Vaccinating your Preemie?

Mahon Baby

My twins were born at 26 weeks and are still in the NICU after 75 days.  The NICU Drs have been pushing me to vaccinate since they were 60 days.  I really don't want to do any vaccinations until they are 2 months adjusted and a bit bigger.  One of my boys is still having issues w/ his liver and making red blood cells.  I just don't want to tax their system any more than it's already been pushed.  Also, we'll be gettting the synargis...which I know isn't a vaccine...and I think that'll be enough for his system to deal with. 

Thoughts?  What did you do for your "micro" preemie? If you got vax, did you have any side effects?

TIA

jacque_z

My 26 weeker got her vaccinations on schedule.  They did however break up some of them over a two day period.  She had no side effects.  HTH! 

MBB41707

My baby was born at 33 weeks so a different situation than your babies, and he was discharged right before two months so he got his vaccinations from his pedi, but when I talked to the pedi about whether to vary the vaccination schedule she pointed out that it is even more important for preemies that they get their shots on time and avoid the risk of getting one of these diseases.

DrRx

My 26-weeker received her 2 month shots in the NICU and then her 4-month shots at her pedi.  We've kept her on the regular vaccination schedule.  The neos, as well as the pedis, (and other research that I've done) says to vaccinate preemies based on actual age. 

When she got her shots in the NICU, they broke it up over 2 days.  However, since then at her pedis, she's gotten them all at the same visit.  She might be fussier than normal, and 1 time Adalyn had a low-grade fever that went away with 1 dose of tylenol), but other than that she's never had a reaction. 

 

thishappyhouse

I understand your hesitation.  At 2 months my daughter was still under 3 pounds and I was scaredout of my mind for her to be getting vaccinations that young.  I spoke with alot of doctors and did my own research and decided to keep her on the regular schedule.  Like others have said, I asked them to space them out while she was in the NICU so that she was getting her 2 and 4 month vaccinations over the course of 2 or 3 days.  These micropreemies miss out on so much of the 3 trimester immunobodies that it is extra important that they receive their immunizations.  

 Continue to research and talk to your neos until you are comfortable.   

CTbride79

My son was not a micro preemie (32 weeks) BUT he was very small at birth due to IUGR (2 lbs. 9 oz.), and we started vaccinations according to his adjusted age, right on schedule, and he has always done fine with no side effects. 

I was really nervous intially too, especially for his first ones at 2 months, when he was only about 5 lbs., but like a PP said, the doctor told us it was even more important that he get his shots on time because he was so small and a preemie and would be more susceptible.  HTH! 

Pips09

M&MHaveMyHeart:

I don't have a "micro" preemie but his neos & pedi both told us that it is important to keep them on schedule based on their actual age.

This is the same info we got. I have a 30-weeker and I was told that it's more important for a preemie because they are already behind the ball with immunity.

kelly321

M&MHaveMyHeart:

I don't have a "micro" preemie but his neos & pedi both told us that it is important to keep them on schedule based on their actual age.

Same here. I asked about delayed vaccinations and was told from everyone that that is not recommended for preemies.

msalinardi@live.com

I also had a 26 weeker. She spent 16 weeks in the NICU and I held off giving her her vaccinations until about a week before she came home and even then had them spaced out. I initially held off for the same reason as you did, but I did want to make sure she had some immunizations before she entered the "real" world. I did wait for the next set until she was at her adjusted age and after seeing her reaction to having all the shots at once, I chose to have her pedi only give 2 at a time, once a month. When she received the full course that one time, she was extremely fussy for the rest of the day and ran a fever. I think her system was over loaded. We never had that situation again. I would go with your gut and do what makes you comfortable. Don't let others pressure you into doing something you don't want to do.