WWYD? - vaccine question

lifesaverz · September 2013

So I got my last TDAP about a year ago (maybe even less), & had a really bad reaction that my doctor & I had to report to VAERS. My arm would not stop hurting, & I couldn't even lift it above shoulder level (so had a hard time even getting dressed!) for a whole month. We still don't really know why I reacted that way or if it was just some kind of weird fluke. Well anyway, knowing that my body may potentially have a weird reaction if I get it again, I just don't feel comfortable getting it during the pregnancy, but my question is, should I get it again right after baby is born? I might be willing to risk it at that point, since any reaction I have would not affect baby, & the main thing is I just want baby to be protected, but I'm also not sure if it's really necessary for me to do it again if it's only been a year since I had it last? I would still be a little scared, but willing to try it, but I guess I'm just not really sure if it's actually necessary or if my body should still have the immunity at this point. My doctor is leaving it up to me, so I'm curious to hear any thoughts you guys have.

ScarlettV · September 2013

Are you going to have LO vaccinated on schedule?

If it were me; I probably wouldn't risk it. Ive had serious reactions to those as well. But I am going to be cacooning with baby the first few months until he has his needed shots, and we don't plan to have people over anyway, so the chances of our LO coming in contact with it are extremely low.

utlawgirl · September 2013

Wow, I'm really surprised your doctor didn't give you any further input than that, given the reaction you had last time.

If you've had it within the past year, you should still be protected, and, if it were me, I probably wouldn't have it again, given that you had a bad reaction last time. In a perfect world, you would, in order to give your LO additional protection, but it's hard for me to think the possible benefits of that outweigh the risk to you of another negative reaction, given the fact that you're technically up to date on the booster. JMO, though -- obviously this is a very personal decision. I am fairly militant on vaxing, though, and I wouldn't give you the side-eye for skipping the booster, under these circumstances -- no way.

F47 · September 2013

I had a bad reaction to mine as well (although not as severe as you did). My arm was incredibly sore, which is normal, but it also became very inflamed and I felt feverish for a few days. I had the TDap in June 2012. I have n OB appt this afternoon and I'm hoping he'll say I don't need it since it's good for 10 years.

I know that doesn't give LO any immunity, though. Hopefully my OB will have some insight.

nofcksgiven · September 2013

Just as a side note, when I had my booster about 10 years ago, I had the same reaction as you. It was absolutely horrible and I swore that I would never, ever get one again.
About a year ago, I stepped on a rusty nail and had to get a booster. I had absolutely no reaction. My arm was sore, but nothing like the time before. I went ahead and got it again around 24 weeks and it was easy-breezy.

However, if I hadn't had the one a year or so ago, I don't know if I would've had this one while pregnant. I'm pretty hardcore on vaccines and I wouldn't side eye you for skipping this one either.

Good luck.

lifesaverz · September 2013

ScarlettV said:
What do you do for work, or how often will you be out with baby? Are you going to have LO vaccinated on schedule?

Are you going to have LO vaccinated on schedule? If it were me; I probably wouldn't risk it. Ive had serious reactions to those as well. But I am going to be cacooning with baby the first few months until he has his needed shots, and we don't plan to have people over anyway, so the chances of our LO coming in contact with it are extremely low.

good questions - I will be staying home the first 3 months w/ baby, & after that I'll go back to work (I do counseling in a school setting) for the last 3 months of the school year. I do, obviously, come into a lot of contact w/ germs at the schools, but actually, knowing I'll be home that first 3 months does make me feel a little more comfortable now that I think about it, esp. because LO will likely have had some of her own shots by the time I go back.

ScarlettV · September 2013

@jordanm24 that sounds like a pretty ideal situation. I was looking at the vax sched with DH and I think 3 mos is when they get a lot if the important shots (though I don't remember which ones exactly). I think waiting sounds like it will be a good plan for you guys

bishesbcrazy · September 2013

hercules03 said:

The purpose of getting it whole pregnant is so that LO gets some immunity from it - also, why you get it with each pregnancy. Babies don't get the vaccine until six months (I think) - and with the outbreak, they need the help. If your reaction was a sore arm - I'd still get it.

They actually start the first round at 2 months and then they get another one at 4 mo, then 6 mo.

lifesaverz · September 2013

thanks for the feedback, this was helpful! I think I was feeling guilty about even thinking about not just toughing it out & getting it again after LO is born, but knowing my vaccine is still up-to-date & fairly recent, as well as the fact that DH will have his too & I'll be home w/ baby for the first 3 months does kinda make me think that it would be okay if I decide not to.

@hercules03, I had already decided I didn't feel comfortable getting it during the pregnancy because my reaction would be unpredictable at this point, so I was only considering whether I should try getting it again after LO is born or not.

Inkful · September 2013

hercules03 said:

The purpose of getting it whole pregnant is so that LO gets some immunity from it - also, why you get it with each pregnancy. Babies don't get the vaccine until six months (I think) - and with the outbreak, they need the help. If your reaction was a sore arm - I'd still get it.

Ditto this. They just changed the recommendations recently. The reason for getting it now is to pass on immunity to your little one. DTAP is a vaccine for bacterial infections, including whooping cough which can be fatal to infants. There have been a number of whopping cough outbreaks in the last few years; they tend to happen in areas where highly educated parents are opting out of vaccines for their kids, which decreases herd immunity, Since the vaccine in administered in multiple doses over time, it seems logical that it takes time for infants to develop immunity, so an extra boost from your vaccination is very helpful.

lilybeth12 · September 2013

my doc said if it's been greater than a year I should get it, but she also asked if i had a history of adverse reactions. if you've had an SAE (serious adverse event in the immunology world), then you should not get the shot again unless needed. hopefully yours is recent enough to pass on some antibodies to your LO, and if not the herd immunity in your area is good. I wish you luck, and tink you're doing the right thing.

lifesaverz · September 2013

SailorTink said:

Can't you pass along some immunity via breastfeeding if you get it at birth? Or has that benefit been debunked?

I'm curious about this too

bishesbcrazy · September 2013

hercules03 said:

jess'c'squared said:

hercules03 said:

The purpose of getting it whole pregnant is so that LO gets some immunity from it - also, why you get it with each pregnancy. Babies don't get the vaccine until six months (I think) - and with the outbreak, they need the help. If your reaction was a sore arm - I'd still get it.

They actually start the first round at 2 months and then they get another one at 4 mo, then 6 mo.

I don't think they are considered "immune" until they've received all rounds ?

They're not considered to have maximum protection until they receive the 5th (last) round btw 4-6 years old. The purpose of mom getting the shot is to protect LO until they can receive theirs at 2 mo (according to the CDC).

By getting Tdap during pregnancy, mothers build antibodies that are transferred to the newborn, likely providing protection against pertussis in early life, before the baby can start getting DTaP vaccines at 2 months old. Tdap also helps protect mothers during delivery, making them less likely to transmit pertussis to their infants.

ETA: So basically, even moms getting the TDap while baby is still in utero is not going to give baby full immunity either. They won't get that until after 3 rounds regardless.

ETA part 2: I'm not saying moms shouldn't get it (I got it); I just want to make sure the correct info is out there.

lifesaverz · September 2013

lrachelle80 said:

jordanm24 said:

SailorTink said:

Can't you pass along some immunity via breastfeeding if you get it at birth? Or has that benefit been debunked?

I'm curious about this too

CDC says yes:

Breastfeeding may pass some protective antibodies onto your baby

By breastfeeding, you may pass some antibodies you have made in response to the vaccine to your baby. When you get a whooping cough vaccine during your pregnancy, you will have antibodies in your breast milk that you can share with your baby as soon as your milk comes in. However, if you wait to get a whooping cough vaccine until after delivering your baby, then it will take 2 weeks for your body to create protective antibodies and pass them to your baby through your breast milk. Learn more about the health benefits of breastfeeding.

OP, I'd probably do everything I could to get it during pregnancy, but if my doctor advised against it, I'd follow their advice. If I wasn't doing it during pregnancy to give the baby some protection, then I wouldn't do it afterward since I was up to date for protecting myself.
(And I hope that doesn't sound like I think you're being selfish - not at all! That was a scary reaction!)

thanks for the info! and don't worry I'm not offended! I'm still on the fence about getting it again after birth or not anyway, so I'll have to think it through a little more. Maybe I'll bring it up again at my next dr. appt. now that I've at least decided not to get it during pregnancy, & see if she would recommend for or against getting it after the birth, given that I'm still technically current with the vaccine.

RNmommyof2 · September 2013

The new recommendation is to get it with each pregnancy. I had one done in the fall of 2011 and I just had another one. That said, if you had a true adverse reaction, I don't think I would get it. If it was just a sore arm then I would.

Marchmellow2 · September 2013

Have your doctors talked to any of you about this? My doc has not brought up vaccines at all. I will ask her next time. But I'm just wondering is this something they typically talk to you about without you bringing it up?

lifesaverz · October 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

Have your doctors talked to any of you about this? My doc has not brought up vaccines at all. I will ask her next time. But I'm just wondering is this something they typically talk to you about without you bringing it up?

yeah my doctor brought it up at my last visit. She said that they typically recommend you get the TDAP during each pregnancy now, but when we discussed the reaction I had last time she said it was completely up to me if I felt comfortable doing it or not. We didn't specifically talk about the option of getting it after LO is born though, so I'll ask her at my next appt. if she thinks that would still be worthwhile or if I just skip it as long as I'm not doing it during pregnancy.

notkateanymore · October 2013

My doctor brought it up via the nurse on the phone during a return phone call and then last week during my appt. when I got my flu shot, but they're out. So I had to find a place to get it. DH is going tomorrow to our local pharmacy and I'm going next week.

Marchmellow2 · October 2013

Well that's strange my doc hadn't brought it up at all! Do I have to be between certain weeks pregnant to get the shots? Ok I'm googling now.

KFiori1 · October 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

Have your doctors talked to any of you about this? My doc has not brought up vaccines at all. I will ask her next time. But I'm just wondering is this something they typically talk to you about without you bringing it up?

My Dr talked to me about the flu shot, but not the TDAP. I am going to ask her about it at my appt next week.

kristynlee710 · October 2013

I'm in the same boat although my reaction was not as severe. My OB recommended that I get mine while I'm still in the hospital so I can be closely monitored.

hjweber · October 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

Well that's strange my doc hadn't brought it up at all! Do I have to be between certain weeks pregnant to get the shots? Ok I'm googling now.

As far as I know, it's just recommended in the third trimester. If it's like the Flu shot, it takes a couple weeks for you to build up immunity. I'm hoping to get mine Wednesday (insurance issues). I'll be 30 weeks and am at risk for PTL so I want to make sure I get it in time to pass immunity to my LO.

Laumb11 · October 2013

Marchmellow2 said:
Well that's strange my doc hadn't brought it up at all! Do I have to be between certain weeks pregnant to get the shots? Ok I'm googling now.

My doc didn't bring it up but I asked her today. She said I could get it at the hospital right after baby was born but she said since the recommendation for pregnant women to get it is fairly new she hasn't started doing them in office yet. I plan on going to a clinic to get mine even though now I'm scared reading the reactions!!

AnnikaD20 · October 2013

Lurking from Jan, but I have a similar reaction (mines only 2 weeks of lost arm function, but still...) so I thought I'd post. I ended up deciding to get it during the pregnancy, cause I live in an area with pertussis outbreaks. And I think I will go out of my mind staying in my house for months. So I'll deal with the arm thing. Allegedly, the more you use your arm muscles, the quicker it loosens back up, so I have a strict chicken dance regime planned for after the shot.

sportsmomma · October 2013

You've got your OB's opinion (that it's up to your comfort level but recommended generally). Have you asked the pediatrician you've selected his/her opinion on the importance of getting it? I think you'd have a pretty well-rounded medical opinion if you get that as well since he/she would have much more experience with the impa ct to baby, local outbreaks, etc.

ScarlettV · October 2013

Im generally pro vax, but I don't think you should feel guilted into getting the shot under the idea that if you dont, you're somehow a bad mom. Your health is important as well, LO is going to need you. You have a lot of aspects to consider and no clear cut answers to certain outcomes. Just use your judgement, consider your situation and options and make the most informed decision you can. No one here can tell you what is absolutely right for your situation.

WWYD? - vaccine question

Re: WWYD? - vaccine question

Breastfeeding may pass some protective antibodies onto your baby

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