scares me... being a 1st time mom I am so precautious of everything! I appreciate everyones input and will definitely think about it further!!

hellogoodbye2

Get it while you are pregnant, for sure.

JessicaB0627

sapphirerose915 said:

scbonnell04 said:

I am the first to admit that I'm pro-vaccine.  I see no need to risk our babies' health and livelihood for diseases we can fully prevent.  I have two very healthy girls who were vaccinated on schedule and DH and I just received our TDAPs yesterday at 35 weeks.

I think the recommendation is to ensure that you have full protection against pertussis which can be deadly to unvaccinated infants.  The chances of them getting it go up greatly if someone they are around regularly gets it which is why they recommend that everyone in the household be vaccinated.  Your doctors have been extensively trained to identify risks to you and your baby, training that you simply cannot get from Google.  Whatever you decide, be sure you are using trusted sources for the information you rely on not someone's blog.

Here is what the CDC has to say about it. 
https://www.cdc.gov/features/pertussis/

thank you!!! Will do....
I have never really been pro-vaccine unless it is a necessity.. it just scares me... being a 1st time mom I am so precautious of everything! I appreciate everyones input and will definitely think about it further!!

I would say that it's a necessity in this case. 

ayeshaohara

I'm all for doing anything we can to protect our babies because there's so much we can't protect them from! Necessity for sure! 

Knottie64278661

sapphirerose915 I just wanted to give you some support on the other end of things since everyone who commented seemed to be pro-vaccine. I was vaccinated as a child but since I've become pregnant I have done a lot of research and spoke to many family and friends who choose to not vaccinate or selective vaccines. 

The family doctor my baby and I will be seeing told me I should get the tdap shot while pregnant because it will give some immunity to the baby. I discussed with my midwife and she assured me that I do not need to receive the vaccine during pregnancy.

 Tdap shot is classified by the FDA as a Class C drug. These drugs are not safe to the baby during pregnancy.

Here's some more info:
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/tdap-vaccine-pushed-on-pregnant-women-despite-fetal-risks/

https://www.thevaccinereaction.org/2016/02/recently-vaccinated-kids-are-spreading-pertussis-everywhere/

I am also reading this book and I recommend it:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave & Deborah Mitchell 

Good luck to you and your baby!

tripledaggerWed95976

Knottie64278661 said:

sapphirerose915 I just wanted to give you some support on the other end of things since everyone who commented seemed to be pro-vaccine. I was vaccinated as a child but since I've become pregnant I have done a lot of research and spoke to many family and friends who choose to not vaccinate or selective vaccines. 

The family doctor my baby and I will be seeing told me I should get the tdap shot while pregnant because it will give some immunity to the baby. I discussed with my midwife and she assured me that I do not need to receive the vaccine during pregnancy.

 Tdap shot is classified by the FDA as a Class C drug. These drugs are not safe to the baby during pregnancy.

Here's some more info:
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/tdap-vaccine-pushed-on-pregnant-women-despite-fetal-risks/

I am also reading this book and I recommend it:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave & Deborah Mitchell 

Good luck to you and your baby!

I don't want to get into a vax debate, but I need to point out that category c does NOT mean it's "not safe for the baby." I'm not sure where you are getting that information.  
Category c means that there are not adequate human studies to say that the medication is 100% safe....  This is NOT the same thing as "being not safe."
it is really important to try to post factual information when you are posting on a public forum such as this.  Spreading misinformation can be very dangerous 

mcb2016

I personally am getting it just after having my baby. This is definitely not a popular opinion on this site. I've looked at the CDC page for case trends, and incidents of whooping cough in my state. I do plan on researching it a little more before I hit 36 weeks but I have talked to my OB about it already. 

missnc77

Knottie64278661 said:

Tdap shot is classified by the FDA as a Class C drug. These drugs are not safe to the baby during pregnancy.

Misinformation alert.

That's not what a Class C label means. It means there has not been enough research on humans to say if there is a definitive risk or not to the fetus, and that Class C drugs may have potential benefits to pregnant women that outweigh the risks. A Class D label means there has been positive evidence in humans that it it may not safe for the fetus, but still, there may be benefits. A class X label means there is demonstrated evidence in humans that said drug can cause fetal abnormalities.

Did you know Tums are Class C? My OB still gives them the OK. Gas-X is Class C. My OB still says it's OK. Why? Because there hasn't been any study that says it's bad for the fetus.

Unknown/No proven research showing risk to humans vs. "Not Safe for the baby" are two very different things.

Knottie64278661

I don't want to get into the vax debate either but this mom was seeking advice and the only advice given before my post was one sided so I provided my advice. If you believe to trust the CDC then that is up to you. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion in making important decisions for their babies. 

As for posting reliable information on this site only I have seen some fairly out there information presented. It is up to people to decide for themselves what they choose to follow. I'm not trying to put anyone down for getting the shot. I was just offering a different opinion and obviously less popular.

That's all. Good luck to all you mommies.

JessicaB0627

Knottie64278661 said:

I don't want to get into the vax debate either but this mom was seeking advice and the only advice given before my post was one sided so I provided my advice. If you believe to trust the CDC then that is up to you. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion in making important decisions for their babies. 

As for posting reliable information on this site only I have seen some fairly out there information presented. It is up to people to decide for themselves what they choose to follow. I'm not trying to put anyone down for getting the shot. I was just offering a different opinion and obviously less popular.

That's all. Good luck to all you mommies.


*Stuck in the box*

There is no evidence to support that getting the TDAP vaccine is dangerous during pregnancy. There is, however, evidence that pertussis can be detrimental to a baby's health. So your misinformation could be harmful. 

missnc77

I'm not debating vaccines and if you should or should not get them. I'm just clarifying what Class C actually means. If you don't want to vaccinate and want to support someone who is also facing that question to vaccinate or not vaccinate, the least you could do is give correct information. If anything, it just discredits you.

dshannah

missnc77 said:

Knottie64278661 said:

Tdap shot is classified by the FDA as a Class C drug. These drugs are not safe to the baby during pregnancy.

Misinformation alert.

That's not what a Class C label means. It means there has not been enough research on humans to say if there is a definitive risk or not to the fetus, and that Class C drugs may have potential benefits to pregnant women that outweigh the risks. A Class D label means there has been positive evidence in humans that it it may not safe for the fetus, but still, there may be benefits. A class X label means there is demonstrated evidence in humans that said drug can cause fetal abnormalities.

Did you know Tums are Class C? My OB still gives them the OK. Gas-X is Class C. My OB still says it's OK. Why? Because there hasn't been any study that says it's bad for the fetus.

Unknown/No proven research showing risk to humans vs. "Not Safe for the baby" are two very different things.

Also, albuterol inhalers. I tried going for a while without using my inhaler, just in case, until my OB pointed out that it was probably more important for baby that I be breathing.

Class C just means they haven't done the testing to say it's safe. Which is the default classification, since there are so many reasons not to experiment on pregnant women.

Knottie64278661

What can be harmful are biased opinions to a new mom clearly on the fence about getting a vaccine while pregnant. I could easily say that only citing the CDC as a reliable source could be harmful as well.

JessicaB0627

Knottie64278661 said:

What can be harmful are biased opinions to a new mom clearly on the fence about getting a vaccine while pregnant. I could easily say that only citing the CDC as a reliable source could be harmful as well.

They're not biased. They're factual and backed by science.

AdorkablePixie

When faced with the decision to get a vaccine and possibly save your babies life and not get it and have the possibility that your child will get sick.. I don't know why you wouldn't get the vaccine. Especially if your doctor recommended it. There are TOO MANY people these days not vaccinating their children for me to feel comfortable not doing what I can for mine. There have been recent cases of pertussis where I live though, so I have to be careful!

@sapphirerose915 Back to your question, my thought is that prevention is a good idea. When you get the shot after baby is born, it does nothing to protect baby. If you get it when pregnant, the immunities transfer to baby as well. When baby is born they don't get the pertussis shot until they are two months old, is that something you want to risk? In the end it's your decision.

st3lla

My husband had pertussis as a baby. Listening to his mom talk about how terrified she was for him as he suffered this awful disease was heartbreaking. The evidence is available for you to make your own decisions, but rather than just focusing on the relatively small risks associated with the vaccine you may wish to also look up the symptoms of this disease and consider how you will feel if your child is unlucky enough to contract it. 

mrstmoose

So, I'm hearing that you are willing to risk your child's life on the off chance that someone would have whooping cough and give it to your baby instead of getting the vaccine that could help improve your LO's immune system? If you don't get it, that's your choice. However, if me getting a shot improves their chances of NOT getting sick, I'm all for it. 

Just putting it in another perspective: if you went into preterm labor or something was wrong that your LO had to be delivered immediately, would you refuse the steroid shot that helps develop their lungs? 

Just saying.

TheThornBird

I was on the fence about it, but ultimately decided to just get it. I know there are risks with vaccines- we know someone whose sister went blind from one- but ultimately the benefits far outweigh the risks. Risks are very rare, and I would rather have a blind/autistic/whatever child than a dead child. 

I've also talked with my very old grandmother who grew up watching babies and children die or become disabled from diseases we now vaccinate against. She is 100% for vaccinating because she saw first hand what these diseases do. 

AmmyBelle

I think a lot of people who choose not to vaccinate do so because they're very privileged to be a part of a particular country at a particular time where many of these illnesses have been (mostly!) eradicated. My friend's grandfather had polio as a child - he's never been able to walk "normal". My family comes from a country that only began vaccinating in my lifetime. I have had cousins die from whopping cough. 

We live in a particular time/space where we have become distrustful of pharmaceuticals - we believe in only whole foods, fresh air, a return to nature - and in some ways, that's not a bad thing. It becomes bad when you ignore scientific facts when forming those opinions. Vaccines do not cause autism. Can there be risks with vaccines? Yes. But those are very rare and in comparison to the risk of getting certain illnesses (which result in, you know, death) they are not as severe. Currently, we have outbreaks in the US and Canada of whooping cough and measles - things that were thought to have been eradicated btw - because of a fear of vaccines. A child just died in Ontario after his parents, suspicious of vaccines/big government/big pharma, decided to treat his measles with maple syrup (not a joke). 

The CDC, doctors and scientists recommend getting the Tdap now, in the third trimester to give some immunity to your child. They're not trying to poison your child (and honestly, what would be the reason of poisoning children, exactly? Dead children, to put it bluntly, do not need more vaccines/more meds for other things down the line - so unless we're in the X-Files Universe and the vaccines are an alien hybrid technology to control us ... you see where this is going, right?) and it's not logical to see all the facts and then decide nope, not for you. The links of non-scientists claiming things that end up not being fact only serve to scare the population of people already concerned over their child's health. It's not information - it's propaganda, and it's harmful. 

You should probably get the Tdap in the third trimester. Experts agree to it and the recent outbreaks of certain illnesses would seem to make it more necessary than previously thought. If you do have further questions about the effects of Tdap (my arm was sore for about 5 days afterwards) I suggest grilling your doctor - they know more, they can answer more, they have your medical history. 

FWIW, I don't mind getting into a Vax debate in this case since I am pretty optimistic that when presented with all the evidence on the pro-vac side and all the misinformation on the anti-vac side, those on the fence will vaccinate their kids.

vinerie

Knottie64278661 said:

sapphirerose915 I just wanted to give you some support on the other end of things since everyone who commented seemed to be pro-vaccine. I was vaccinated as a child but since I've become pregnant I have done a lot of research and spoke to many family and friends who choose to not vaccinate or selective vaccines. 

The family doctor my baby and I will be seeing told me I should get the tdap shot while pregnant because it will give some immunity to the baby. I discussed with my midwife and she assured me that I do not need to receive the vaccine during pregnancy.

 Tdap shot is classified by the FDA as a Class C drug. These drugs are not safe to the baby during pregnancy.

Here's some more info:
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/tdap-vaccine-pushed-on-pregnant-women-despite-fetal-risks/

https://www.thevaccinereaction.org/2016/02/recently-vaccinated-kids-are-spreading-pertussis-everywhere/

I am also reading this book and I recommend it:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave & Deborah Mitchell 

Good luck to you and your baby!

"Family and friends who chose not to vaccinate" do not = medical doctors and trained scientists! 

missnc77

Knottie64278661 said:

What can be harmful are biased opinions to a new mom clearly on the fence about getting a vaccine while pregnant. I could easily say that only citing the CDC as a reliable source could be harmful as well.

Okay, let's look at your sources.

#1 The vaccine reaction.org article written by Barbara Loe Fisher. Barbara is not a doctor. She's a mom that jumped into the anti-vax movement around the same time Jenny McCarthy decided to blindly follow a quack doctor (Andrew Wakefield) that linked autism to vaccinations. I worked at a center that researches developmental disabilities - full of scientists who cared about finding what causes disabilities like autism. Real solid research backed my millions of dollars in research grants and university money. You know what they thought of Andrew Wakefield? I'll let you guess. His article was eventually retracted because it was such BS.

Since you love to "research"....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefield#Fraud_and_conflict_of_interest_allegations

#2 Healthy home economist - Article by "Sarah" - Who is Sarah? Is she kind of like Madonna? Prince? Only goes by one name? What's her background? Is she a doctor? Research scientist? Who knows. But hey, you want to trust a one name internet soldier with no credentials, that's your choice I guess.

So sure, you can easily say citing CDC articles is "harmful," but I think I'll trust doctors over Andrew Wakefield followers and our good friend "Sarah" at the "Health Home Economist." Not sure why you find them more trust worthy. To each their own.

lizChesnut

Spent some summers on a family ranch ranch, very rural part of mexico. Got very attached to a puppy and watched him die a very slow painful death from Parvo. A disease very easily prevented  by vaccines. After that I've been 100% pro vaccine. It's is a blessing to have! And this comes from a person very committed to having a natural birth!

JoMunson

OP, I was on the fence about tDap as well. The "cons" of getting the vaccine for me were the mercury and formaldehyde in the vaccine. Although this isn't any MORE than any other vaccine I plan to give my son, it did give me a knee jerk reaction to think of him getting that stuff in utero. Also, pertussis is a part of your baby's two month shots, so part of me wanted to say "okay maybe family can get the vaccine and my LO can just get it in July when he's two months old".
the big pro that swung me to getting the vaccine is that the town I live in has one of the highest unvaccinated rates in my state. This means I can't rely on the people around myself and my baby to be immune if we decide to go somewhere before two months. If I chose not to get the vaccine, I'd have to insist everyone I know get it and baby and I wouldn't be safe leaving the house for two months. My baby needs the vaccine to be safe until his immune system develops. If more people vaccinated or we lived in a town that didn't get pertussis every year, I might have made a different choice. 
My husband also reminded me that our midwives are people we trust and people who we feel hold the same values as us. If you feel that way about your ob or midwife, it's okay to ask them questions and debate with them about the benefits and risks of the vaccine. 

Instead of researching possible unreliable sources about vaccines in general, research your towns pertussis exposure every year and ask yourself- am I okay staying at home for months and not letting anyone hold my baby for months to keep them safe from this disease?

dshannah

It's also an odds game.

Yes, vaccines can have negative side effects. But before the pertussis vaccine, 137 out of 100,000 kids died of whooping cough every year. When the vaccine first came out, 1 in 300,000 kids suffered side effects, including severe brain damage. Even with such serious side effects, you'd be risking so much more by not vaccinating! And the vaccine they use now has even fewer side effects: they made it weaker to lessen the chance of brain damage. 

Delitachan

I declined the flu vaccine (I got sick the last time I had it) and I was going to decline the Tdap. My doctor said it wasn't a live virus and complications are rare. I ended up getting the vaccine for piece of mind. That shot will leave you with a sore arm for days, though!

nbgmom

I was a freshman in college in 2004, at the very beginning of the time they were realizing pertussis was making a huge comeback and recommending more boosters. I got whooping cough. That was 12 years ago, I am and was a very healthy person. I STILL get a terrible chest cough every single time I get a plain old cold. Permanent and lasting damage from a preventable disease. I can't imagine knowingly allowing my tiny infant to that kind of thing, so I'll do everything in my power to prevent it.

Karenpreggo

Nothing productive to add that hasnt already been said, but as a medical professional (Veterinarian), it warms my heart to see so many people trusting the SCIENCE of vaccines, not the "15 min of fame"-playboy bunny propoganda.  

If you dont have time to read the Andrew Wakefield wiki article, here are your takehome points:

1.  Paper was discredited with numerous follwup studies.  Vaccines do not cause autism.  Andrew Wakefield falsified data/stats for drama and publicity.
2.  Andrew Wakefield LOST HIS MEDICAL LICENSE because of the paper.

Also, look up herd immunity.  Vaccinating our otherwise healthy children protects kids who cant be vaccinated due to things like cancer.  IMO, its incredibly selfish to subject that child to deadly diseases because of a lack of knowledge and misplaced trust (Jenny McCarthy, really?) - vaccinate your kids if you are blessed enough to have a healthy child.  And, when you are doing your research regarding vaccines, peer reviewed academic literature = science.  Articles in Time Magazine, from celebrities, etc = popular opinion.  The CDC uses only robust science to make their recommendations.

*steps off soapbox*

sapphirerose915

Thank you all so much for your input! I will talk to my ob and pediatrician more next week!

zanaerob1

Delitachan said:

I declined the flu vaccine (I got sick the last time I had it) and I was going to decline the Tdap. My doctor said it wasn't a live virus and complications are rare. I ended up getting the vaccine for piece of mind. That shot will leave you with a sore arm for days, though!

Just for the record, the flu vaccine is also not a live vaccine and you can't get ill from it. You can get some 'flu-like symptoms' which is actually your body building an immune response (ie. behaving as if you had flu). The difference being that those symptoms are inconvenient and unpleasant, but cannot in any way hurt you. Whereas real flu can actually kill you (especially in pregnancy) and seriously harm your baby.

And if you do catch influenza after having the vaccine, even if it's a different strain than the vaccine you're far less likely to get seriously unwell.

Also, there's now evidence that getting the flu vaccine in pregnancy halves the rate of stillbirth.

Delitachan said:

I declined the flu vaccine (I got sick the last time I had it) and I was going to decline the Tdap. My doctor said it wasn't a live virus and complications are rare. I ended up getting the vaccine for piece of mind. That shot will leave you with a sore arm for days, though!

Just for the record, the flu vaccine is also not a live vaccine and you can't get ill from it. You can get some 'flu-like symptoms' which is actually your body building an immune response (ie. behaving as if you had flu). The difference being that those symptoms are inconvenient and unpleasant, but cannot in any way hurt you. Whereas real flu can actually kill you (especially in pregnancy) and seriously harm your baby.

And if you do catch influenza after having the vaccine, even if it's a different strain than the vaccine you're far less likely to get seriously unwell.

Also, there's now evidence that getting the flu vaccine in pregnancy potentially halves the rate of stillbirth.

https://www.m.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20160331/flu-shot-might-cut-stillbirth-risk

Delitachan

I actually didn't get the flu from the vaccine, I had a bad reaction to it. I had a lot of swelling at the injection site and headaches/muscle aches. I actually had to miss work due to this. That's why I'm afraid of the vaccine.
However, I'm not ANTI-vaccine. I just didn't get the flu one because I was too afraid of the same adverse reaction. 

Delitachan

Knottie64278661 said:

What can be harmful are biased opinions to a new mom clearly on the fence about getting a vaccine while pregnant. I could easily say that only citing the CDC as a reliable source could be harmful as well.

Except that the OP did ask for our opinions, which are going to be biased (hence, an opinion) and for our input. 

AmmyBelle

This thread is basically dead, but I remembered it when I came across this in my newsfeed this morning, so I thought I would share: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/news/a56292/pertussis-vaccination-warning-video/

Oh, and just for good measure, this one too: https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolinekee/rise-of-measles-and-pertussis-from-vaccine-refusals#.dgx9PzG0E

Aaaaaand before anyone bemoans the use of Buzzfeed or Cosmo - they provide links, read those if you hate magazines that are pink or websites that subsist on listicles. 

LadySamLady

Just wanted to share this article about a mother who deeply regretted not getting the whooping cough vaccine and is speaking out to tell others not to make the same mistake.

https://www.babble.com/parenting/pregnant-mom-refused-whooping-cough-vaccine/

knottied0e875bc6821880f

This is an old post but putting this information out there for anyone interested.

This is a start. Medical research on how metals (like aluminum in vaccines) are linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, neurological disorders, it crosses the placenta barrier and can have terrible effects on adults and especially the unborn. There's much more research than this but like I said, this is a place to start. Not looking to start a debate. Just passing along public information and research from our government and other sources.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935120306277

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344667/

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Al-distribution-in-a-placenta-body-b-placenta-membrane-and-c-umbilical-cord_fig2_47756255#:~:text=Aluminum%20can%20cross%20the%20placental,effect%20%5B4%2C%205%5D.

Individual heavy metal exposure and birth ... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6062375/

Exposure of Reproductive-Aged Women to Multiple Metals and Its Associations ... https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/10/830

Heavy Metal Pollution and Stillbirth in Bangladesh | Stanford Luby Lab https://lubylab.stanford.edu/heavy-metal-pollution-and-stillbirth-bangladesh

Prenatal blood levels of some toxic metals and the risk of spontaneous abortion https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8172701/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10624662/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/heavymetals.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110569017300377