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3rd Trimester
sasha.machado24
member
Family refusing to get Tdap; What would you do?
sasha.machado24
member
My mother and father (grandparents) are refusing to get the Tdap. My sister is allergic to the Tdap and cannot receive the vaccine which I understand. But my mother in particular who is going to babysit the child is specifically refusing as she thinks the vaccine will kill her...no joke. I have had it, my husband and in-laws. It has become a HUGE problem with my family and our Dr. said that I should not let my mother go around the baby (this is her first grandchild and this would be heartbreaking). My big concern is that she always has a "cough" and works for a bank meeting with customers daily and touching dirty money...what would you do?
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Re: Family refusing to get Tdap; What would you do?
I wouldn't assume that because she always has a cough that your mom has Pertussis. Do you live in an area with an outbreak of whooping cough? That said....they are aware they are pretty much just getting a routine tetanus shot?
It's the Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis ( whooping cough) vaccine. There have been outbreaks of whooping cough in some areas due to children either not being vaccinated or people coming into the country and it being vaccinated either.
Ahh, I will have to check my records and make sure DH and I are up to date then ... Throw in a distemper too.
To answer OP, your baby, your rules.
I will have the vaccine at the hospital, DH got his at his annual check up this year but my docs have never suggested that extended family needed to have the vaccine.
If you mom is your main childcare provider then I might encourage it. I am sure it's a requirement for daycare workers to be up to date on their immunizations. If she is only watching LO occasionally I would not push so hard. If you are really concerned and she is coughing on the the baby or you think she will be coughing on the baby, ask her to wear a mask.
My MIL was hesitant. Both my babies are small for gestational age and will be born at 37w at the latest due to cholestasis. I know some people think it's ridiculous but my husband actually said sorry we won't let you around them (she was going to be watching them once a week when I go back to work part time). She decided to get it! Maybe if you talk to your doctor about getting more info for your mom. If my mom said that I would straight tell her either get it or tough sh*t about watching them. My kids will also be preemies which is even worse. My friend's child just had it and she said rushing him to the hospital with breathing issues was the most stressful thing she has ever had to deal with!
I work in a hospital on L&D and they do recommend mom and dad plus anyone "watching babies" gets it. There's an article specifically about grandparents somewhere on the net also...
You can do whatever you would like - however, I think the Dr saying she can't be around the baby at all is a bit extreme.
I was vaccinated in the hospital when I had the boys - but DH never was. My mom spends time with them once a week or so and doesn't have the new vaccination. I'm just one of those people who doesn't over worry it. The boys are getting all of their vaccinations on the regular schedule and aren't in daycare, and have yet to have anything more than a cold.
OP, I have also broached the subject of Tdap with the grandparents and my brother. All were happy to get it as it can save your baby's life, especially if you live in an area where pertussis is endemic and vaccination rates are reduced. DH and I have already decided that anyone unwilling to get the vaccine won't be seeing our twins until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
A woman my mother works with actually had her own grandson contract pertussis as an infant and the baby not only had to be hospitalized, but had to be on a SIDS monitor when he was brought home. No one being mad at us is worth our children's lives. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for protecting your baby!It is likely that you were given the dT booster which is the diptheria and tetanus portions without pertussis. If you aren't sure it's not going to hurt you to get the full booster.
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This...your MD is being an alarmist and it's completely uncalled for.
i would not agree with the 'just a routine tetanus shot'. i can take the tetanus shot with no problem, i had the shot for pertusis and stopped breathing and went into a coma when i was little.
Really makes me wonder how in the world we didn't have a pertussis epidemic be for the vaccine became so highly recommended. In real estate we used to call that panic selling - inducing a state of fear to sell a product.
I once had a friend who had a friend that tore from her v to her a naturally and had to have reconstructive surgery, so she advised everyone get an episiotomy. Glad I did my research instead of listening to a horror story.
I agree with this. My kids survived without this years ago and they were preemies with a high risk of sids! C'mon now....forcing people to be vaccinated is quite extreme! How did babies survive before this vaccine! Just make sure to vaccinate your baby when they are due. They will be just fine!
The baby will get the Dtap vaccine at 2 months. As a Pediatric ICU nurse, this is one of the main reasons I didn't take my first baby into crowded public areas until after he received his vaccines at 2 months. I have seen tiny babies suffer with this illness and it is terrible to see them, and many do not survive. In adults, you will just seem like you have a bad cold. I think it is helpful for family who will be around baby to have the vaccine, but you can't make someone get it. You just need to set the ground rules that anyone who has a cough, runny nose, fever, etc. cannot be around the baby at all. And make sure that everyone washes their hands before touching the baby. My family thought I was a little crazy with the handwashing, but I reminded them of where I work, and they just did what I asked.
Yeah I'm going to have to call BS on this one.
I was told it is not a bad idea for me to get it. The doctor said there is some evidance that if that mother gets it while the baby is in gestation that some of the antibodies may get passed on.
I'm a special education teacher and I did have a student that was very disabled almost die from pertussis. It looked like nothing more than a mild cold on a Thursday and by the time Friday rolled around he was in the hospital.
I would agree with one of the PPs that some people don't feel the need to wash their hands or will still come around when they are sick. That being said some people just don't believe in vaccines. I personally resent the fact that people are will to expose me and mine to things that could be deadly. That being said, you have to decide what you feel comfortable with.
No softserve? Now that's a new one for me!
Thanks, I don't think I've heard of it either, but it may not be top concern in my area.
For me - If someone refuses to get the shot then they won't be around the baby. Some people have to realize its not about them, its about what is best for the baby.
Baby GIRL due 12/26
I work for a doctor and I have talked to both him and my OB and they both told me that even if my family gets the shot the baby is going to be exposed to people every single day that have not been vaccinated. The only sure way to make sure she was 100% protected was to not expose her to anyone that isn't up to date...and that is going to be impossible unless I kept her in a bubble.